I just couldn't resist. We went to Elliots Hardware store this afternoon and for the first time in my life I walked out of a HARDWARE store with more things than Randy. Boy have times changed for me. I got 4 packets of seeds, a hanging hose holder, tall paper bags that our city requires yard waste to be in for trash pickup, a set of wire brushers to clean birdbaths and a new pair of kitchen scissors to replace the smaller ones I already have that will become my herb and flower cutting scissors. They had seeds, like just what I need after having put three seed orders in the mail just yesterday afternoon. Oh, well, I am having fun...have never ordered seeds before so it is a new experience for me. I came home with.....drum roll please....... Bushel Gourd Morning Glory - Grandpa Ott - dark purple with a fuzzy white center. Blue Fescue ornamental grass Fountain Grass I have been planning for quite a while to slowly re-do the front yard with native grasses so hopefully I will be able to get started with these. And a Morning Glory vine climbing up part of a very old ladder I got from the rEcycle list. I don't know if the gourds will be successful down here but I want some bushel gourds so I thought it couldn't hurt to try. I can't find Morning Glory plants at nurserys around here and I think they will look really nice in the back garden on that tower thing I bought at the thrift store last week.
Oh Toni you shouldn't have told me you'd been out buying seeds. Now I feel a trip to the local garden centre coming on!!!
So how does Randy feel about you outdoing him in the hardware store purchases Toni? The bushel gourds should be interesting to observe, good luck with them
Good for you Toni. I got my Thompson and Morgan seed catalog yesterday. I was sitting in bed at 11 last night looking at it. This has really got to stop.
Toni growing gourds... Hi Toni, Sounds like you had much fun at the store! :-D The Bushel gourd requires a very long growing season, but as you are in Texas, that should not be a problem. They need approximately 120 days of frost free, warm weather in full sun, well drained soil. We've been growing them for many years, so if you have any questions about growing and harvesting, I'll be more than happy to help. Here is an image of my youngest son holding a small bushel gourd a few years ago. I really need to update photos, as he is now nearing 16. Karen Marie
I think he was grinning when I mentioned it, but come to think of it maybe that grin was more of an evil 'I knew your would turn to the dark side' grin than a 'I am glad you found so much interesting stuff in one of my favorite stores' type of grin.:-? Our summers usually last from early May thru most of Sept. Temps in Oct. are still in the 80's and our first frost normally doesn't happen until almost mid November so maybe I will get something from the seeds.
Toni, The seeds you bought, are they big with Mickey Mouse ears? This is generally a good strain and will produce big, big gourds. KM
The picture on the package doesn't show MM ears but it does look almost exactly like the one your son is holding.
Just a tip for gourd seeds. If you cut one in half, you should see nice white sunflower-like meat or a kernel inside. The seeds themselves should be nice and firm, you should not be able to break one in half with your finger and thumb. A few years ago, we purchased a brand we shall not mention, only to find half of the seeds were old, the rest were not even viable. Gourds are so much fun. Toni, have you ever grown them before? If you decide you would like to grow Heavenly Blue morning glory, let me know and I'll send a pack your way. We have a bazillion of them. LOL KM
You deliberately plant morning-glory? o.0 I have spent so much time ripping it out and killing it, it is hard to imagine. Perhaps there are varieties that are non-invasive? Or do you put them in containers? I love their flowers, but they strangle everything they can reach...and reach....and reach... Sounds like a great trip to the store - and good luck with the gourds!
I myself got one this weekend from homedepo :-o (first time). It shows how to make one into a bird feeder . We shall see. Good luck with yours Toni
