PBS Forum

If the tubers are relatively "lengthy" can you see the old annual leaf scars along the tuber? If yes, cut off the growing point with a couple of the scars and replant after treating cut surface with powdered sulfur to protect against rot. Scrape along top of tuber remnant, dust with rooting hormone and replant. Slow, but new growing points will form along the wound. Wait a couple of years and can then slice tuber and growing points apart.

And for the myrmechory - cut squares of old pantyhose, fold loosely over seed pods that are forming and close around stem with a twist tie. The fabric dries quickly after rain so no worry about mold. And when capsule splits the seed is contained.

I think I remember reading something about keeping rabbits - or was it chickens? - under the greenhouse benches as an auxiliary heat source. Myself, I'd go for rabbits. Their waste is neatly pelleted, easy to clean. Chicken poop is sloppy. Rabbits are quiet. Chickens are not.

Just saying . . .

Sending hopes for peace, health and happiness in the new year to my PBS friends. And also wishes for beautiful bulbs in flower, unaffected by slugs and snails and herbivorous animals.

Here in western New Jersey it is clear blue skies and somewhat windy.

When I got up at 2:30 a.m. to put more wood in the stove it was 6 degrees Fahrenheit outside the front door, 4.5 degrees F on the roof (according to my weather station. I assure you that A) I don't go up there any more, at any season and B) wouldn't want to risk startling Santa and the reindeer.)

It is currently, 11:15 a.m. and 8.6 degrees F. on the roof. Mostly clear blue sky and somewhat windy.

Greenhouse is holding at 50 degrees F. Yesterday evening I turned up the thermostat for the propane heater and set the auxiliary electric heater to turn on if the temperature at that end of the greenhouse dropped below 50 degrees F. So far, so good.

Several decades ago my brother did his doctoral research in the Andes, up above Cuzco. Learned to speak Quechua and Amara.

I mentioned this thread about edible Andean tubers to him.

Here's his reply: " I know nashua as añu, not very common in . Oca is mild and sweet. Olluco has a moist slightly slippery texture and is often prepared with charqui (that's the Quechua word that we get our word jerky from--local freeze-dried meat) which is a great contrast of flavor and texture and also nutritious.  

We have an in-ground 1,000 gallon propane tank that fuels kitchen stove, hot water, heat for house and greenhouse. Clothes dryer uses electricity as it vents to garage (hey, we didn't build the place.)

With the very low temperatures forecast for the end of the week my husband installed the auxiliary electric heater that was used last winter. Smallish box unit suspended about 4 feet off the floor. It's at the opposite end of the 8 ft by 18 ft greenhouse from the gas heater. Basically, I turn it on after dark, setting its thermostat so it just comes on at appropriate temperature before it drops even more at night. There is bubble wrap on all vertical glass to ground walls.

I think of Scandinavian summers as having very long days.

The issue I was warned about when my significantly smaller home greenhouse was about to be ordered was not so much keeping it warm in winter as keeping it cool in summer.

And how do they keep the glass clean . . . I have enough of a problem with windows.

In late spring, the Enid Haupt conservatory at  the New York Botanical Garden is sprayed with a white paint that degrades with  rain. By autumn they hose off the remnants. Which does require equipment with lift buckets etc.

Was it mentioned that the owner of the gas station (if that's what it was) that sold the winning ticket gets a reward of $1 million from the Lottery?

I have only forced the usual run of spring flowering geophytes - narcissus, tulips, hyacinths, muscari, etc. Once potted up they require a chilling period for rooting. Refrigerator temperatures, that would be 38 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit - are considered suitable.

I remember one year, the New York Botanical Garden had a greenhouse display of Dutch bulbs. As with all their exhibitions it extends for a couple of months, determined by the powers that be rather than horticultural staff. The major problem was not coaxing the bulbs into early bloom but retarding them.

Obviously the Dutch have figured something out, as tulips as cut flowers may be had practically year round.

There's all sorts of totally crazy information online. To wit: hydroponic vertical saffron farming, with roots in a nutrient rich water solution rather than soil. Considering that one of the images in that article is of Crocus 'Pickwick' a popular spring flowering hybrid crocus I am not too sanguine about the accuracy of their information.

Saffron has been grown in Pennsylvania by the Pennsylvania Dutch / Mennonites. It was grown somewhat commercially into the 21st century, I believe, but not currently.

In general, I think of gladiolus (and other crocus species) as easier to grow than Crocus sativus. Greenhouse is lighter / brighter situation than the grow racks in the pictures. Which don't even appear to have grow light units.

Just call me curious. And if curiosity killed the cat, remember that satisfaction brought him back.

O.K. I'm confused. Here's a link to an article about growing saffron in Kashmir. Indoors!

https://apnews.com/article/business-india-kashmir-climate-and-environment-ceb197472c72837ff001b001f4939826

However the numerous photos show the entire flower being plucked. And I used to read that the high cost of saffron spice is in part due to the intense, meticulous labor of plucking the stamens from the flowers.

I expect that flowering saffron indoors is similar to forcing bulbs for early spring bloom. But do the corms regenerate sufficiently for repeat production is subsequent years? Or is this a once and done situation. What's your opinion / thoughts / comments.

Corpse flower in bloom at Eastern Connecticut State University

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/11/01/Connecticut-schools-corpse-flower-blooms-emits-foul-smell/8801667328893/

And my brother said: " I've seen desert blooms in Peru though not in Chile."

He provided a couple of useful links:
https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/162106018
and
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/27584616454420981/

http://www.chileflora.com/Florachilena/FloraEnglish/HighResPages/EH0255.htm
 

The article could / should have been better. If they are good enough to say "geophytes" rather than "bulbs" they could / should have been specific.

I had seen the two sentences you posted, CG100, and previously (before posting the link) had done a Google search.  For añañucas it brings me to hotel information. There is also a line of images that look rather like Rhodophiala. Nolanas are an annual. Nothing on huillis.