Sunday, April 4, 2010

Decisions, Decisions...


Today officially begins the Seed GROW Project, the trialing of 'Spitfire' Climbing Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus), grown by seed from Renee's Garden.  Forty-four gardeners around the country are growing the same plant and comparing our results.  Though I received my seed about a month ago, I have yet to decide just how I'm going to grow it.

It's a little too early to plant it directly outside, since it needs to be planted after all danger of frost is past.  In our area, that's Mother's Day or a little after.  Last year, we had frost the third week in May!  Of course, I could start them early inside, but it's a little early for that, too, according to the packet, which advises to start inside three weeks before last frost.

I don't know if I'll put it on an existing obelisk, to grow with the Clematis there.  The Clematis isn't very well established, so this might look great with it, except that the Clematis is two shades of pink and 'Spitfire' is scarlet red.

I could also grow it with the white Clematis on the directional.  Now that I could see.

I could grow it in the EarthBox.  Bet it would go nuts in that.

I could grow it on a pyramidal bamboo trellis I've got.  Except that's falling apart and I don't know if I can salvage it for one more year.

I could grow it in a hanging pot.


I could grow it in a pot.
I could grow it in a plot.

I could grow it on a pole.
I could grow it in a hole.

I could grow it in a box.
I could grow it with some Phlox.

I could grow it in a basket.
Where should I grow it?
I think I'll ask it...

Dr. Seuss worked for me.


**************
"I'm growing Nasturtium "Spitfire" for the GROW project,
thanks to ReneesGarden.com for the seeds." 


Images courtesy of Renee's Garden

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Love your Suess-inspired poem, Kylee. I'm sure the plant will do fine wherever you put it. Have fun with this project!

Sue Catmint said...

Hi Kylee, cute poem, I am impressed by the thought and care you are putting into where and how to plant the seeds. I love nasturtium, for looking at and eating. I guess i am lucky because i just chuck some seeds in the garden any time and they always seem to come up. but often they disappear too. Cheers, catmint

Diane said...

You can grow it here or there; you can grow it everywhere!

I wintersowed mine and have seedlings but like you, I don't know where they're going to end up yet. I have a trellis with a dark purple clematis that never blooms very well but is too huge to dig out; what a great idea to throw some nasturtiums in with it! Thanks! :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Kylee! I love nasturtium and am eager to see how yours and the other gardeners' do. That looks like a really pretty variety, too. Enjoy!

F Cameron said...

Great idea with the clematis and nasturtiums!

Lona said...

Hi Kylee. That is one flower I have never tried before to grow. I guess it was because I am not fond of oranges and some yellows but they are coming in more colors now and some variegated leaves.Or maybe they have been around and I just have not noticed them until blogging. It is a little too early here yet.I will be watching to see if they are red or bright orange. Happy Easter.
Lona

Mr Brown Thumb said...

I wish I had so many options about where I'm going to grow mine. I basically know they'll go in one spot and that's about it.

Although, I wouldn't grow in it in your EarthBox, that I'd save for something really special. The Nasties like poor soil, the poorer soil you give them the more flowers you'll get. Good soil that has been amended or has a lot of fertilizer will produce more leaves than blooms.

Anonymous said...

Hee! Cute poem. They're easy to grow, so I'm sure they'll do well wherever they end up. Although, I love the idea of the bamboo trellis. They're one of my favourites.

Fern @ Life on the Balcony said...

I bet it would look really pretty with the white clematis!

Kylee Baumle said...

jodi ~ I'm going to start them soon, so I'd better be deciding!

catmint ~ I've grown nasturtiums before, but never this climbing kind! I think they'll be fun and pretty!

Diane ~ Now why didn't I think of that line? :-)

suz ~ I think they'll be awesome! :-)

Cameron ~ Not sure I'm going to do that yet, but I might!

Lona ~ I'm not a big orange lover either, but the fact that they climb is fascinating to me. I'm pretty sure these will be more orange than red. It's like those blue flowers that are really purple. LOL.
Hope you had a blessed Easter, Lona!

MBT ~ No, the EarthBox isn't really one of my choices. I'm going to grow cucumbers in that. I knew nasturshalums (Winnie-the-Pooh) liked poor soil, like cosmos, but I'd forgotten. Thanks for the reminder!

Nancy ~ I'm leaning towards this! If mine is too decrepit, I'll just have to buy one, or make my own with branches. Yeah...I might do THAT!

Fern ~ That would be on the directional. It's on my short list!

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