What agave do you grow? And where?

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 1:52 pm

HI,
What kind of agave is anyone growing? I am growing- A. neomexicana, A. havardiana, A. lophantha, A. macroculmis, and A. utah. And will try again in the future with A. scrabra, A. parryi, A. americana ssp. protoamericana, etc... I live the desert of southern Idaho in a 5b zone, and would love to hear from anyone esle growing these wonderful plants.

Post by **Jay-Admin** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 9:54 pm

Hello DesertZone,

Welcome to the board. I have always wanted to try agaves. Maybe i will this spring.

What would you suggest for a zone 6 dry climate?

Regards,
Jay

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 4:41 pm

Hi,
I would try A. neomexicana, A. parryi, A. utah, and A. havardiana at first then any of the others you can afford to lose? There are some that don't do well here at all like A. americana, but who knows you might find that one that will make it though a bad winter! I keep trying until I find a individual that will take the cold. If the plant dies during the winter watch for pups in the summer, these pups might be more hardy then the mother plant! I place a hot cap over them when they are small this helps them keep dry during the winter and a little warmer, but make sure to poke a hole in the hot cap near the top, this helps keep it dry inside and lets high heat out. I due this for most of my plants, and seems to do wonders for them when they are very small. Growing them from seed also helps them become more cold hardy, this I see often. I don't know why it helps but it does help.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 6:22 pm

Hi Jay,
It sounds like we live in similar climates! It should be fun to see what each of us will have luck with. Before the internet people thought I was crazy to plant the things I have in my yard. So it is nice to know about all you other crazy people out there! If you find a trunking palm that needs no protection in zone 6 let me know, because I want one

Post by **Jay-Admin** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 7:21 pm

DesertZone,

It does sound like we are in similar climates. I have drove through southern Idaho a couple of times on my way to Nevada. It's beautiful land. I love the desert.

I think you mentioned you grow Y. Elata & Yucca brevifolia? Do you have those planted in the ground?

Regards,
Jay

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 9:31 pm

Hi Jay,
Yes, I grow both of them outside not protected, and they seem to do just fine, even at temps as low as -14 F. I have noticed that the dwarf sp. of brevifolia gets less winter burn Then its larger sp.! Y. eleta may burn back to the ground a few times until it gets bigger, it does not like potting soil much because of the acids. The Y. eletas that I have grown from seed have caught up to a nursery grown plant five years older then the seedlings I have grown. The seedlings also do better in the winter.
Y. brevifolia may be one of the most hardy yuccas I have seen. The bigger sp. may burn on the younger leaves but by spring the new flush of leaves out grows any winter burn. Y. brevifolia is also one of the first to start growing in the spring. I don't know who gave yuccas thier planting zones, but I bet they live in the south. I would try any yucca north of the Mexican border in a zone 6 if grown from seed in your area.
Yes, some will die ( when very young ) but others will live through many of bad wintes!

Post by **Jay-Admin** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 4:38 pm

That's awesome! I have always wanted to try Y. brevifolia but thought they would never survive the winter. I have seen many Y. Elatas around town and the largest (15-20 ft tall) about a hour and a half drive south of where i live. I will be planting some Elatas this spring.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 5:36 pm

Hi Jay,
That is cool that people there are growing Y elata! I think when people find out how hardy Y. brevifolia is it will be very popular in the north! I checked on my small Y. australia, and a Y. mojave today and they seem to be doing very well! (no protection ) I am going to try again this spring with Y. torryi, I have treid this one a few times with little to no success ( seems to die at 0 F. ), but I have grown a few from seed a couple of years ago, so I hope they do bettter.
So...Jay what other yuccas have you seen there?

Post by **Jay-Admin** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 12:28 am

You sure know your yuccas.

I'm still learning about all the different types. I see allot of Adams needle & Glauca. There are some small trunking yuccas around town which i think might be Yucca baccata? I haven't noticed any Rostrata or rigida but i'm sure someone is trying them out.

Regards,
Jay

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 7:28 am

I am still learning also, I have been a big fan of the desert most of my life, and seem to learn something new every day. It also helps to be friends with Lamar ( the owner of Plantasia Cactus Gardens ) he is one of the best when it comes to cold hardy cactus and desert plants! His nursery and garden is as nice as any I have seen! I think the only thing his garden is missng are saguaros! The verity of cactus he grows in a zone 6 is amazing! I hope one day to post some pics of his gardens to inspire people. I should also say he is one of the nicest people I have met.
Hey Jay if you get a chance try yucca rostrata, and yucca riggida. They both grow rather fast for trunking yuccas and yucca riggida has the bluest leaves I have seen on a yucca.

Post by **Jay-Admin** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 10:45 pm

That's great. I would love to see those pics someday. I might try yucca rostrata this spring if i can get some good seed.

Regards,
Jay

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 10:15 am

Hi,
What does it take to send seeds to Canada? I have some good Y. rostrata seed left over from last years plantings. I could give you a few if you want some? That is if it does not take much time or money

. They are real easy to start!

