WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD VOLUME 48 NOVEMBER 29, 2013

I did experiments with root hormone last summer. I was able to get both romaine lettuce and celery to root, and for a time, actually grow. My ignorance about what makes both of those plants happy once they are growing was the major factor in their untimely deaths, I’m afraid. But I did prove rooting a store stump could be done, to my satisfaction.

I’m not sure about tarragon. All I can say, is go for it!...and report back! :-D

It will be spring when I try again—I have rooting hormone. Tarragon is good even in dry form, fortunately. Lavender, rosemary, and my deep pink crepe myrtle are all on the list of plants to try to propagate by cuttings.

The top of my cold frame is sagging a bit, but everything is protected.

That ice is one semi-solid mass. It's not a light dusting.

And it's still coming down.

/johnny

Crepe myrtle is easy to propagate by cuttings. This is how I did it. From Auburn University:

crape myrtle can be propagated easily through several methods. The most commonly used methods of propagation are hardwood and softwood cuttings. To propagate by hardwood cuttings take 8 inch long and 1/2 inch diameter cuttings in early to mid-November. Stick several cuttings in a container filled with a potting soil or well drained garden soil. About an inch of the cutting should protrude above the soil line. These cuttings can be left outside but should be protected from severe freeze. Once new growth emerges place the container in a sunny location and keep watered until you can plant them in the summer or fall.

Softwood cuttings consist of 4 to 6 inch cuttings taken from actively growing shoots at any time during the growing season. The cut ends can be dipped in a rooting hormone and then stuck in a well drained potting mix. Keep the cuttings misted to avoid drying out before roots can form. Rooted cuttings can then be planted in larger pots and grown to a larger size to improve survivability when placed in the landscape.

At 1 am this morning, it was 40 degrees, so it didn’t freeze here last night. Right now, at 10:20 am, it is 39.

There is a lot of difference in temp. between Fort Worth/Dallas and here.

It's 28 here, and a little ice is still spitting down.

It's a mess out there.

I'm staying inside. ;)

/johnny

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