Monday, September 26, 2011

Self-sowing

The seed packet said, “If allowed to flower, will readily self-sow for plants next season.” Gee, free plants!

But there’s always a catch to free. If the packet had said “will readily self-sow for plants everywhere”, I might have said, "I’ll pass." The seeds in question are Old Fashioned, Heirloom Mustard.  “Lovely yellow flowers for cool weather color!”, the packet said.

Here are some baby mustard plants that have already readily sown themselves. The blooming plants have been gone for months since hot weather set in. I might add that this is the second round of baby plants in this location. I’m wondering if they’ll ever cease to readily sow.

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More.
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And more.
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And more.
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They’re even worse than milkweed for reseeding. Buyer beware. Can you imagine if all these seeds were allowed to grow? Ocala would be one big mustard patch!

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There are other plants that readily self-sow. We call these undesirable plants weeds. I’ve been trying to identify the big one above. It has a thick stem, is quite shallow-rooted and easy to pull up even when two feet tall (though I try to get them when they’re just inches tall), and will survive after uprooting for two weeks (or more) laying in the sun. They’re easy to spot by their large leaves.

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This is spurge, I believe. I detest it. RoundUp takes care of it if only the gardener would use it. Spraying RU must fall into the same category as vacuuming.

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I don’t know the names of these. Sometimes I prefer to remain ignorant. The one on the left grows into a vine. RU works on these, too.

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Now these seeds (above and below) I intend to gleefully scatter myself. 
Coneflowers!!


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This is Vinca major ‘Periwinkle’, growing in one inch of gravel. It also readily self-sows but only where conditions are dry. It looks like one bush, but it’s not. I don’t know how many plants this is, perhaps 30 or 40. I‘ve let the pile get bigger than usual. It’s so lovely that I don’t have the heart to pull up the plants plus I’ve been hibernating in the A/C for quite a while. The last time I reduced its size I stuck some of the rejects in an unirrigated pot. They’re doing fine and blooming. Fortunately, another path goes behind the tree, so I can indulge this rampant self-sower. It will freeze come winter and then “will readily self-sow for plants next season”. How nice.

4 comments:

  1. I love some volunteers and hate others, one that I love are the periwinkles and have them everywhere. They are so dang hardy and happy. I've really learned to appreciate their simple beauty.

    Have a great day ~ FlowerLady

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  2. Yep, I have some of those same weeds. I grinned at thinking Ocala one big Mustard Patch. The one that grows into a vine really favors the morning glory or black eyed susan vine...

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  3. That's one reason I don't plant many things from seed! I have a lot of those weeds, too. And one new one that I need to look up - not sure it's not some form of poison ivy! Your vinca is beautiful.

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  4. I think your vine may be Bindweed. Can't get a good enough look at your other mysterious weed to venture a guess.

    You should see MY weeds. :)

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