Post by **Jay-Admin** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 2:03 pm

Aaron,

That would be awesome if you would do that.

It shouldn't cost more than two stamps? When i receive seeds from the US the postage is usually under $1. Since it's the holiday season it might be a little busy but i'm in no hurry.

Regards,
Jay

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 2:21 pm

Hi,
Cool just give a pm with your address and I will send them your way!

Post by **Jay-Admin** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 2:43 pm

PM Sent.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 1:06 pm

HI Jay,
I will send them out soon, I will let you know when I do. I also put a www link up so people can see some of my garden pics. I will try to post new pics in the spring and then in the fall so people can see the growth of the plants. I have a lot more cold hardy stuff but no pics of them yet. My garden is still young so it should be fun to watch things grow.

Post by **Jay-Admin** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 5:32 pm

Aaron,

Sounds good. Those are some great pics. Especially like all the cacti. Can't wait to see the progress on your desert garden. That Aaronius corvettii is becoming a rare species. Got to love corvettes.

If i could only convince my wife to buy me one. LOL

Regards,
Jay

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 3:34 pm

Thanks Jay!
I also wanted you to know the eagle is in flight! I sent you a pack of y. rostrata seeds today!

Post by **Jay-Admin** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 10:08 pm

Thanks Aaron. I'll let you know when i receive them.

Thanks again,
Jay

Post by **Jay-Admin** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 10:13 pm

Aaron,

What types of cacti do you think would do well in my zone 6? I have some Fragile Prickley Pear (opuntia fragilis) which grows wild here but i am wondering what else would survive. What success have you had in Idaho?

Regards,
Jay

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 11:51 am

Hi Jay,
A lot more than a person would think, but some things like a saguaro will never live in a zone 6, but there is some really cool ones that will. Try most of the North American Opuntia sp. (prickly pears) most of these are very hardy! And The Cylindropuntia sp. (chollas) most of them are hardy! Both of these might bendover in winter, but will straighten out in spring!
Some others (depending on ssp.) are-Coryphantha sp., Sclerocactus sp., Echinocereus sp., Escobaria sp., Gymnocalycium sp. (from south America), one Ferocactus sp., and a few more. I am sure there will be more in the future! I try anything I like, if it lives- cool, if it dies- better luck next time.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 11:52 am

Hi Jay,
A lot more than a person would think, but some things like a saguaro will never live in a zone 6, but there is some really cool ones that will. Try most of the North American Opuntia sp. (prickly pears) most of these are very hardy! And The Cylindropuntia sp. (chollas) most of them are hardy! Both of these might bendover in winter, but will straighten out in spring!
Some others (depending on ssp.) are-Coryphantha sp., Sclerocactus sp., Echinocereus sp., Escobaria sp., Gymnocalycium sp. (from south America), one Ferocactus sp., and a few more. I am sure there will be more in the future! I try anything I like, if it lives- cool, if it dies- better luck next time.

Post by **Jay-Admin** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 4:38 pm

Thanks for the info Aaron.

I was thinking of trying some chollas. I will have to experiment this spring when i build my cacti bed. I received the rostrata seeds today.

Thanks allot.

I have some fresh (still green) Fortunei x wagnerianus palm seeds i could send you if your interested? They are from a palm in Canada on the West coast so they should be extra cold hardy.

Let me know and i will send some your way.

Regards,
Jay

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 4:25 pm

Thanks Jay!!!
I would love to have some seeds!!! That would make my day! If you do that I will send you a few Joshua tree seeds!
A nice cholla to try Jay is Cylindropuntia imbricata (tree cholla). Can be trimmed at the bottom to give a small tree look. From one 6 inch cutting, you can grow a 3+ foot high plant in 3 years!

Post by **Jay-Admin** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 11:37 pm

Aaron,

I will send you a bunch of seeds next week. I will have to try out the Cylindropuntia imbricata cholla. It sounds interesting. I seen some chollas yesterday at a local nursery I'll have to go back and see what kinds they have.

Have a Happy Holiday.

Regards,
Jay

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 10:46 am

Thanks Jay!
I can't wait! Maybe in a few years, I will have a trachy growing in my yard!
You wll have to let me know what kind of chollas they are selling.
Thanks again

and have a very Merry Christmas!

Post by **Jay-Admin** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 9:32 am

Aaron,

I sent the seeds out today.

Let me know when you receive them.

Regards,
Jay

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 11:33 am

Cool

I will let you know the day I receive them! Then maybe you can give me a tip on how to get them started? I have never been very good at growing palm seeds.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 9:46 am

Jay,
I received the seeds today! thanks a kazillion! Do you want me to send you some joshua tree seeds? I have a few I can share

Thanks again!

Post by **Jay-Admin** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 11:06 am

Hi Aaron,

Your welcome. I actually just received a few Joshua seeds to try out. Thanks for the offer.

For sowing the trachy seeds i use the ziplock baggy method. Seems to work the best for me.

Regards,
Jay

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 2:20 pm

Sounds Good! I will use that method