Psst…Wanna buy a used car?
Photo courtesy
Sam Fraser-Smith, Fotopedia
Reading a seed or plant catalog description is often likened to buying a used car: buyer beware, and often what they don’t tell you is more important than what they do tell you.
Imagine this glorious description in a plant catalog:
Easy-to-grow thornless plant, with shiny, deciduous leaves, characterized by three almond-shaped leaflets. Leaf color ranges from light to dark green. Small yellow flowers May through July. Great fall color, with bright red leaves, turning to orange and yellow, and fruits produced August to November. Fruits are a favorite winter food of many birds and animals.
Can be grown in all US states east of the Rocky Mountains, and much of Canada. Good plant for edging wooded areas. Plant prefers sunshine but will tolerate some shade. Will grow easily in most types of soil, and suitable for soil pH ranging from 6.0 (acidic) to 7.9 (moderately alkaline). Not sensitive to soil moisture variances.
Can be grown as a groundcover, climbing vine or shrub. Great for naturalizing.
January 22, 2013 - 9:36 AM
It’s not a good plant for edging wooded areas. It’s an evil, evil plant for edging wooded areas! I want to slip into a hazmat suit just looking at that picture.
Best one yet, KH.
This makes me think fondly of the botanical gardens in Montreal. Their poisonous plant collection was surrounded by a tall and very ornate wrought iron fence, for the protection of the gullible, not the green.
Karen, was the really early tomato you recommended some time back, Glacier? This year I’m seeking both the ultimate early and paste varieties.
Deep Roots: yes, the extra early tomato was Glacier. That’s one I’m anxious to try this year. It was recommended by one of the gardeners on the Blacksburg Friendly Garden Tour last year, who was familiar with it from living in Maine. He had tomatoes by the end of June!
And W.D., I’ll keep your earlier recommendation in mind for another time. I have already bought/saved seeds for too many types and hope we can arrange a seed/plant swap at some point this spring.
Not familar with the Glacier, but the Early Girl is the best early tomato I’ve ever planted. I’ll check that one to see if it’s earlier.
Early Girl Hybrid–52 days.
Glacier————55 days.
Bigger, earlier, indeterminate.