My wife knows I'm cheating...

last year

..and she approves!

For the past 14 years we've been vendors at one of our local gardening clubs and the bulk of what we bring are of course hostas. When we started out it was the first Saturday in May but with a change in venue about 8 years ago came a change in date. It's now the first Saturday in April and of course we'd be hard pressed to bring much in terms of leafed out product. Last year I decided it might not be a bad idea to bring in some pots to give them a head start and bring a decent looking plant to the sale. That worked out really well, best results we'd had in a few years. So this year I've brought in a few more and some of them are going gangbusters already. It's so nice to see that bright green again in this dreary weather!

This is a 'Ray of Hope' doing its best to impress.

And here's the lot of them...

Under the grow lights I have started some lettuce and spinach, they'll be ready to go into the cold-frames by mid-month.

Pieter

Featured Answer

peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada

last year

Lol Pieter! I knew that title would not be the way it sounded. Very good getting a jump on things, clearly even in your zone April is a bit early. Fitting that Ray of Hope would be ahead of the pack. Great set up you have there!

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Comments (17)

Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.
Original Author
last year
Laurie, I thought for some time on how to best phrase the title and bring some smiles to peoples faces...sounds like I've succeeded! You're right, early April even in Canada's banana belt is on the chilly side and most hostas in the yard won't be fully leaved out until month's end.

I'll try to remember to post progress pictures.

Pieter
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peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
last year
Oh yes please! We need hope that spring is coming sooner or later.
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C. thanked peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
djacob Z6a SE WI
last year
Yes Pieter, the caption made me smile! So nice you have been able to get things going in time for your event! I see Ray of Hope is making a big entrance! My husband and I were talking yesterday about when it would be good to start lettuce. I see you are way ahead of us!

debra
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C. thanked djacob Z6a SE WI
sandyslopes z6 n. UT
last year
Nice setup! You have a decent amount of space under the lights. A cold frame would help you move some things out so you can start more. I'm itching to get something started!

Your Ray of Hope thinks it's spring already!
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C. thanked sandyslopes z6 n. UT
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.
Original Author
last year

In this batch of hostas I brought indoors is a 'Golden Tiara' and it's very confused by the looks of it: a scape before that particular shoot leafs-out...

Pieter
djacob Z6a SE WI
last year
Cool, 😎

debra
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C. thanked djacob Z6a SE WI
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.
Original Author
last year

A great many of the ones I 'forced' indoors have now been moved outside. We've had great weather, temps into the mid-teens C during the day and while this will somewhat slow down their growth it will harden them off and get ready to be planted in someone-else's garden come April 6th.
peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
last year
They are looking very happy! Hardening them off will be much appreciated by the customers. I am sure people are chomping at the bit for your offerings.
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C. thanked peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
lindalana 5b Chicago
last year
Love those 2 variegated seedlings, cool coloring!

We are doing plant swap May 18 and it may be later than we should have this year , otoh all my seedlings that need to go should be up so I should have plenty of time to decide.

My utility room looks very similar to yours...hubby does not even walk there...

W
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C. thanked lindalana 5b Chicago
djacob Z6a SE WI
last year
Pieter, they are all looking terrific!! You will sell out in no time!!

debra
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C. thanked djacob Z6a SE WI
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.
Original Author
last year
Hope you're right, Debra! I did some poking around today and saw that i have a plethora of 'Revolution' divisions in varying size, guess what the featured variety will be....

Pieter
djacob Z6a SE WI
last year
Is that tall thin one on the right a Pineapple Upside Down???

debra
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C. thanked djacob Z6a SE WI
djacob Z6a SE WI
last year
Oh Pieter, is that Ray of Hope? I see you have photos in the library of that one. Very nice! 👍🏽

debra
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C. thanked djacob Z6a SE WI
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Debra, I'll have to have a look when it's dry out, but the lightish green back left is most likely clausa...

Pieter
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year

Okay, just had a peek. Indeed the lighter green one is clausa, just look at how it circles the 2-gallon pot, and there's a 'Ray of Hope' in front of it. Having said that I really should be referring to RoH as 'Rollercoaster Ride'. Why you ask? It's like this, I received it as RoH about 8 years ago or so but over the years it has gone from streaked to variegated and that makes it RR. Much better results than the 'Ice Age Trail' I received in the same shipment, it's pretty much all reverted back to 'Big Daddy'...

Pieter
djacob Z6a SE WI
last year
Thanks Pieter! I always appreciate that you respond when I have questions! And…. Know I always have a lot of them! 😆

debra
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C. thanked djacob Z6a SE WI