Planting Planting and Chat Thread for April 2024

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.

  • 1st – 2nd
    Favorable days for planting beets, carrots, turnips, radishes, onions, and other root crops.
  • 3rd – 4th
    Excellent time to kill weeds, briars, poison ivy, and other plant pests. Good harvest days.
  • 5th – 6th
    Set strawberry plants. Excellent for any vine crops, such as beans, peas, and cucumbers. Good days for transplanting. Favorable days for planting root crops.
  • 7th – 8th
    Poor planting days. Break ground or cultivate. First day is a good harvest day.
  • 9th – 10th
    Favorable for planting beans, corn, cotton, tomatoes, peppers, and other aboveground crops.
  • 11th – 12th
    Poor days for planting, seeds tend to rot in ground.
  • 13th – 14th
    Plant seedbeds and start flower gardens. Plant tomatoes, beans, peppers, corn, cotton, and other aboveground crops on these most fruitful days.
  • 15th – 19th
    Grub out weeds, briars, and other plant pests.
  • 20th – 22nd
    A favorable time for sowing grains, hay, and fodder crops. Plant flowers. Plant corn, melons, squash, tomatoes, and other aboveground crops.
  • 23rd – 24th
    Start seedbeds. Good days for transplanting. Good days for planting beets, carrots, radishes, turnips, peanuts, and other root crops. Also good for leafy vegetables.
  • 25th – 27th
    Neither plant nor sow on these barren days.
  • 28th – 29th
    Favorable days for planting beets, carrots, turnips, radishes, onions, and other root crops.
  • 30th – 30th
    Excellent time to kill weeds, briars, poison ivy, and other plant pests.
 

inskanoot

Veteran Member
So, I’m glad that I googled whether I could plant my Easter Lily. Most of them have LSV (Lily Symptomless Virus). Nope.


Lily symptomless virus​

LSV occurs in its primary host Lilium as a single infection, or in mixed infections with one or more other viruses, such as Arabis mosaic nepovirus (Asjes and Segers, 1983), broad bean wilt fabavirus (Lee et al., 1996), citrus tatter leaf capillovirus (Inouye et al., 1979), cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (Allen and Lyons, 1969), lily mild mosaic virus (Lee et al., 1996), lily mottle potyvirus (Dekker et al., 1993, Derks et al., 1994), lily X potexvirus (Stone, 1980), strawberry latent ringspot nepovirus (Asjes and Segers, 1983), tobacco rattle tobravirus (Derks, 1975), tomato ringspot nepovirus (Lee et al., 1996) and tulip breaking potyvirus/lily mottle potyvirus (Asjes et al., 1973; Dekker et al., 1993; Derks et al., 1994).

The symptoms in LSV-infected lilies differ in severity according to the sensitivity of cultivars and growing conditions in the field or greenhouse.Field-grown plants mostly appear healthy from emergence of leaves to late after flowering.

Occasionally leaves show mild vein-clearing, but at the end of the season necrotic spots or mosaic may appear in some highly sensitive cultivars. As a rule, senescence occurs earlier in LSV-infected lilies than in virus-free plants.LSV symptoms may be more evident in flowers produced under glass for cut flowers than in field-grown plants. Symptoms may be more apparent in winter than in summer. The quality of LSV-tested lily cut flowers was found to be improved. The flowers were better-coloured and larger than those of symptomless virus-infected plants. The plants had a greater height and weight. The vase life was extended, particularly of the lower stem leaves, which in LSV-infected plants generally turn yellow fairly quickly (Boontjes, 1978; Blake and Wilson, 1996; Schouten et al., 1997).Alstroemeria spp. LSV induces symptomless infection in most cultivars.Tulips. LSV induces mild flower breaking in intolerant cultivars.


LSV can be eliminated by a combination of measures, including tissue culture and measures to prevent virus spread under greenhouse and field conditions. In some regions of the world adequate methods to achieve this aim have been developed. In the Netherlands, as a consequence of these activities, the description of newly bred varieties led to the registration of plant characters of the virus-tested cultivars from the late 1970s onwards.Viruses were eliminated from infected lily tissues by the use of in vitro culture of isolated meristems adventitiously formed on bulb scale explants (Allen, 1974). This procedure was successful with Asiatic hybrids but not with L. longiflorum (Linderman et al., 1976; Allen et al., 1980). The in vitro procedure was further developed for a series of cultivars together with improved serological testing by ELISA (Beijersbergen and van der Hulst, 1980) and the rapid propagation of plantlets by tissue culture methods (van Aartrijk and van der Linde, 1986) enhanced the aim to build up bulky foundation stocks in the Netherlands (Asjes, 1976, 1990).The chemical Virazole (ribavirin) incorporated in the culture medium at 40.0 nM reduced the percentage of infected plantlets of L. longiflorum 'Arai' from 61.4 to 35.4, but it had no effect on the Asiatic hybrid Enchantment (Blom-Barnhoorn and van Aartrijk, 1985). Kim et al. (1994) reported that the most effective ribavirin concentration for virus elimination from in vitro cultured bulblets of Georgia and Connecticut King lilies were 20 and 100 mg/litre, respectively.

