Joe Seals
@backtothenewbasics.bsky.social
Horticulturist, ex-chef, ex-culinary arts instructor, writer.
Author of "Back to the NEW Basics [of gardening]" (https://a.co/d/a1YPIil). Human companion to a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Liberal.
Visit my Substack: https://joeseals.substack.com
Author of "Back to the NEW Basics [of gardening]" (https://a.co/d/a1YPIil). Human companion to a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Liberal.
Visit my Substack: https://joeseals.substack.com
Early growth stage of Pulvinaria urbicola. It attacks hundreds of plant species, especially citrus and tropical indoor plants. Keep a close watch on your plants.
November 29, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Early growth stage of Pulvinaria urbicola. It attacks hundreds of plant species, especially citrus and tropical indoor plants. Keep a close watch on your plants.
Yes, scale. For a specific ID, what's the plant and where's your garden?
November 29, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Yes, scale. For a specific ID, what's the plant and where's your garden?
Do succession. An early pot, a mid-season pot, and a late pot. Start a crop indoors in late March, the second in mid-April, and the third in early May. Give or take. They're generally day-length sensitive so they'll bloom closer to when they should bloom rather than to your schedule.
November 29, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Do succession. An early pot, a mid-season pot, and a late pot. Start a crop indoors in late March, the second in mid-April, and the third in early May. Give or take. They're generally day-length sensitive so they'll bloom closer to when they should bloom rather than to your schedule.
One of my favorite annuals. Bloom time is usually late-ish summer through fall but some areas can start in mid-summer. Sow seed direct in April/May-ish. Big pots, full sun, good putting mix, fert. Unless you're growing them for cuts, go with dwarf strains. If for cuts, check out Johnny's Seeds.
November 29, 2025 at 3:42 AM
One of my favorite annuals. Bloom time is usually late-ish summer through fall but some areas can start in mid-summer. Sow seed direct in April/May-ish. Big pots, full sun, good putting mix, fert. Unless you're growing them for cuts, go with dwarf strains. If for cuts, check out Johnny's Seeds.
I have two cultivars growing in my Corvallis, OR garden. One (five plants) was planted last spring and watered to establish but hasn't been watered since June. The other (three plants) was planted in Early October just before a good rain (as planned) and received no water afterwards.
November 28, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I have two cultivars growing in my Corvallis, OR garden. One (five plants) was planted last spring and watered to establish but hasn't been watered since June. The other (three plants) was planted in Early October just before a good rain (as planned) and received no water afterwards.
Yes, indeed. I've never heard that common name.
November 24, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Yes, indeed. I've never heard that common name.
Looks like Hatiora salicornioides, "Drunkard's Dream"
November 23, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Looks like Hatiora salicornioides, "Drunkard's Dream"
Chloe, my mini dog, likes it. She didn't like the mud and rocks that were there just 7 months ago. It's down to only 3 or 4 species now; that was part of the plan.
November 22, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Chloe, my mini dog, likes it. She didn't like the mud and rocks that were there just 7 months ago. It's down to only 3 or 4 species now; that was part of the plan.
It's a garden in Scotland that's filled with plants from South Africa.
November 19, 2025 at 6:49 PM
It's a garden in Scotland that's filled with plants from South Africa.
It's Jacquemontia pentanthos; the most common name is skyblue clustervine but it's in the Convolvulaceae, the morning glory family.
November 18, 2025 at 6:30 PM
It's Jacquemontia pentanthos; the most common name is skyblue clustervine but it's in the Convolvulaceae, the morning glory family.
You can read the "last few sentences" by either scrolling down or by hitting the three dots and then scrolling.
November 16, 2025 at 7:14 PM
You can read the "last few sentences" by either scrolling down or by hitting the three dots and then scrolling.
and don't forget to label them.
November 14, 2025 at 6:48 PM
and don't forget to label them.
I use burlap to line milk crates and fill them with coarse perlite. All available at most home/garden stores. I dip my dahlia tubers in a 10% bleach solution first. Too wet causes them to rot; too dry causes them to shrivel up.
November 14, 2025 at 6:48 PM
I use burlap to line milk crates and fill them with coarse perlite. All available at most home/garden stores. I dip my dahlia tubers in a 10% bleach solution first. Too wet causes them to rot; too dry causes them to shrivel up.
By "garden," do you mean a landscape or a vegetable garden?
November 13, 2025 at 11:52 PM
By "garden," do you mean a landscape or a vegetable garden?
Police car moth (Gnophaela vermiculata)
November 13, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Police car moth (Gnophaela vermiculata)
Dracaena fragrans (D. deremensis) 'Warneckii'
November 11, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Dracaena fragrans (D. deremensis) 'Warneckii'
That's a very nice selection of Hibiscus heterophyllus. Is it 'Aussie Pink'?
November 8, 2025 at 8:50 PM
That's a very nice selection of Hibiscus heterophyllus. Is it 'Aussie Pink'?
Thanks, I'm flattered. But I gave up teaching when I left Poulsbo, WA and moved here last year. Aside from all my writing, I'm very happy being fully retired.
November 8, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Thanks, I'm flattered. But I gave up teaching when I left Poulsbo, WA and moved here last year. Aside from all my writing, I'm very happy being fully retired.
Medicago arabica
November 7, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Medicago arabica
1. Should be grown more, and
2. Super crop for poor soils.
2. Super crop for poor soils.
November 6, 2025 at 9:51 PM
1. Should be grown more, and
2. Super crop for poor soils.
2. Super crop for poor soils.