Grapes: a new idea?

I recently got concord grapes from a budding gardener, and they, being concord grapes, have seeds in them. And the first thing that comes to my mind when it comes to seeds?

Well, planting them, of course!

So now I'm doing lots of research on a) whether or not it's actually possible to grow grapes from seed, and b) if it bears fruit and c) how long it takes to get to that stage.

Having grown grape vines from one year plants, and having waited for the magical 'third year' for fruit to happen, I can imagine that it would take a long time to grow a grapevine from seed. Still, the naive, impractical side of me can't resist having a try at this.


So this is what I have found so far:

• apparently, the germination rate for grape seeds is very low because of their acidity. I don't know quite what that means, but that's what the general consensus seems to be.
• Some people try refrigerating (stratification) for a long time. Like 90 to 130 days. Which, frankly, seems to be a little beyond my patience. Although I suppose if it's the difference between grape and no grape, I would just go ahead and do that and forget about it for three months. Sheesh, that's a long time though.
• Other sites say to stratify them for at least 30 days (methinks that's not so bad-I've waited two months for apple seeds before)
• The general consensus seems that 2-3 months is the magic number for chilling the seeds.
  
• Also said is that when planted in dirt they should be shallowly planted.
• Keep them moist but not over watered
• Another site says to simply plant them into dirt and keep evenly moist
• There are risks of the 'daughter plant' not being like the original, unless it is a muscadine grapevine, which is already a wild species of vine.
  

• It takes 3 years from seed to fruiting. Annoying, but not bad considering it's essentially free if it works.
• It is advised to keep baby vines in pots for one full year before setting out
• keep out of full sunlight
• some sites say to plant the seeds in small pots, cover with a plastic baggy, then chill them for 30 to 60 days, then bring them out in a warm, but not direct sun lit area. Talk about finicky.

Okay, so this is what I'm thinking. I'm going to try planting some directly into a pot and keeping it on a non direct sunlight windowsill, keeping it evenly moist, probably with a mister. I'm also going to stick some seeds into a damp paper towel, and then into a plastic baggy, date it, and stick it into the fridge for at least a month.

As always, I'll let you know how it goes.

August Garden Photos- 2nd Installment

As, promised, here is the second garden photo update. Hope you all like pictures, because there's going to be a lot of 'em. ;)So, apparently, to escape the heat, our old female cat, Mousie, likes to hide behind my giant, yellow pear tomato bush. This is all fine and good, and well, charming, except, when I watered it this morning, I, um, forgot she was there.I felt bad after I had done it-I hope she goes back there-she genuinely likes that spot, and I'd hate to deter her from it.














And, as I have found, marigolds are very tolerant of all sorts of conditions, but they really appreciate a good hosing every once in a while.




















Here's my patio bell pepper pot.










Also, a nameless patio pepper and some tomato that I've forgotten the variety of...




















And a macro shot of my patio banana pepper plant (can you tell that I'm really into patio plants this year?).




















A photo of a patio jalepeno...and...I want to say, yellow pear tomatoes? I think?


Macro of my Jalapeno plant.


A month back, I went into the pantry and found that sweet potatoes do indeed sprout, however long it takes them. So, on a whim, I decided to plant the two of them near each other. I had no idea what to expect. What I didn't expect was for them to look so...attractive. They actually resemble hostas, almost, don't they?
Speaking of mysterious things, apparently I planted some pink Easter lilies a ways back, which is strange, because I don't remember having ever planted them. And however pretty these are, I have to admit that pink is not usually the first color I have in mind when picking bulbs.
So, nearby, there is a random gourd plant growing. This is strange enough, but I dismissed it with the idea that maybe pumpkin seeds from carving had sprouted there...even though it's on the wrong side of the house for that. Upon closer inspection, I found that it was not an ordinary pumpkin vine. Indeed, it is a turk's turban! Talk about random. I guess a bird could have dropped one there? And it grew in the thick grass? Or something???? Weird.

Here is a picture of some unripe slicing tomatoes. They still have a ways to go before they're ready to pick, unfortunately.Also, they happy sweet basil next to it. I learned a valuable lesson in growing sweet basil this year. I don't know if this applies to all basil, but mine thrive in partial to full shade and hate full or mostly sunlight. If mine are in sunlight, they turn yellow, small, and they die. If in shade with lots of water, lush, dark, and green. Who knows?

