It’s supposed to get quite warm over the weekend and early next week, so I decided to put these little blazing stars (Liatris spicata) in the ground while it’s still cloudy and cool.
Not pictured:
- the gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) I also transplanted
- the containers of stout blue-eyed grass and yellow coneflower with no visible seedlings😢; I opened them up (removed tape, folded back top of carton and weighted with rocks to keep it open) in case spring weather prompts germination…and to avoid cooking the seeds when temps approach 90 next week🥵
#IPM @cornellipm #wildflowers #TrialAndError #ConservationBiocontrol @cornellagritech
Update on my experience with winter sowing…
Blue vervain loved it! I opened up the milk carton yesterday to get these seedlings in the ground (ahead of today’s rain) because they were getting way too big for the container. Honestly, I feel like this method almost grew the plants too fast. They were ready to come out of the carton, but it was still too cold here.
Joe pye weed (second pic) also got transplanted, but wasn’t nearly as big.
Blazing star (Liatris) and goldenrod (Solidago) seemed ok to spend a little longer in the carton, so I left them, for now.
Stout blue-eyed grass never sprouted.😢
Yellow coneflower I thought sprouted, but now there’s nothing in the carton. Did it sprout and then get too cold?🤷🏻♀️
#IPM #wildflowers @cornellipm@cornellagritech #ConservationBiocontrol
It’s a sunny warm early May Day in Geneva and hover flies are out!
Adults are pollinators and larvae love munching on aphids!
#IPM @cornellipm #ConservationBiocontrol #Biocontrol
So excited to see this blue false indigo (Baptisia australis) coming along!
#wildfowers #ConservationBiocontrol #spring #perennials #IPM @cornellipm@cornellagritech
Sundial lupines (Lupinus perennis)
The seed package said scarify and cold stratify seeds. I tried the “lazy” way and planted seeds outside last fall. Success!
#IPM #IPMatHome #ConservationBiocontrol #wildflowers #spring @cornellipm
Last year I spent so much time pulling weeds around fall-seeded #wildflowers planted in a raised bed with depleted soil.
Last fall I added ~3” of mushroom compost (spent mushroom substrate; you can buy it in bags from garden centers) and planted seeds into that.
This spring, there are far fewer weeds and I can already find wildflower seedlings! 🥳🎉🎊🙌🏻
@cornellipm@cornellagritech #IPM #ConservationBiocontrol
POV: It’s April 3 and your winter-sown #wildflowers are germinating, but we’re still at least a month and a half away from frost-free in central NY.
Do I just leave them in the jugs until after they’re safe from frost?
Welcoming advice from those who have done this before!
#AlwaysLearning #IPM #ConservationBiocontrol
@cornellipm@cornellagritech
Last fall, I carefully planted perennial #wildflower seeds in rows and labeled them with these little plastic stakes. There were no roof construction workers or neighbors’ chickens to disturb them (like the last two winters). But I didn’t think about frost heaving.🤦🏻♀️ I guess I will be practicing wildflower seedling ID this spring (check out my Biocontrol Bytes blog for info on this) 🤷🏻♀️
Note to self: use 12-inch wooden stakes next year
#habitatathome
@cornellipm
Still feeling like winter in Geneva, but the #wildflowers know spring is coming!
Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Golden alexanders (Zizia aurea)
#IPM @cornellipm@cornellagritech #spring
Does this week’s spring weather (in the northeast US) make you anxious to get out in your garden and tidy? You can cut stems of perennial flowers, but leave stubs 8-24” long. (Don’t cut stems back to the ground.)
The cut stems create spots for stem-nesting bees looking to start families this spring.(👶🏽👶🏾👶🏼🐝😊) If you have an out-of-the way spot to pile the cut stems, you’ll provide shelter for even more #pollinators and insect #NaturalEnemies. Just as effective as “bug hotels”, and more budget-friendly!
#IPM #ConservationBiocontrol #HabitatAtHome
@cornellipm@cornellagritech
I’m trying my winter sown seed containers without lids. Hopefully this is the right choice?🤷🏻♀️
(If you’re wondering what I’m talking about, check out my Biocontrol Bytes blog post on winter sowing.)
@cornellipm@cornellagritech #IPM #ConservationBiocontrol #wildflowers #WinterSowing
