Kat2

For some reason this fascinates me. Not because I can't start seeds (just haven't got into the groove yet) or buy plants but you can't purchase starts at the proper time here in Central FL. Case in point: Onion sets should have been in the ground by November (or so natives tell me) but the only ones available then seemed to be the old dried out from the spring leftovers. Yes, I spent $1 on "fresh ones" a month ago, vernalized them in the fridge for a few weeks and planted them; they're coming up but will probably not bulb.

So I took my cabbage core and shoved it in dirt about 10 days ago. Darn if it didn't root! And it's sending out leaves! I did some reading and found this. How to clone a cabbage at home Which isn't much information and discusses root division; I have a rooted stump. But when I mentioned it on my old lady forum another member said her family had always done this.

I have onions from discarded root ends coming up also.

I picked up a discounted cauliflower to try--why not since I'll have gotten my money from the product so the stem is free? And if I miss the season I'm out nothing.

Has anyone else tried this? If so, what plants did you try? Did you succeed? I did find one of Robert Thompson's book to download but it was about flowers only from what I could see.

__________________

Kat2

Since nobody is into this, I'll add something else to the mix. Stump or crown sectioning in regard to propagating pineapples. Does anyone know about i? Pineapple--Farmer's Bookshelf That's the clearest bit of information I've found. I did try dividing a crown a year or so ago but didn't have the time/means to complete the experiment then. I'd love to get 4 plants from one pineapple if possible; I'm not going to attempt TC. Has anyone tried this?

__________________

crazy banana

Sounds interesting and fun.
However, usually there are better varieties of fruits and veggies that I can grow as the average backyard grower than what is offered in the produce department of my grocery store. Therefore I am not really interested in wasting my limited space or time on something I can buy at the grocery store. My preference is to grow heirloom or rare varieties that not necessarily are offered in grocery stores. As a hobby gardener I do not have to worry about shelf life and can focus more on taste. Same applies to seeds: you never know what variety you get at the grocery store and oftentimes they do not breed through, so kitchen scraps are not really worth anything else than going into the compost or being treats for my chickens.

Kat2

Sadly I have moved to where there are coons and yotes behind me so I'm not doing chickens until I beef up my coop. (I have an electric fence charger I need to test--I've lost birds to coons, skunks, weasels and a mink--yes, a mink! And can't take the sadness of losing even one again because I'm not prepared.) I do compost but having moved to a strange land where not even the locals much less the ag department/university/master gardeners understand the "2 season" system I'm playing around with freebies while I figure this out. (Thanks "grow for the entire country Bonnie" and almost every store buys from you.)

That pineapple core splitting idea has me truly fascinated. I'll never be organized enough to do TC but if I could grow 4 plants from 1 pineapple top--way cool. The figfairy made a huge impact posting anti-Condit fig propagation methods on Gardenweb in 2001 along with suggesting useful cat deterrents and other stuff.

BTW, I've had some wonderful plants from grocery store seeds. Grape tomatoes before they were really marketed became volunteers in my garden; they bred true.

__________________

Planter56

Many people out there grow wonderful plants from what they get in the store. Avocados, oranges, grapefruit, dragon fruit, and yes even pineapples. The best way to grow a pineapple is to find one with a really nice top, that has some newer leaves coming out of the top. take it home and twist the top off. Take off the first four rows of leaves to expose the stem and clean off as much of the old pulp that you can. Put the top into a glass of water so the water covers the exposed stem. Change the water every day and watch for roots. Pinapples are a terrestrial bromeliad but they still need a good soil for that type, which you can find info online for. You can even root those prickly pear pads that you find or the fruits with the seeds. You can take the crown from celery and plant that as well. Anything with the growing point and the base still attached may root. Cauliflower stems won't root. you need the base. Hope this helps a little.

Good growing!

Kat2

Darn! The top from my most yummy pineapple ever (and I do mean ever) rotted; the top that's growing well was also an MD-2 but not nearly so delicious. Hmmm....excellent flavor or excellent propagation.

Since it's just me and I'm trying to low carb and pineapple isn't on my diet I'm thinking I need to go bar hopping (actually dumpster diving where they serve those island coconut island drinks) in order to garner more tops. Or maybe I should just ask? I do know I need to cozy up to the local coffee shop; they serve a lot of java and I can make good use of their grounds. I need to be a bit less shy...

__________________

gnappi

Besides string beans, onion, and other veggies, there's guava, mango, avocado, watermelon and a host of veggies and fruit to plant. The only problems with planting trees like avo and mango is they take a long time to fruit and the results may be worse than or possibly better than the parent.