Tangled Branches: Cultivated
happenings in and around my zone 6b gardens in northern Virginia and in central Virginia
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Bloggers' Block
I've been meaning to post something for, oh, a couple of weeks, but just haven't been able to collect my thoughts long enough. Still haven't, so this is going to be short and choppy. I'm attributing the writers' block to the fact that our house is messy and dysfunctional. We should have a working kitchen again by the end of next week - we've been without one for nearly two months and it seems like longer.
So....what's going on in the garden. A few things blooming here and there - Rosemary, Crocus and Snowdrops. I think all survived the recent 10" snowfall. Quite a lot of it melted today.
I don't know what's gotten into me (other than lots of restaurant food), but I've been ordering seeds like crazy. I have no idea where I'm going to put the 50 million plants they're going to produce. I just got my indoor light setup working again and I'm ready to start some seeds. That is, if I can find my seed-starting supplies. I think they're in the garage behind some large and heavy construction materials.
I pruned my Kaffir Lime tree today. This plant has astonished me by sitting patiently in the garage all winter, covered with an old curtain panel, and mostly retaining its leaves in a green state. Since the dining room isn't slated for demolition renovation just yet, I think I'll repot the lime and move it in there and see if I can get it growing again.
4 Comments:
Ooooh - a Kaffir Lime tree. I'm jealous!
Did you buy a plant or grow from seed? Where did you get it (seed or plant)?
Do you use yours to cook? Does it have enough leaves that you wouldn't miss a few?
Is it terribly thorny?
I'm fascinated - can you tell? :)
wow I love your blog. I have a friend in Reston and it helps me connect with her. I have a garden blog, too at http://gardenersdirt.blogspot.com
Kasmira, I bought my Kaffir line about 5 or 6 years ago from Shepherd's Seeds (but it was a plant). I'm trying to remember if Shepherd's Seeds was still owned by Renee Shepherd then, or if White Flower Farm had already acquired it. Anyhow, they still list the lime tree, but gosh, I don't remember paying that much for it. It was a tiny thing when I got it. They say it's grafted onto a dwarfing rootstock, but I keep mine in check by neglecting to water it ;-) It's maybe 2 ft. tall now and somewhat bushy.
Yes, it is very thorny (really sharp awl-shaped things too), but I've been snipping off the ends of the thorns with a small pruner.
I do cook with it, but not all that much. I didn't really like to take the leaves from it when it was tiny, but the number I take now doesn't seem to cause it any hardship. It's really easy to grow and I really do mostly neglect it. It sits outside for the summer and then I bring it in wherever I can find room for it for the winter. I repot it when I feel like it. I'm sure it would grow faster if I took better care of it, but then I'd have to find more space for it in the winter. The only trouble I've had it growing it was a scale infestation, and those I painstaking removed by hand with Q-tips dipped in rubbing alcohol.
Anonymous,
Now that's a cold frame!
And thanks for the nice compliment!
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