Rachel's Journal

Rachel, I was just going to mail you to see had you planted the mimosa pudica (thanks for the seeds), I am going to plant mine tomorrow cant wait :O)

the look very diffeent, are they difficicult to grow?

My Mimosa pudica have germinated. Wahoo!  Lovely journal photo.

I need a black spot on the screen, so I wont see plants that I want to add to a wish list. I am done buying for a while, no where to put things. That is a great colour, Rachel.

Rachel have you a plan where all these seed plants will eventually end up in the garden. Thats where I fall down, I impulse buy and then have no plans where to put them and if they are periennials I end up moving things around all the time, trying to get them in to the right spot.

Gismo, I used a beer-making thermometer to gauge when the water was 60 degrees for the 20 minute soak. Of course, after 5 minutes the temperature had dropped. So I added some more hot water to bring it up again. When it dropped again, I had no more space in the cup so just left as was : )

Well done, Jacinta. Did you soak yours in hot water?

Gravelgarden, they are very easy to grow. That's why I so pleased. I didn't have luck with the 'Kew Blue' variety but the others are doing great. I sowed a little pinch per cell.

Fran, next year you will have a better idea of how much you can grow and what works for you. Maybe you'll try these next year. I'll let you know how they do over the summer.

No, Rachel. It said nothing on the seed packet to soak them. I just put them into slightly damp compost. Delighted with them.

Myrtle, I have no problem finding space for flowers. I had no problem last year (could have used some more) and this year I have more space. Also, this year there are a lot of horrible gaps in my borders due to winter casualties. No, don't worry about me, I will use everything I grow : )

Well, there you go, Gismo. Jacinta didn't soak hers and hers have germinated! It's up to you.

This reminds me of Bill's Ricinus woes last year. He put the seeds in really hot water to soak because he had read that this was a good idea. He got nothing but the seed that had accidentally fallen in his greenhouse germinated and produced plants!

There are different ways of doing things and we all have to find what works for us.

Gismo, the first two of my Mimosa germinated. That's 4 days if you soak them in hot water as above : )

Thats brilliant Rachel, I misplaced my packet. I know its in the living room going to look for it and plant them this evening (fingers crossed).