GE - one last chance!

13 years ago

Call me a wuss or whatever you like. I am a sucker for beautiful things: a pretty blouse, pearl earrings, diamonds and Great Expectations. Yes, I hold GE on par with all the others. So on the way to choir practice Thursday I stopped by Vilts Greenhouses to buy bush cuke and buttercup squash and couldn't pass up looking at the hostas (of course :o)

No new bra for this gal at least this month; and one of the 5 new hostas down. H. 'Great Expectations'.

Moc-the ButterCUP squash helped ease my conscience (I did say I like 'pretty' didn't I?) Thanks for the tip!

Be ready because if she as much a burps I will be here asking advice. I planted her right next to where the water spout is and the hose gets coiled so I won't forget to water her; because that is what all of you who have had success with GE has told me. And she will get 4 hours of unfiltered morning sun; because a lot of sun is what you also have told me. Before planting her I turned a bag of well aged mushroom compost into the dirt and made her new bed all nice and fluffy. The depth in the nursery pot is exactly even with the dirt and when the dirt settles she might be a tad higher; and that to is what you've told me.Then to retain moisture, and possibly deter squirrels from digging her up, I gave her a nice comforter of wood chip mulch, with is not smothering the eyes.

Have I started her off right? Ya Think? Tell me b4 it is too late and I kill another one. Pretty please!

Theresa Ann

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Comments (22)

Jon 6a SE MA
13 years ago
You did remember to untangle any roots that were pot bound and snip any dead roots????

Now, just forget it's there, and it will be just fine.

Jon
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
13 years ago
one last chance!

==>>> i said that 7 times in a row ... including one time paying $100 for a 15 division mature plant ...

i hope you are brighter than the author.. and give up much sooner ...

ken
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gogirlterri
Original Author
13 years ago
Oh Ken - I hope I don't have to prove that! If you have done what you've done it confirms, at least, that we both have great taste, if not judgement.

Theresa
vivian_2010 (IL Zone 5a)
13 years ago
Good luck Theresa. I am also in IL (northwest subs of Chicago) and my two GEs have done well for the last 2 years. Planted in fall of 2011 as small plants, they have grown in similar speed (perhpas a little slower) as the Patriots planted next to them at the same time. My planting conditions are similar to yours with morning sun, amended the clay soil with some top soil.

Hope to see yours GE pictures soon.

GE May 30, 2013

Patriot next to GE, May 30, 2013
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
13 years ago
Sounds like you have the recipe for success and have covered all the bases. Good luck!
User
13 years ago
Theresa, cross your fingers and your eyes, run around the flower bed three times and bow low in the direction of the sun, then toward the GE. If it doesn't grow after that, you've done your best.

I have enough to deal with here already, and know NOT to attempt a GE. Dream Queen wouldn't do anything for me either, and I'm no masochist to try again.
gogirlterri
Original Author
13 years ago
Hon, I have tried every progeny I could find and all have done the same thing. Year 1- great! Year 2 smaller. Year 3 - GONE!

My confidence as a hosta-gal is shaken and as a woman I don't handle that well. I am stubborn but keeping trying sometimes doesn't make sense (see Ken's post).

Theresa
don_in_colorado
13 years ago
I bought a GE last year, a two-eyed plant. This year it added a few more eyes, and is growing OK. I figure I'm right on schedule, and it'll be dead next season. I have two others I got this season...So far so good with those.

Don B.
gogirlterri
Original Author
13 years ago
But when they live they are sooooooo lovely.. Bobbi has them growing like weeds all over-and I can spit on her gardens from mine. :o(

The only thing I can't grow are roses, and that is because they hate me and I them. I despise anything that pierces my skin -like skeeters. Of course if some gentleman gave me a dozen red roses with no daggers on them I will feel differently. Take that as an open invitation, guys.

Theresa
claydirt
13 years ago
2009 was my GE year. I got two "one eyed" GE's in 2009. I planted them under a large shrub by the back patio where I could keep watch over them. Today they are still "one eyed". So they are not having fun... Probably too much root competition.

I also got a "three eyed" GE in 2009 and put it into a large pot. It grew great! This year it was too big for the pot. I dumped it out, split into 3 big chunks. Two are now along the front sidewalk (N side of house, but where they can still get rain and some sun). One gets more water, the other gets more sun (even though they are only about 5 feet apart). One went back into the pot.

