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Oct 4, 2015 6:49 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
For years, I have taken seeds from things we eat and planted them. My downfall was a few years ago when I discovered the Book:

The After Dinner Gardening Book by Richard W. Langer

Over the course of the past few years, this is what I have or am growing:

Avocado - but of course :-)
Mango * (trying again)
Kiwi *
Grapefruit
Lemon
Clemantine
Myer Lemon
Starfruit *
Paw Paw - yum yum Missouri banana

* failed for variety of reasons

Next up is pomegranate which I enjoyed tonight.

Are you crazy like me trying stuff like this? nodding

What sorts of things have you tried. Were you successful?
Any hints on hard to germinate stuff is appreciated.

david
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
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Oct 5, 2015 2:38 AM CST
Name: Patti
Wichita, Kansas (Zone 6b)
Bee Lover Winter Sowing Seed Starter Region: Kansas Houseplants Dragonflies
Dog Lover Critters Allowed Cottage Gardener Cat Lover Birds Enjoys or suffers cold winters
That sounds like an interesting book. I just read down your list and now you have me curious. Are you getting avocados? I love avocados and hate paying the high prices. I would be tempted to give avocado growing a try.
“In walking, just walk. In sitting, just sit. Above all, don’t wobble.”
– Zen saying
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Oct 5, 2015 1:48 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
I got the book for 50 cents on Amazon.

No avocados - yet. nodding . I am in Zone 5 B up the road from you. I doubt that I will see any fruit on anything. Smiling Many of the plants are quite lovely though.
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
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Oct 5, 2015 1:55 PM CST
Name: Patti
Wichita, Kansas (Zone 6b)
Bee Lover Winter Sowing Seed Starter Region: Kansas Houseplants Dragonflies
Dog Lover Critters Allowed Cottage Gardener Cat Lover Birds Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Thank you for your answer. My mom was telling me about the avocados she got free when she lived in California. That gave me zone envy, for sure! Hilarious!
“In walking, just walk. In sitting, just sit. Above all, don’t wobble.”
– Zen saying
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Oct 5, 2015 5:22 PM CST
Name: Kim
Iowa (Zone 5a)
I kill ornamentals... on purpose.
Enjoys or suffers cold winters Spiders! Critters Allowed Birds Houseplants I helped beta test the first seed swap
Region: Nebraska Keeper of Poultry Rabbit Keeper Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Procrastinator Garden Ideas: Level 2
I once found an article that was titled, "Gardening with Leftovers". Of all the examples given, the only one that was something we ate regularly was celery. All you do is save the end, put it in soil cut side up. Once leaves start forming, put it in the ground.

I got to the point of getting two in the ground and overnight something ate them to the ground.. It was for the best, as celery needs a lot of water and I hardly ever remember to water the veggie gardens. They are so far back, I just do not think of them.
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Oct 5, 2015 9:35 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
Kim - Try a pineapple Smiling I have one growing from a top - it took (my first attemp failed) and I have one itsy bitsy seedling started from a seed. :-)

I am also gonna try date and fig. Have to get non-treated ones though. Oh and papaya too.
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
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Oct 7, 2015 6:13 PM CST
Name: Karen
Valencia, Pa (Zone 6a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Cut Flowers Winter Sowing Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Echinacea
Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Ohio Region: United States of America Butterflies Hummingbirder Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I added that book to my "want to read" shelf on Goodreads. Sounds cute

Karen
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Oct 8, 2015 4:14 PM CST
Name: greene
Savannah, GA (Sunset 28) (Zone 8b)
I have no use for internet bullies!
Avid Green Pages Reviewer Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Rabbit Keeper Frugal Gardener Garden Ideas: Master Level
Plant Identifier Region: Georgia Native Plants and Wildflowers Composter Garden Sages Bookworm
We have 7 date palm trees growing. Don't know if I will live long enough to see the dates but the trees look healthy. One Pomegranate; no fruit yet but it's a possibility. This Pomegranate in our local Botanical Garden is bearing fruit.
Thumb of 2015-10-08/greene/75c81a
Zone has a lot to do with the success of this, or I guess a really large heated greenhouse would be helpful for those in the cooler/cold zones.
Pineapple can also be grown from seed. Get to know the folks at the grocery store who prepare the cut fruit platters and ask for the trimmings; that's where the Pineapple seeds are.
Sunset Zone 28, AHS Heat Zone 9, USDA zone 8b~"Leaf of Faith"
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Oct 8, 2015 4:38 PM CST
Name: Linda
Carmel, IN (Zone 5b)
Forum moderator I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member Region: Indiana Dog Lover Container Gardener
Seed Starter Herbs Vegetable Grower Cut Flowers Butterflies Birds
I think that sounds like a fun experiment to try. I'll check out that book!
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Oct 8, 2015 10:01 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
It is written in a very humouress style and chapters are 3 - 10 pages focusing on one item. It gives me chuckles while lerning something. It is a bit dated now, but a good read and I paid little other than shipping.

