My newest addiction

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

All these years that I've been on this forum I have admired all of your seedlings and it never occurred to me to dabble in hybridizing and seed-starting myself. The biggest reason was always that I don't have any more room for plants, and also, I have 4 indoor cats who eat anything green and growing. After my terrible accident in the garden, I missed almost an entire summer of gardening and long into January I missed my daylilies. I started daydreaming and the next thing I know I'm on the Lily Auction bidding on seeds! (I found out that drinking wine at my computer at night and pining away for daylilies is a dangerous pastime). I have over 200 seedlings now! And where to plant them? And CAN I plant them? My shoulder is still causing me pain and limits certain movements. But oh, how exciting it is to wake up each morning and go check on my green children. In my head, I'm already planning my own crosses and I can see where this is going to be a full-blown addiction. I have to figure out where I'm going to put another daylily bed real quick! The snow is almost all melted and pretty soon it will be time for the children to move out. In my climate it will be 2 - 3 years before I see these babies bloom but I will be sure to share pics of the good ones with you.

This is some of them in February. I found a way to keep the cats from getting at them. This little greenhouse zips up. (I just opened it for the picture)

More pictures below, since I know the Houzz rules.....

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celeste/NH
Original Author

7 years ago

Here they are now, outgrowing their little plastic home. I had to find a table that was high enough off the ground to put these on so the cats can't get at them. (Yet)

And here are the massive root systems already. I had no idea that something from a seed could make roots like this in just a couple months!

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Comments (10)

hoosier_nan (IN z5b/6a)
7 years ago
Your seedlings look great. It is a marvelous addiction. Going out in July to look at new seedlings is like Christmas every day. Bob and I say we now get our most enjoyment out of our own seedlings whether they are worthy of introduction or not.

Nancy
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Sam CO z5
7 years ago
I had better not ever go there. I’m bad as it is, having just moved all my daylilies (around 50) from my previous house to temp storage in my moms garden, to our new house with a blank yard last spring. Luckily Marryotts is no longer selling, so I’m trying to keep any further purchases to “need” only. I think if I got started with seedlings, my family would never see me! Your seedlings look really happy. Glad you found a way to keep the cats out. Mine are plant eaters too and feel like half my life is cleaning up plant dirt and pieces spread all over the house by cats and kids.
organic_kitten
7 years ago
Those look great, Celeste

kay
shive
7 years ago
It looks like you have the green thumb for seedlings! My current housecat eats daylily seedlings. This is the first winter in many years that I haven't started seedlings inside. This Spring I'm direct sowing in raised beds outside.
tarheelgirl_7b
7 years ago
Your seedlings look great! Look forward to seeing the blooms in the future!

Lori
Julia WV (7a)
7 years ago
Great start to your new addiction.
signet_gw(6b)
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Thumbs up ! and welcome to the other side of our madness .......yes, I too grow seedlings in the house only to run out of room before the time to move them outside. I may have to do as Debra does and direct plant outside .........but that means waiting till the ground is soft enough to work it . Not sure I can wait that long.

Oh and Nancy is also correct . There is NOTHING that can compare to seeing your very own seedlings bloom for the first time .
sherrygirl zone5 N il
7 years ago
More power to you, Celeste! Nothing like a little “wine” encouragement! I’m hoping you get some blooms this season, who knows?

Sherry
Nancy
7 years ago
What fun! My problem is I get so attached to my children, I have a really hard time sifting through the bad ones. I find some redeeming quality about every one. And every one seems to look different from anything else in my garden. Of course the lily auction would be a great place to add that new genetics, wouldn't it? I think you need to put your grandkids to work :) You may need help planting 200 seedlings! And very healthy looking seedlings too.