Virazole was a potent inhibitor of LSV replication at permissive temperatures. Initiation at 25°C followed by growth at 30°C should result in a very low LSV concentration in the new bulblets (Cohen et al., 1996). Growth regulators (BAP, NAA and 2,4-D) affected the bulblet formation and the elimination of LSV. The optimal number of adventitious buds from bulb scale explants was obtained on Linsmaier-Skoog basal medium with 1.5-2.0 mg/litre BAP + 0.5 mg/litre NAA. DAS-ELISA revealed that the highest percentage of virus-free regenerants were obtained on media containing BAP and NAA. While 2,4-D reduced virus concentration all bulblets formed on the media without growth regulators were virus-infected (Chavdarov and Denkova, 1995).Work with more than 80 Latvian bred lily cultivars proved that they can be successfully propagated in vitro from flower buds. Flower development in propagated plants was normal and began on a large scale in the fourth year (Zhola et al., 1992).A series of steps are needed to ensure the production of high quality material, to free lilies from LSV and other viruses and maintain the lowest level of virus infection while bulking up and propagating virus-tested lots of many cultivars. These steps comprise: 1. preparation of nuclear stocks originating from tissue culture; 2. increase of virus-tested stocks by rapid tissue propagation

Lily symptomless virus​

LSV occurs in its primary host Lilium as a single infection, or in mixed infections with one or more other viruses, such as Arabis mosaic nepovirus (Asjes and Segers, 1983), broad bean wilt fabavirus (Lee et al., 1996), citrus tatter leaf capillovirus (Inouye et al., 1979), cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (Allen and Lyons, 1969), lily mild mosaic virus (Lee et al., 1996), lily mottle potyvirus (Dekker et al., 1993, Derks et al., 1994), lily X potexvirus (Stone, 1980), strawberry latent ringspot nepovirus (Asjes and Segers, 1983), tobacco rattle tobravirus (Derks, 1975), tomato ringspot nepovirus (Lee et al., 1996) and tulip breaking potyvirus/lily mottle potyvirus (Asjes et al., 1973; Dekker et al., 1993; Derks et al., 1994).The symptoms in LSV-infected lilies differ in severity according to the sensitivity of cultivars and growing conditions in the field or greenhouse.Field-grown plants mostly appear healthy from emergence of leaves to late after flowering.

Occasionally leaves show mild vein-clearing, but at the end of the season necrotic spots or mosaic may appear in some highly sensitive cultivars. As a rule, senescence occurs earlier in LSV-infected lilies than in virus-free plants.LSV symptoms may be more evident in flowers produced under glass for cut flowers than in field-grown plants. Symptoms may be more apparent in winter than in summer. The quality of LSV-tested lily cut flowers was found to be improved. The flowers were better-coloured and larger than those of symptomless virus-infected plants. The plants had a greater height and weight. The vase life was extended, particularly of the lower stem leaves, which in LSV-infected plants generally turn yellow fairly quickly (Boontjes, 1978; Blake and Wilson, 1996; Schouten et al., 1997).Alstroemeria spp. LSV induces symptomless infection in most cultivars.Tulips. LSV induces mild flower breaking in intolerant cultivars.
LSV can be eliminated by a combination of measures, including tissue culture and measures to prevent virus spread under greenhouse and field conditions. In some regions of the world adequate methods to achieve this aim have been developed. In the Netherlands, as a consequence of these activities, the description of newly bred varieties led to the registration of plant characters of the virus-tested cultivars from the late 1970s onwards.Viruses were eliminated from infected lily tissues by the use of in vitro culture of isolated meristems adventitiously formed on bulb scale explants (Allen, 1974).

This procedure was successful with Asiatic hybrids but not with L. longiflorum (Linderman et al., 1976; Allen et al., 1980). The in vitro procedure was further developed for a series of cultivars together with improved serological testing by ELISA (Beijersbergen and van der Hulst, 1980) and the rapid propagation of plantlets by tissue culture methods (van Aartrijk and van der Linde, 1986) enhanced the aim to build up bulky foundation stocks in the Netherlands (Asjes, 1976, 1990).The chemical Virazole (ribavirin) incorporated in the culture medium at 40.0 nM reduced the percentage of infected plantlets of L. longiflorum 'Arai' from 61.4 to 35.4, but it had no effect on the Asiatic hybrid Enchantment (Blom-Barnhoorn and van Aartrijk, 1985). Kim et al. (1994) reported that the most effective ribavirin concentration for virus elimination from in vitro cultured bulblets of Georgia and Connecticut King lilies were 20 and 100 mg/litre, respectively.

