Comments on: Mum Season Begins with Early Blooms and a Feature in Martha Stewart Living

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 29 Oct 2016 21:32:38 +0000

In reply to Paige Nugent/A Girl in Her Garden.

dear matt
i enjoyed your last couple of posts very much–a little of this and a little of that, plus your excellent pix, as always.
you aren't crazy to do these projects and pursuits, or have a greenhouse. you are shouldering the burden of transmitting a part of our cultural héritage and modeling the behaviors we need more of.
hope your jaws heals up fast–all best,
~ 02568

By: Matt Mattus

Matt Mattus — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 04:24:31 +0000

In reply to Paige Nugent/A Girl in Her Garden.

Hi Paige!
Thanks. Hey, you really DO need to build a greenhouse! – I highly approve!. Thanks for the comment. Matt

By: Paige Nugent/A Girl in Her Garden

Paige Nugent/A Girl in Her Garden — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 20:16:26 +0000

I loved the dog costume – so cute!

I am also jelous of the Flowering Maple. Maybe I need to build a greenhouse.

By: Constantine

Constantine — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 10:25:08 +0000

I received an arrangement for Valentine's day with red roses, tulips and purple calla lilies. The presentation and quality by San Francisco Flower Delivery was amazing. From the paper packaging to the handwritten note atop a flower stem, these are the most beautiful perfect flowers I've received.

By: Matt Mattus

Matt Mattus — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 18:00:18 +0000

Sieglinde – bulbs themselves don't want to freeze, so as long as you can keep the pots cold and not frozen, you should be OK. I have heard of some tricks – setting pots into a bag of leaves, even placing them in a beer cooler set out onto the deck. In the UK, where it doesn't get too cold but near freezing, they sometimes just place heating cables into their raised sand beds in alpine houses so that the roots don't freeze, or place layers of newspapers over the pots. Setting pots into sand also may work, for a light freeze is OK, but one would want to avoid the freeze-thaw-refreeze process. That damages both bulbs and roots. You may just need to try a few things before you get it right. Another option is a new one – Brent and Becky's bulbs now sells pre-chilled bulbs which are intended for southern growers, but they could also be used to force if you pot them immediately. I would check those out, which would be much easier! Thanks! Let me know how it all works out for you!!

By: Matt Mattus

Matt Mattus — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 17:52:56 +0000

In reply to Nic. Thanks Nic!

By: Commodity Gold Tips

Commodity Gold Tips — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 11:38:25 +0000

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

By: Sieglinde Anderson

Sieglinde Anderson — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 08:34:18 +0000

I love your way of forcing small bulbs in 4" pots to bring cheer indoors but I don't have a greenhouse. I've been keeping the pots in outdoor raised beds but that delays flowering until near "proper" time. Outdoors our nights in Asheville, NC, do go into the 20's nearly every night, usually above freezing during the day, but the alternative house garage is a warm 50 to 60 degrees. There is an open 2nd story porch floor above the garage entrance. Could that be used if the pots are covered with insulation? Have you any other suggestions?

By: Nic

Nic — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 00:00:59 +0000

Oh wow! Two such high profile articles, very impressive!