Here's another picture of the slicing tomatoes-which also get a considerable amount of shade, and seem to be doing well, surprisingly, with Frodo laying on the steps next to it.

And yes, yes, I know that he's kinda scary. People with spider phobias should look away right now. But know this: this guy, however scary and giant he is, helps me out a lot. And I do mean a lot. He eats all the bad bugs. He is known simply as a garden spider. Pretty simple name considering his colorful profile, huh?

Here's a lufa gourd vine running up my fence.


Some sprouting burpless cucumbers for a late year crop (pickling, yum).


A hanging watermelon:
















Also, my happy cantaloupe patch, which, last time I checked, had no less than fifteen cantaloupe fruits going. I need to check again today. I think with all of the sudden rain that we've gotten I may have a ripe cantaloupe. As you can see by that one yellowish fruit in the picture, it was almost done then.


And that's it for now. I'll let you guys know soon if that cantaloupe (or possibly cantaloupes) is done. Plus more to come, like corn flower and coriander seeds, and updates on my other plants.

I'm back! gardening photos and funny cats.

If you visit my other blog, knits4uandme.wordpress.com, you'll know why it is that there's been an eon between this post and last's. But if you don't (then shame on you. Ha. Just kidding.) then I'll say it here.

107 degrees does not make for very plausible gardening. Even if you're a reptile and you happen to like gardening, the plants do not deal very well with the heat. Or lack of rain. Or both. Especially when you're on the east coast having the hottest July days on record.

Anyway, now that it is in the low 90s and upper 80s, I can begin to venture outdoors once again. Many of my plants have not dealt with the weather well, but some have benefited. Tomatoes and cantaloupes for instance. And particular flowers, like zinnias and bachelor's. But anyway, I will update you on my random gardeningness around the house.

So without further ado:


yellow pear and cherry tomatoes sitting together. I am reminded why it is you grow tomatoes yourself each year-these beat grocery store's bitter, sandy tomatoes by a bunch.

They are great for pizzas and salads, or just, by themselves. Or like my brother-in-law does, cut them and half and sprinkle them with a little salt.





Not that you can really see them, but the dill has come up in my previously empty (before empty, cilantro) pot, second from the right. My kitchen herbs have been serving me quite well, especially the sweet basil, which is surprisingly tolerant of low light conditions, and 'bounces' right back when I cut it down a lot.

My attempt at growing a cherry tomato plant in a hanging basket. It's working...sort of?

Below are experiments with lettuce in a tray.



















Also, I'm attempting late jalepeno and banana peppers this year, to try with cold frames. It works for the commercial growers right? We'll see what happens.

A couple of lavender cuttings that 'struck' that I should really plant.

A little cosmos sprout. That I'm trying to keep our nefarious little tabby, Frodo from sleeping on.
















Pretty flowering dill.


I didn't expect zinnias to be so easy to grow-or to keep going and going. This is a kind of flower that I'll keep growing every year.


Also, I had no idea that butterflies adore mint flowers. Especially these little guys. I'll be walking down the brick walk by the mint and there will be a million of these beautiful butterflies in the air around me. So odd. I think they're buckeyes?









Also, what kind of butterfly is this? I really love the lacy, delicate pattern on their wings. I don't see them as often, and they're smaller than the buckeyes. I will do some research.
















A small bell pepper. Lookin' good so far. I've been watering them like crazy.

I'm also attempting at growing pumpkins by the house to try to deter deer, squash bugs, and especially, my arch nemesis, the squash borer.

Evidence of battling with tobacco hornworms. My brother and I have been slowly picking them off one by one and squashing them. Not a pleasant experience. Well, for me anyway. Can't vouch for my brother.


My yellow canary zinnias:















some sprawling jack be little pumpkins...

A very large yellow pear tomato plant that I recently had to 'collect' and tie to a stake.

So now I must confess that I have at least this many more gardening photos to show you. If I included all of them here, that would make for a very long post. So I will do a second installment tomorrow.

Until then, I'll leave you to enjoy the various hamming-up positions of our nefarious but affectionate, cat chasing, charismatic, and sitting-in-plant-trays cat Frodo.