Virazole was a potent inhibitor of LSV replication at permissive temperatures. Initiation at 25°C followed by growth at 30°C should result in a very low LSV concentration in the new bulblets (Cohen et al., 1996). Growth regulators (BAP, NAA and 2,4-D) affected the bulblet formation and the elimination of LSV. The optimal number of adventitious buds from bulb scale explants was obtained on Linsmaier-Skoog basal medium with 1.5-2.0 mg/litre BAP + 0.5 mg/litre NAA. DAS-ELISA revealed that the highest percentage of virus-free regenerants were obtained on media containing BAP and NAA. While 2,4-D reduced virus concentration all bulblets formed on the media without growth regulators were virus-infected (Chavdarov and Denkova, 1995).Work with more than 80 Latvian bred lily cultivars proved that they can be successfully propagated in vitro from flower buds. Flower development in propagated plants was normal and began on a large scale in the fourth year (Zhola et al., 1992).

A series of steps are needed to ensure the production of high quality material, to free lilies from LSV and other viruses and maintain the lowest level of virus infection while bulking up and propagating virus-tested lots of many cultivars.

These steps comprise: 1. preparation of nuclear stocks originating from tissue culture; 2. increase of virus-tested stocks by rapid tissue propagation; 3. culture of foundation stocks under aphid-proof conditions in a greenhouse and/or gauze house; 4. culture of highly qualified stocks at a distance from severely virus-infected lots of lilies; and 5. routine spraying of fields with mineral oil and insecticide to prevent virus(es) spread (Asjes, 1990; Cohen et al., 1996).

In the Netherlands, mineral oil sprays have been used to maintain a high level of disease control (Asjes, 1984). Reduction in virus spread depended on the brand of oil, concentration of oil in the emulsion, the formulation of the oil brand, frequency of spraying, weather conditions and the cultivation methods. The application of synthetic pyrethroid insecticides was introduced in the early 1980s (Asjes, 1981). The present recommended measures to prevent the spread of LSV and other stylet-borne viruses in lilies in the Netherlands consists of weekly sprays of mineral oil plus pyrethroid insecticide in May, June and July, and fortnightly sprays in August and September (Asjes and Blom-Barnhoorn, 1994; Asjes et al., 1996). 3. culture of foundation stocks under aphid-proof conditions in a greenhouse and/or gauze house; 4. culture of highly qualified stocks at a distance from severely virus-infected lots of lilies; and 5. routine spraying of fields with mineral oil and insecticide to prevent virus(es) spread (Asjes, 1990; Cohen et al., 1996). In the Netherlands, mineral oil sprays have been used to maintain a high level of disease control (Asjes, 1984). Reduction in virus spread depended on the brand of oil, concentration of oil in the emulsion, the formulation of the oil brand, frequency of spraying, weather conditions and the cultivation methods. The application of synthetic pyrethroid insecticides was introduced in the early 1980s (Asjes, 1981).

The present recommended measures to prevent the spread of LSV and other stylet-borne viruses in lilies in the Netherlands consists of weekly sprays of mineral oil plus pyrethroid insecticide in May, June and July, and fortnightly sprays in August and September (Asjes and Blom-Barnhoorn, 1994; Asjes et al., 1996).
 

inskanoot

Veteran Member
I just had to post this pic! The cover of

The Aifd Guide to Floral Design: Terms, Techniques, and Traditions​

by American Institute of Floral Designers

Back-ordered on Thriftbooks for $89.53.

Spiral-bound The Aifd Guide to Floral Design: Terms, Techniques, and Traditions Book
 

AlaskaSue

North to the Future
April is normally a big month to get many starts going indoors for my veg gardens and my dozens of hanging baskets and planters of flowers. But since I’m still in Washington a while yet, I’ll only be able to use store bought starts when I get home - except for a few seeds for veg (beets, turnips, radish, carrots, etc). Maybe nasturtiums. Taters will be okay to start late…I only hope there is still enough in stores and greenhouses of what I want of everything else, cuz when they’re gone, they’re gone. Last year was a total loss cuz of the same situation but I have hopes for at least something this season.

Good snowfallls last few days at home, but not too far below freezing, I can usually plant kale and a few other greens mid April. I have little hope though for artichokes and onions. le sigh!
 

