Monday, April 23, 2012

The Promise of Things to Come

Monday, April 23, 2012   Mark and Gaz   26 comments

The Hype!
At this time of year the plants are in full Spring grow mode. We are getting a lot of rain at the moment (you can tell we just had a hose pipe ban, its not stopped raining since!), and the weather is on the cool side, however the hardy perennials are all busy growing, so much so you can almost hear them (well maybe not, unless you add some special effects to a time lapse recording).

One plant we have high hope for this year is Hosta 'Empress Wu', this went into the ground as a small plant 3 years ago, with just one set of leaves, since then it has slowly bulked up, and looks like it might finally start to live up to its hype and give us some large leaves as its reported to have.

So far this is the reality!
Finger crossed we start to get the large leaves promised by so many of the Hosta sellers.

Gaz

Posted in: exotic garden , Hosta , Spring

26 comments :

  1. Unknown23 April 2012 at 19:43

    I'm sending some magic grow dust your way to lend the Empress a hand!

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  2. Søren23 April 2012 at 20:11

    You've got to love that hosta; I hope it lives up to its promise!!!

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  3. Denise23 April 2012 at 20:14

    Wow! That is a big one. That must be every slug’s idea of heaven.

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  4. Gaz23 April 2012 at 20:16

    Thanks Martin, lets hope it doesnt get on the weeds!!

    Søren - I certainly hope it does, as it will be a real wow plant if it does.

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  5. Gaz23 April 2012 at 20:19

    Denise, I hope not!! we dont seem to have too much of a problem with slugs on our hostas.

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  6. Nick C23 April 2012 at 20:35

    Mine is Looking like it's going to be huge this year too, it was planted at the same time as yours was, but mine is still only got one growing point Not multiple ones . Do you give yours any special treatment? I have just hidden mine at the back of the garden until it bulks up a big more.

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  7. debsgarden23 April 2012 at 22:34

    I can't believe you have an Empress Wu! Just last year I succumbed to the same hype and received the tiniest plant for my major bucks. My plant also has a long way to go. I have nicknamed her 'Baby Wu-wu', until she grows up into an empress!

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  8. Gaz23 April 2012 at 22:53

    Baby wu wu :) Love it Debs, there was quite a bit of hype over this one about 3 years ago, its was a small plant to start off with, but is now looking like it will take off (I hope)

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  9. Roslyn24 April 2012 at 00:12

    Very impressive plant. It will look amazing if it grows anywhere near the size of the one in the picture.

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  10. Tatyana@MySecretGarden24 April 2012 at 04:23

    Gaz, maybe some ritual dance can help... I am about to try it with some of mine plants!

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  11. David Marsden24 April 2012 at 07:03

    Gosh but that is some hype. You could park a hippo in it. Good luck. Dave

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  12. Gaz24 April 2012 at 10:04

    Nick, no special treatment, just waiting for it to get big!

    Missy, hopefully it will do, there are quite a few photos on line of it looking big. There are several US breaders developing giant hostas

    Tatyana, hopefully the dance will work, we need to see your ritual plants dance :)

    David, if it lives up to the hype then a family of hippos maybe!

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  13. Andrea24 April 2012 at 11:24

    I've realized i haven't come here lately, i wonder why i didn't see your posts on my dashboard. I don't like the new blogspot face, am still lost with it. Those hosta leaves look really big! You can't even wait for it to unfold before you post, haha! You were also excited.

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  14. Mark and Gaz24 April 2012 at 11:43

    Hi Andrea, the potential is exciting but I suspect it does take many years to attain the size above starting from a small plant. Be great if it does though!

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  15. Trainer John24 April 2012 at 14:17

    Interesting. I've just picked up a (small) plant of 'Big Daddy' to add to my own small collection of hostas but that looks like another good one to look out for.

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  16. HolleyGarden24 April 2012 at 14:45

    So glad to hear it's raining there. I just planted an Empress Wu this year in my garden. Now I know not to expect too from her for a few years. Thanks for the vote, too!

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  17. Mark and Gaz24 April 2012 at 15:41

    John, definitely worth adding to your list. Another one to look out for is 'Jurassic Park' with it's potential for big leaves.

    You're welcome Holley :) And well done on planting an Empress Wu in your garden!

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  18. Unknown24 April 2012 at 20:48

    Wow, I couldn't possibly plant that, it would totally fill my garden!!! Well, eventually anyway :o)

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  19. Anonymous24 April 2012 at 22:02

    Gaz did you ever heard about the garlic water ?
    look at this videos.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMiVUWUktRk

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  20. organicgardendreams24 April 2012 at 22:17

    Gaz, wow now that's a hosta! I have never seen such a gigantic one and hope yours lives up to its reputation. The start is looking good though this year :-)! Just keep us updated.
    Christina

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  21. Mark and Gaz24 April 2012 at 22:49

    CG - It will take time, hows your garden coming along now?

    Chistina, theres several big ones out there, we have a few but they are all quite small so far for us.

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  22. Libby25 April 2012 at 13:31

    Shall follow this with interest. Do your hosta's not suffer from slug damage or do you use, slug pellets?

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  23. Gaz25 April 2012 at 17:14

    We dont get much damage, although we do use some slug pellets, although this is a bit infrequent.

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  24. gardenenvy8 May 2012 at 19:59

    That hosta is incredible. I didn't know they can be big!

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  25. Mark and Gaz9 May 2012 at 22:55

    We are looking forward to seeing what size it will reach in our garden.

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  26. Anonymous4 September 2016 at 06:34

    I purchased Big Daddy & Empress Wuhan from our local garden center about 2 years ago but the deer, rabbits, and other local herbivore critters have not let them get beyond a few leaves. This year I had so many garden and non garden priorities but next year I will devote lots of attention to these guys and see what happens.
    Tracey from Chestnut Ridge, NY

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