Heirloom plants, by definition, have some history behind them. Some say an heirloom variety must be at least fifty years old, some say even older. Heirloom seed is described as being from a plant variety that has been passed on through generations.
Roses have been around quite a while, first debuting in fossil records dating back 60-70 million years. Even Confucius loved and wrote about roses. Of more historical inerest, Alexander the Great is credited with introducing cultivated roses to the rest of Europe.
Has the weather been teasing you into thinking you might be able to plant seedlings early? What do you do when you have seedlings that are ready for transplanting into larger containers or into the ground but the last frost is still a month away?
D is for Delightful Dahlias and for December. That should help you remember that if you are a dahlia devotee, the growing cycle of the dahlia is from December to December. What we do with our dahlias in December directly determines the direction dahlias will develop.
We are now well into October and most of our rose bushes are fading with dull leaves, fewer blossoms and dropping yellow, brown or black leaves. The roses are getting tired and are trying to go to seed.