@greene - cool Smiling Yes - I am growing a pineapple from seed now. Good idea though - thanks.
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
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Oct 9, 2015 6:47 AM CST
Name: Thea
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Full-time Wife, Mommy and Nurse!
Cactus and Succulents Plumerias
Avocado and jackfruit Blinking
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Oct 9, 2015 9:10 AM CST
Name: Patti
Wichita, Kansas (Zone 6b)
Bee Lover Winter Sowing Seed Starter Region: Kansas Houseplants Dragonflies
Dog Lover Critters Allowed Cottage Gardener Cat Lover Birds Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Now, there is someone who can get real honest to Pete avocados to eat. Zone envy!
“In walking, just walk. In sitting, just sit. Above all, don’t wobble.”
– Zen saying
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Oct 9, 2015 9:14 AM CST
Name: greene
Savannah, GA (Sunset 28) (Zone 8b)
I have no use for internet bullies!
Avid Green Pages Reviewer Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Rabbit Keeper Frugal Gardener Garden Ideas: Master Level
Plant Identifier Region: Georgia Native Plants and Wildflowers Composter Garden Sages Bookworm
Slightly off-topic...
My sister lives in Florida with a huge Avocado three in the yard. Only problem is that the fruit rats climb the tree and ruin most of the fruit. Thumbs down No zone envy for me because along with the ability to grow warmer weather plants you sometimes get the 'pests'.
Sunset Zone 28, AHS Heat Zone 9, USDA zone 8b~"Leaf of Faith"
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Oct 10, 2015 11:24 AM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Yup, here in FL we do have to 'share the harvest' with all kinds of critters. I have an ongoing battle for 2 months in the summer while my mangoes are ripening. Squirrels really love them, and they will drop one to the ground by chewing through the stem, eat about a teaspoon of the fruit, then leave it to rot. When they come back they don't go back to the one on the ground, they choose a new one. Friends with an avocado tree say that the raccoons love their avocadoes, and that the 'coons are so fat by the time the avocado is finished bearing their bellies drag on the ground. Rolling my eyes.

Btw, it does take probably 7 or 8 years to grow an avocado tree from seed to bearing size. Then (as with many fruits grown from seed) what you get won't likely be the same as the fruit that the seed came from. Same with citrus of any kind, it's at least 5 years to your first fruit (you should remove any fruit that forms on small trees) and they most likely will be what is known as "sour orange" which is the rootstock that most citrus trees are grafted on. Not awfully tasty.

I do plant seeds from things like peppers, though. Again, you never know what you're going to get but at least it's not "sour orange".
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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Oct 12, 2015 9:21 AM CST
Name: Dee Moore
Arroyo Grande, CA (Zone 9a)
Seller of Garden Stuff Seed Starter Garden Art Butterflies Annuals Cactus and Succulents
Greenhouse Container Gardener Region: California Winter Sowing Garden Photography I helped beta test the first seed swap
Unless you grow that Avocado indoors it will never survive. I'm in a canyon between zone 8b and 9a and every Avocado near here has perished.
I too, often try plants outside my plant zone. Less than I used to though, I'm getting tired of no flowers and no fruit. I have found solice in tropical annuals like Blue Shrimp plant. I don't grow many edibles, but I give you credit for trying, you're bound to stumble upon some plants that will survive. I have a number of unusual landscape plants in my garden from just being tenacious enough to try growing them.
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Oct 12, 2015 6:15 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
All my tropicals and Mediteraneans go out after Mother's Day and come in in mid October - whether I buy or grow from seed or cuttings. Whether I ever see a bloom or fruit -- well :-)

My pineapple from seed died. Sad But the top is doing great. Smiling
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
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Oct 12, 2015 7:40 PM CST
Name: Dee Moore
Arroyo Grande, CA (Zone 9a)
Seller of Garden Stuff Seed Starter Garden Art Butterflies Annuals Cactus and Succulents
Greenhouse Container Gardener Region: California Winter Sowing Garden Photography I helped beta test the first seed swap
I know . . . so many plants, so little time.
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Dec 23, 2015 10:54 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
Update .... Update

New and/or replacements

Avocado - 2 YO plant died so I am starting 2 more - getting ready to pop
Mango - getting ready to pop
Starfruit - just seeded
Pomegranate - putting out real leaves

In the queue to be planted real soon now

Kiwi
Papaya
Grapefruit
Coconut
Key Lime

I bought a plantain (and enjoyed it fried) but found out it is sterile.
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
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Dec 28, 2015 11:03 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
Update .....

Planted a Date
Started "germinating" the coconut
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
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Jan 4, 2016 3:15 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
Update ....

Papaya
Grapefruit
Key Lime

All planted
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976

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