fed-ex just brought me a package of Zea perennis seeds from the usda palnt introduction center in ames, iowa...a bit over six grams worth...about 200 seeds...great! now if the research center in florida comes through with the seeds they promised we will have three seperate strains of teosinte to work with...now it's time to buckle down and come up with some worthwhile questions to ask the plants beyond why people in mexico would decide that they would make a good domesticated grass...that and planning how to raise the sub-tropical perennial strain indoors...i was aware that the garden would require any number of things from physical labor to some planning about what and where to plant...i truly was not expecting to aquire teosinte so the parameters of my research just expanded and as a result, so will my experience...a challenge to grow on.
i also prepared a bed and planted some eastern gama grass in my backyard...most likely it will be home to some intermediate wheatgrass and some teosinte in the spring...it's chock full of locust trees ( odd how they grow in pairs...just about far enough apart for a hammock) elm trees, russian olive bushes and the damnest ferral rosebush in indiana ( it is vicious and will need to be pruned with a flamethrower) as well as multiple ornamental grasses...a few more plants will be right at home in the wildlife sanctuary ( don't laugh...there was even a redtailed hawk out there the other day...just waiting to see what might turn up in the way of lunch)...spring will be a season of interest...i can feel it.
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if that bird leaves you any feathers be sure to let me know!
ReplyDeleteHello, I am wondering if your Zea perennis overwintered in Indiana?
ReplyDeleteI am wondering if your Zea perennis overwintered in Indiana?
ReplyDeleteactually the zea perennis barely makes it through a season...it is difficult to germinate and seems to have some day length issues this far north...zea diploperennis is a different kettle of fish...we had a remarkably mild winter last year and i mulched the stand on campus heavily ( as i did again this autumn ) and when the temps hit the eighties last march it sprouted...i was surprised and pleased to find it overwintering and i am hopeful that it will return for a third season..i have applied tot he usda for more seeds as a backup...if it shows up again in the spring i will doubtlessly be posting about it ad nauseum...thanks for the interest.
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