Growing in Jiffies and other questions

[elephantnose3334]

Hi @Colin_T and @GaryE,

I have lots of plant-related questions to be answered. I'm raising a vegetable garden in my backyard, but have some other seed-raising questions as well. To both of you, have you grown stuff in Jiffy pellets before? It seems fun to grow seedlings and seeds in these pellets. I have currently two indoor greenhouses (1 windowsill) containing Jiffy pellets. Currently growing different varieties of plants such as tomatoes, radish, carrot and rocket. Radish is said to germinate under 3 days. How do I grow Aussie wildflowers, like the regal birdflower and kangaroo paw? I haven't have those seedlings before. Is my vegetable and herb obsession a MPS (multiple plant syndrome)? I'd love to have an oak tree in my property. Unfortunately, I have a small backyard and the oak tree would not fit in it. How do I make a handy business out of oak tree acorns? Can I learn from the other gardeners from TFF? How's your plant collections going currently as of today? Am I doing well in the greenhouses I have? What does your garden look like? How do you make a plant-related business?

elephantnose3334

 

[GaryE]

When I post here, I'm always aware there are people who know more than I do online. You should avoid sending a note like this to Colin and I, and throw it open to the world as a question. I'm constantly surprised by the expertise that shows up from all these anonymous user names.

Of the two people you tagged, Colin will be your source as he's Australian. Everything I do is tempered by the fact winter hasn't even started here yet, and we're alreadtybelow freezing. I have a short growing season. Aussie wildflowers? I would have to spend a lot on airfare to be able to say I'd ever seen any!

I do use jiffy pellets - the 100% peat type are useful for fishkeeping purposes, mainly for killie eggs on the rare occasions I keep annual killies. I haven't used them in the garden. I suspect starting seeds for you is less complex, as I have to do it to extend my growing period, using a plastic greenhouse, etc. I knocked the walls and roof off a rotting backyard shed and used the frame to create a sheltered growing space. I won't be able to use it again before late April.

I grow rosemary, thyme and basil in the fishroom all winter.

The tomatoes taste good though.

Here with my red oaks I planted in the Spring, my harvest won't be acorns. I did it for the leaf harvest, as botanicals for my tanks.

 

[elephantnose3334]

When I post here, I'm always aware there are people who know more than I do online. You should avoid sending a note like this to Colin and I, and throw it open to the world as a question. I'm constantly surprised by the expertise that shows up from all these anonymous user names.

Of the two people you tagged, Colin will be your source as he's Australian. Everything I do is tempered by the fact winter hasn't even started here yet, and we're alreadtybelow freezing. I have a short growing season. Aussie wildflowers? I would have to spend a lot on airfare to be able to say I'd ever seen any!

I do use jiffy pellets - the 100% peat type are useful for fishkeeping purposes, mainly for killie eggs on the rare occasions I keep annual killies. I haven't used them in the garden. I suspect starting seeds for you is less complex, as I have to do it to extend my growing period, using a plastic greenhouse, etc. I knocked the walls and roof off a rotting backyard shed and used the frame to create a sheltered growing space. I won't be able to use it again before late April.

I grow rosemary, thyme and basil in the fishroom all winter.

The tomatoes taste good though.

Here with my red oaks I planted in the Spring, my harvest won't be acorns. I did it for the leaf harvest, as botanicals for my tanks.

Do Jiffies do great in the fish tank or will they soil it as you said? The reason I did it as a note: I needed help from both of you because I'm relatively new to the Jiffy gardening hobby and the other questions. I also wanted to gain more knowledge about Jiffies and Australian natives. Australian winters are different to your winters in Canada. That's because there is no snow in Perth and not as freezing as Canadian winters.

I am trying to get regal birdflower seeds, but the only place I would get them is online as all the Bunnings stores don't sell them.

 

[GaryE]

I use one type of jiffy pellets FOR the tanks, but not in them.

Gardening is a slow, patient process. Last year was my second gardening in a cooler seacoast environment, and I figure it'll take 3 years before I have this down. I hope. I grew up in an urban environment where flowers were for windowboxes, and didn't have a yard to learn in til I was well into my 30s. My previous house, where I lived for 16 years, had terrible soil and very little light for gardens, as it was surrounded by trees. I've only just restarted gardening since I moved here.

It'll be a slow learning curve for you, though I suspect your warmer climate gives you more leeway. Here, everything is timing with the short growing season. -35 with deep snow and howling winds has a way of wrecking your garden plans. I pick away at learning and reading options for how I want to do things over the cold days (from now til April), then I try things out in summer. Your summer should be starting now, right?

I have no interest in flowers, and if I develop one, my friends the local deer herd will eat them anyway. For vegetables and herbs - I grow some herbs my wife, a great cook, wants. For me, it's basil, tomatoes, peppers and brussels sprouts. I'm very specific about that I want to grow.

This morning while walking the puppy, she made a quick move to leap into a puddle and discovered she was on the puddle, sliding in circles and then having to listen to an "I told you so" from her human. She has no apparent skills for playing ice hockey.