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Post by andy on Jul 29, 2007 15:51:50 GMT
I was talking to an elderly lady up our street this morning who is a keen gardener. Just having a casual natter over the fence, as you do, about the garden and i noticed she was dead heading her petunias. However, on further inspection...and questioning  , i see she was just pulling out the dead petals and leaving the seed pods. At that point, another neighbour....an even keener gardener, joined us and commented that she did exactly the same. It got me wondering how many people did the same. With most plants such as salvias, antirrhinums, marigolds etc, it's fairly easy to dead head as all the old flower or flower spike is removed. But petunias are a bit different. Obviously plants....like humans, are on this planet to procreate....spread their genes as far and wide as they can. Plants do this by producing seeds. If we take the seeds off the plant, the plant will try harder to reproduce and therefore send out more flowers....which is why we "dead head" (we should call it "de-seed head") So just in case there is the odd person (odd...as in occasional, not strange) who didn't know, please make sure you remove the seed pod as well as the dead/dying petals. For those that grow petunias, the seed head is the green bit that holds the flower and looks like a green star or like the green part that holds a tomato stalk (toms are in the same family as petunias....solanacae) Even if this helps out one person, my ramblings won't have been in vain. Andy |
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Post by Weeterrier on Jul 29, 2007 18:06:42 GMT
Probably not in vain, Andy. When I worked in a GC, I was amazed at how many people didn't know how or why to deadhead. Also, it is amazing to find that not everyone realises that you take the plant out of the pot before putting it in the ground.  |
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Post by Shrubrose on Jul 29, 2007 18:10:13 GMT
wee t. no?  |
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Post by Weeterrier on Jul 29, 2007 18:14:19 GMT
Shrub, Yes |
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Post by Shrubrose on Jul 29, 2007 18:17:48 GMT
Well, there's hope for me yet ;D
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Post by Chuckles on Jul 29, 2007 21:45:18 GMT
Your right Andy I recall we had this topic last year where some didn't realise you need to pinch/cut out the whole flower head. My sister was one of the culprits who would tug the flowers off and wondered why her plants where looking sad, she was breaking the stem from the main plant when she pulled at the flower  Its the same with Pansies, some just pull the petals and think that is dead heading. Sometimes the obvious isn't obvious and it pays to bring these up  |
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Post by nightowl on Jul 30, 2007 9:28:43 GMT
Embarrassed myself in a pub garden yesterday when I noticed that all the roses were covered in dead heads and no new buds. Started nipping off the ones closest to me, (couldn't do them "properly" with just my fingers) and then stood up and started on the rest, totally absorbed in it. Didn't realise everyone was watching me til I turned around with a satisfied smile, dusting my hand off! I think they thought I was vandalising! Oh well, maybe some of them learned something, if only that I am weird! ;D ;D |
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Post by Weeterrier on Jul 30, 2007 12:32:35 GMT
Oh, Nightowl, I am not so itchy-fingered with roses, but if I see a Rhododendron needing deadheaded, I cannot resist!
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Post by nightowl on Jul 31, 2007 8:16:33 GMT
Oh dear WeeT, I am very naughty with my Rhody and do hardly any dead-heading on it. It doesn't seem to make much difference to them whether you do or don't. Does it???
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Post by Weeterrier on Jul 31, 2007 12:26:29 GMT
Oh dear WeeT, I am very naughty with my Rhody and do hardly any dead-heading on it. It doesn't seem to make much difference to them whether you do or don't. Does it??? No, I don't think it does. But I don't have any blackheads to squeeze anymore.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2007 12:47:45 GMT
Weeterrier Dorcas
I hope this is not what I think it is???
Please tell me differently
J
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Post by nightowl on Aug 1, 2007 9:29:37 GMT
Oh dear WeeT, I am very naughty with my Rhody and do hardly any dead-heading on it. It doesn't seem to make much difference to them whether you do or don't. Does it??? No, I don't think it does. But I don't have any blackheads to squeeze anymore. Oooh WT, I am a maniac for the squeezing and (luckily ? ) still get a few spots! Boyfriend has quite a good supply though, and is very generous with them!  ( well he is if I pin him down!!) ;D ;D WT, do you get itchy fingers if you see someone with one that really needs squeezing??? I do!! OMG, I'm gross! ;D ;D |
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Post by Weeterrier on Aug 1, 2007 10:51:42 GMT
Well, you may be gross, but you have me for company! Years ago, I knew two people whose blackheads had to very nearly have me restrained. One girl had one, about a millimeter across, on her cheek bone. The other, a man, had an even bigger one on his shoulderblade. They were RIPE for squeezing. I could never understand how neither of them seemed to mind that they were there  I was utterly fascinated. Neither of them had a love life. I wonder why!!  |
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Post by Weeterrier on Aug 1, 2007 10:53:48 GMT
Weeterrier Dorcas I hope this is not what I think it is??? Please tell me differently J Newjaneta, good morning. I am doubtful about what you mean? You'll have to be more specific. ;D |
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Post by Chuckles on Aug 1, 2007 11:10:59 GMT
Ladies perleeeeease YUK YUK |
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Post by Shrubrose on Aug 1, 2007 15:49:27 GMT
I have one that insists on paying return visits. A rather gorgeous man once offered to squeeze it for me but I gracefully declined ;D
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, i see she was just pulling out the dead petals and leaving the seed pods. At that point, another neighbour....an even keener gardener, joined us and commented that she did exactly the same.
( well he is if I pin him down!!) ;D ;D
I was utterly fascinated. Neither of them had a love life. I wonder why!!