growingontheedge.net https://growingontheedge.net/ |
|
Agave wocomahi update https://growingontheedge.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9353 |
Page 1 of 1 |
Author: | Andrew in Germany [ Tue Apr 07, 2015 7:31 pm ] |
Post subject: | Agave wocomahi update |
Spring has sprung here and I've been enjoying the day with the plants! Agave wocomahi has developed very well and I'm beginning to think it has a lot of potential as a 'hardy' agave. I've been growing a few since 2007, all from seed. Last summer I planted one out in a raised, well insulated and free draining bed. This winter I gave the whole bed a simple plastic tent, that kept the snow and rain out, but not the wind. The lowest temp was around -8c in Dec and again around Feb. For the whole winter this bed sits just out of the suns reach, meaning it's in shade. Planted in this bed were 2 Manfreda 'Macha Mocha' , a small but healthy Cycas revoluta and an Aloe x delaetii (not sure about it's name...). Plus a few grasses. All ( except the grasses) suffered far worse than the agave, I think the Cycas is probably dead, one of the Manfreda is also looking very grim. The aloe too. I'm very happy to see this agave doing well and much better than its' neighbours. I think I posted something about this agave some time ago: I had a tray of very young plants and had accidentally dropped one and had left it over winter on its side, out of the pot and covered in snow, and found it in the spring. It survived and is the one I planted out here. Here are some pictures. Another one I've kept in the greenhouse for the winters and has been given lots of care and attention. It has grown remarkably and looks very fine. The greenhouse is kept just above freezing. Here are some pics of it. The terminal spines are very long and a lovely blood red as are the teeth. The leaves / blades are flat and proud with a lovely marking on them. It grows quickly. I'm not sure just how it'll take my wet and cold winters, but so far, from the list of Agaves I've tried and lost, this one is doing the best job. I'm not sure there is anyone else out there growing this. I hope my posting will change a few minds. |
Author: | Paul Spracklin [ Wed Apr 08, 2015 9:40 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: Agave wocomahi update |
That is a very handsome plant and also extremely interesting. I have one to plant out somewhere but never yet tried it. Thanks for the update, Andrew. |
Author: | Andrew in Germany [ Sat Apr 11, 2015 5:41 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: Agave wocomahi update |
On the Yucca Do web site, they quote Gentry: ''According to Gentry the plant is very uncommon in it mountainous, pine-oak habitat. The plant does not offset and only reproduces by seed. With the plant being so popular, as a food and fiber source of the peoples in the region and its limited method of reproduction, no wonder it is scarce! '' Well, mine has been offsetting quite a bit, with at least 3 to be taken off this season alone. Perhaps in the wild, with less stress it is less likely to off set. How did you come by yours Paul? |
Author: | Paul Spracklin [ Sat Apr 11, 2015 7:38 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: Agave wocomahi update |
Cotswold Garden Flowers - despite the rather cutesy name one of the best nurseries in England - has it. I imagine they were seed grown as they weren't really uniform. It seems often the case that agaves that aren't supposed to offset will do it a lot, especially when younger and pot grown. Agave parassana can be a bit like that - some individuals resolutely refuse to offset, others fill the pot. |
Author: | Andrew in Germany [ Sat Oct 07, 2017 7:56 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Agave wocomahi update |
An update. I've had this seed raised A. wocomahi planted out now for 2 years and winters with nothing more than old christmas tree branches draped over the top in very cold weather. It has done the best of all the agaves I've tried. It almost comes through unscathed. Temps last winter went somewhere around -9c if I remember correctly and plenty of cold wet sunless days. I put it into a slightly raised bed of rubble, stone, sand etc. It's growing quickly. Another which i planted out a few years ago, lives to this day as well. It sits in a large wooden box that unfortunately gets no sun in the winter months. It's not growing as quickly, but is just as hardy. I'm happy to have found an agave that not only did I raise from seed and is proving itself in my climate, but is also something to look at and be noticed. |
Author: | themes [ Sat Oct 07, 2017 8:26 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Agave wocomahi update |
well done! I can't grow these Growing on the edge! |
Author: | Andy Martin [ Sat Oct 07, 2017 8:48 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Agave wocomahi update |
That looks a beautiful agave Andrew and I might try it here. One website quotes -10C minimum so has potential. It is interesting that your part of Germany is possibly the warmest being close to Aachen. Many parts of Germany went down to -20C last Winter particularly south and east and many yuccas and agaves perished. |
Author: | Paul Spracklin [ Sun Oct 08, 2017 7:26 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: Agave wocomahi update |
That is doing really well! Inspired by your original post I planted mine and it is growing well - albeit not as well as yours! |
Page 1 of 1 | All times are UTC |
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |