I noticed last night when I checked my trays I had 100% germination on the RST- 04-105-T that I planted on 2-12-12. Rootstock usually germinate slower. Not one of the 11 regular varieties I planted that same day have germinated yet. Some of them are supposed to be scions for the rootstock. Hope some shows soon or I may not have any scions the right stem size.

Picked up 20 bags of potting soil yesterday. With what I have on hand that should get me through the season I hope. Had a good visit with the couple that owns my favorite greenhouse. They were busy potting up and preparing trays for the germination chamber. They had just removed their first peppers over the last few days. And going to start their first tomatoes Friday. I always enjoy talking to them and learning some of the news on the commercial end about potting soils, ect. They also told me now they are required by company that holds the rights to the Fourth of July Tomato to use containers stating such and everything. They can't use their own containers and use labels to state it. I wondered last season why all of their Fourth of July were in special containers. They are older than I am. And he said some have already called about plants with the milder weather. They usually don't open till late March. I'm always their first customer. I call ahead and they leave me a way to get in. He is like me afraid we will see one cold morning later. Also he feels my lilac bush is like lots of trees in trouble. He said he has seem many die before. My concern is after the drought stress and not leafing out totally last season how much more can it stand? Got home and finished planting a tray and prepared another one to plant tonight with rootstock. Jay

Jay,

That rootstock sure did sprout quickly. Can you maybe slow down the growth rate of the rootstock plants by keeping them at a much lower temperature than the scions are kept at once the scions emerge? Maybe that would keep the rootstock plants from getting too big too quickly.

Only 20 bags of potting soil? I hope that's enough. : )

I planted tomatoes early because of the warmer winter weather, and if the weather nosedives back to persistently cool to cold weather in March, I'll be potting everything up to larger containers while I hold them inside. I'm hoping to transplant sometime in early thru mid-March if the soil temps are right and if the forecast looks good.

There always is a concern when plants bloom/leaf out too early in a warm winter, and I can understand the concerns about the lilacs and how much more erratic weather they can tolerate. I'm always amazed at how well the native woodland fares in drought. We do lose trees and understory plants during and after severe drought, but not as many as I think we will. Of course, the whole process can be deceptive because a lot of woody plants will seem like they survived the drought, only to die sometime in the next year or two because they're surviving off stored energy that pre-dates the drought.

I expect more than one more cold morning, but then you know how my microclimate is. It was so warm here yesterday---74 degrees in mid-afternoon---and I love that, even though it won't last. We are on a weather roller coaster here with temps swinging back and forth from average to above average every week. I was sitting at the table sowing snap pea seeds into cups yesterday and Tim came inside to tell me that he had opened up the greenhouse doors and vents because it was 108 degrees in there. I'll be happy when the shadecloth I ordered arrives.

Dawn

My question about planting out grafted plants is: Do you plant them out to keep the graft above soil level,. I usually plant my plants very deep to get roots along the stem. If planted deep they will root above the graft and I have wondered about that.

gary

Gary,
Yes you have to keep the graft joint above soil level just like a rose, ect. Likewise I usually plant my plants deep. On the grafted plants I won't be able to do that. They say the root systems of many of the rootstocks are such that it isn't needed. That is one reason I'm starting some of my rootstock seeds in the 4x4 cells. Then will leave them in them through the grafting procedure and pot up after they heal if needed. I expect a steep learning curve. I'm hearing positive reports from the few trials so far here in KS. The greenhouse growers I visited with Wed have heard similar reports and want me to keep them informed of my results this year.

Wed 250 or so white geese arrived in the afternoon and ate on the wheat field next to me and spent the night on the sewer pond. I could tell by all of their noise yesterday morning they were probably moving on. Sure enough all were gone last evening. So signs of an early spring are increasing every day. I need to get some pre emergence down or it will be too late. I did shred some leaves last evening. Still have a few to shred. Will try to finish working the garden this afternoon. Jay

The instructions that I have read say that you must keep the graft above the soil line, which of course makes sense. It also says to be careful to support the plant well as it grows because the graft may be a weak spot. I guess that planting deep isn't as much of a requirement because the rootstock is so robust.

Oops, looks like Jan and I posted at the same time. Well, mostly same info as well.