Murt

Veteran Member
Not going to have a big garden this year
Broke my knee (it was a replaced joint) and had to have surgery which has put all of my "stuff" a month or so behind
I was in the middle of making a push to get irrigation in for my trees (about 100-120) and a 1 acre garden area--so that will take the priority and by the time I am back in action and get that done it will be too late to plant
when complete I will have almost 3 acres inside of an 8' fence with irrigation (fence is complete)
it has been a long and tiresome process but I am nearly done with it ( I am doing all of the work myself with occasional help from my wife)
BUT
I did get my onions in in Nov (just pulled about 50) have more to come--got the potatoes planted and a few tomatoes --maybe 20
picked some asparagus --not a lot but enough for several meals
taught my wife how to drive a tractor well enough to get some sweet potatoes in (the doctor told me to stay off of the tractor for a few weeks)

From 3-6 year old fruit trees (last year we had a late frost --got a total of 8 apples)
this year they are LOADED--I am having to thin the peaches --pulling 50% or more --on a 24 inch section of one branch there are in some cases over 15 peaches --I leave 2 or 3
the 2 mulberry trees are loaded as well
It looks as if this year I will get fruit from other trees that have never produced before
First year producers----pluot --plum--several varieties of apples--quince--pomegranate--pears and maybe even a couple of paw paws

I can't wait to get back on the tractor and get the back to my little sawmill
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
Not going to have a big garden this year
Broke my knee (it was a replaced joint) and had to have surgery which has put all of my "stuff" a month or so behind
I was in the middle of making a push to get irrigation in for my trees (about 100-120) and a 1 acre garden area--so that will take the priority and by the time I am back in action and get that done it will be too late to plant
when complete I will have almost 3 acres inside of an 8' fence with irrigation (fence is complete)
it has been a long and tiresome process but I am nearly done with it ( I am doing all of the work myself with occasional help from my wife)
BUT
I did get my onions in in Nov (just pulled about 50) have more to come--got the potatoes planted and a few tomatoes --maybe 20
picked some asparagus --not a lot but enough for several meals
taught my wife how to drive a tractor well enough to get some sweet potatoes in (the doctor told me to stay off of the tractor for a few weeks)

From 3-6 year old fruit trees (last year we had a late frost --got a total of 8 apples)
this year they are LOADED--I am having to thin the peaches --pulling 50% or more --on a 24 inch section of one branch there are in some cases over 15 peaches --I leave 2 or 3
the 2 mulberry trees are loaded as well
It looks as if this year I will get fruit from other trees that have never produced before
First year producers----pluot --plum--several varieties of apples--quince--pomegranate--pears and maybe even a couple of paw paws

I can't wait to get back on the tractor and get the back to my little sawmill

And THIS right here boys and girls is why we are doing a CSA share for the second year in a row... that and our yard is 90% shade now and the pesky black walnut tree that keeps things from growing in our yard/gardens. Our CSA farmer has been posting daily reports and I am seriously looking forward to spring greens, peas, radishes, and the like.

CSA --> Community Supported Agriculture.
 

Murt

Veteran Member
And THIS right here boys and girls is why we are doing a CSA share for the second year in a row... that and our yard is 90% shade now and the pesky black walnut tree that keeps things from growing in our yard/gardens. Our CSA farmer has been posting daily reports and I am seriously looking forward to spring greens, peas, radishes, and the like.

CSA --> Community Supported Agriculture.
you will get more of what gets supported and CSAs are a good thing --very good
 

Border Collie Dad

Flat Earther
I'm a month before last frost, here.
My tomato seedlings are getting pretty big and may be too bi8g to keep in under lights.

I do have a wrecked greenhouse freo0m my daughter's dear goats.
May have to see if I can make that work.
 

seraphima

Veteran Member
It has been a cold spring, altho above freezing the last week both day and night. Mostly days in the low 40's and nights about 40F. When the rain stops, i scoot out to do maintenance- cutting and composting the garden 'trash' of old leaves and stems, weeding, and preparing the boxes and pots to receive plants. Some cold season seeds like peas, lettuce, kale and radishes are in, most covered with old clear plastic drawers as little cold frames.

It is supposed to get up to 50+ on Sunday for three days, so am getting the the beds for potatoes and onion sets prepared now, in between raindrops. Got some 25' rolls of 12 " chicken wire from walmart. These will go around the inside rim of planted potato beds to hold in layers of seaweed, leaves, chopped comfrey stems, etc. to mulch the potatos and as sheet composting both. By fall the worms, growing potatoes, and weather will have turned a lot of it into soil.

One of the permaculture principles i especially like is to make things do double duty; for example, weedy grass pulled out of beds to prepare for planting is used to mend holes in the lawn, extras of divided perennials are going to the local benefit plant sale (in re-used plastic containers) and so forth.
 
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