So I'm still looking for that sweet spot where they grow well. I figure if I never get any in the ground to grow, at least I can grow one in a pot.
ConnieMay ON Z6a
13 years ago
You are in (arguably) the best zone for GE and you are giving her morning sun and lots of water so you should expect to be able to grow her well.

The depth seems to be very important to GE. To rehabilitate one of mine I raised it up so that it's upper roots practically were crawling on top of the soil and this worked like a charm.
hosta_freak
13 years ago
Here's mine from earlier this year. I think it's a plant keep on trying. Phil
paul_
13 years ago
Didn't know GE gave so many people fits. Have one up at my folks' place that has been growing slow but still alive an kickin'.
paula_b_gardener 5b_ON
13 years ago
I love GE as well. I have to admit, the fact that it is supposed to be difficult to grow, attracts me. There is a theme there but that is for another time :)

Good luck!
Jon 6a SE MA
13 years ago
I used to plant by digging out a hole twice as wide, mix in compost, cow manure or whatever and set the plant in at ground level and fill it in taking the excess to the compost area.

Now I dig out a hole twice as wide, pour in the 'whatever', mix it up in the hole with the native soil, dig out a hole big enough for the plant to fit into the amended material and leave it on a small mound with a slight saucer to hold in water, mulch pulling it back around the crown at surface level....water well, done.

Plant 'em high and they will thrive.
Plant 'em low and they won't grow.

Jon
chris-e
13 years ago
I am on my third GE after having two just disappear. It has been in the ground for two years. Hasn't grown much but I celebrate the fact that it is still alive!

chris
Jon 6a SE MA
13 years ago

Great Expectations from last year. New, one eye.

Great Expectations II. One eye, new last year. Crushed one third of it by stepping on it.

Today, GE I with 2 eyes and much bigger.

GE II, not stepped on this year with 2 eyes. Just slightly narrower, but higher. Probably a natural defense to avoid getting stomped on again.

Jon
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
13 years ago
Went out in my garden last evening to take photos of some photo worthy hosta. Then GE caught my eye. As I took photos of GE, this is what went through my head--- I am going to cry when this hosta dies. Yup, that's how I feel about it.

So good luck to everyone. I hope you are, or continue to be, successful in growing this hosta. After hearing about so many losses, I think it must be climate related---cause I have seen pictures of your hostas on this site that are fantastic.

I even love the undersides of GE's leaves!
mosswitch
13 years ago
When I went on hosta patrol yesterday, I noticed the GE needed a bigger plant collar (yaay, it's growing!), and when I took the old one off I saw that the roots had become exposed at soil level. After reading this thread I didn't cover them up. It seems happy, half a day sun, exposed roots, nice woodsy soil, plenty of rain, what more could it want? Maybe some coffee grounds. The president of our hosta society puts them on his GE, and they are huge! I think a trip to Starbucks for a bag of grounds is in order.

Sandy
Jon 6a SE MA
13 years ago
NHL, have faith.

Sandy, just what they like, benign neglect. They might just be seeking conditions they prefer and show displeasure at constantly being pampered by dying.

Jon
gogirlterri
Original Author
13 years ago
Newhostalady-like I'd said, Bobbi just across the street has GE growing like weeds on all sides of her house, some in full shade, some in full sun and some inbetween. The biggest difference is her DH Terry regularly mixes up 5 g. buckets of Miracle Gro to water all of her hostas and others. Last year was just too hot and too dry and they didn't get the care. But this year they are up with a vengeance.

Darn, that is frustrating. Otherwise my hostas are much better than hers.(well-that's my opinion anyway. Don't tell her I'd said that. tee-hee! We'll keep that our secret)

Theresa
gogirlterri
Original Author
13 years ago
Newhostalady-like I'd said, Bobbi just across the street has GE growing like weeds on all sides of her house, some in full shade, some in full sun and some inbetween. The biggest difference is her DH Terry regularly mixes up 5 g. buckets of Miracle Gro to water all of her hostas and others. Last year was just too hot and too dry and they didn't get the care. But this year they are up with a vengeance.

Darn, that is frustrating. Otherwise my hostas are much better than hers.(well-that's my opinion anyway. Don't tell her I'd said that. tee-hee! We'll keep that our secret)

Theresa