What died in your new gardens? so far...

Not quite. But my black beauty elderberry is dying. Some smaller branches have been wilting in the last few weeks. I cut them off, didn't find any borer. Now one of the four bigger braches is following the path.

My other black lace elderberry is fine. They are both patent plants and propagation is not allowed, as said on the label. Does that mean I can't even take a cutting to save the plant?

Tereza Okava wrote:The plants seem healthy, I'm in a region that is known for growing broccoli and cauliflower (conventionally, of course), what am I doing wrong that I'm getting small heads?

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/broccoli/buttoning-broccoli-heads.htm

Primarily, buttoning of broccoli occurs in young plants when they are exposed to several days of cold temperatures of around 35-50 degrees F. (1-10 C). Cold temperatures are not the only reason for poor broccoli heads, however. Broccoli plants are sensitive to any prolonged changes in their environment. A number of conditions can affect the plant, resulting in a change of vegetative growth early in the plants’ development. Additional stressors such as insufficient water, a lack of nitrogen, excessive salt in the soil, pests or disease and even weed competition may all contribute to broccoli buttoning problems. Transplants are more likely to button than young rapidly growing plants, as are plants whose roots are exposed. The good news is that the problem of a broccoli that forms small or no heads can be solved.

ooh, thanks Rebecca. I did a search and saw that and laughed. Our winter temps are totally all over the place (24C to 0C, often in the same day), as are rain/drought cycles.
The producers here use high tunnels, which probably buffers the temp shifts (and here I just thought it was bugs).

everything died this year complete total failure, peaches and cherries frozen off in late spring freeze. power company contractors came though spraying herbicides and my new this year garden spot that was under power lines. I won't even walk through that part of property anymore I'm so disgusted. got another couple spots for next years garden picked out and keeping them mowed so weeds won't go to seed and I'll plow it up after leaves fall. hopefully will start on a few raised beds in another spot close to the well after I get cut firewood off it

May Lotito wrote:

My other black lace elderberry is fine. They are both patent plants and propagation is not allowed, as said on the label. Does that mean I can't even take a cutting to save the plant?

There's the "rule of the law" and the "spirit of the law". You paid for one plant. If you took cuttings and made multiple plants, to me that would go against both the letter and the spirit. If you asked them to replace the plant and they agreed, that would be in keeping with the spirit of the law. If you took cuttings and kept a single replacement plant, to me that would not only be within the spirit of the law, it would also save the company money and the environment the cost of shipping you a new one. I have never bought such a plant, so the exact words that meet the "rule of the law" are unknown to me. If I were to buy such a plant, I would make sure I kept the receipt!

Not just about money. I grew this plant from 4" starter for 3 years and it started blooming this spring. Without this one, the other blacklace elderberry won't bear fruits. I guess it is soil fungal infection. I am going to get a compost tea application and see if that will stop the progress.

I understand the hard work of plant breeder need to be acknowledged and protected. The thing is there seems to be less and less choice of heirloom plants in the stores. Majority of plants sold in Lowe's are propagation prohibited if you read the labels carefully. Fine with perennials but for annuals, that's lots of money to buy them very year. I bought most of my plants from walmart: no brand, no label, cheap and robust. and I can propagate as many as I need. Or I just do wildflowers.

My recently planted bareroot peach was doing so good! It leafed out and... cold snap.

It's dead Jim (Tim?).

Boo!

Silver lining... I now get to obtain another fruit tree! Bigger, better and more resilient!

Timothy Norton wrote:My recently planted bareroot peach was doing so good! It leafed out and... cold snap.  

I wish it was easier to get fruit trees in the fall. In my area, the experts all say that fall planting gives trees the best chance, because their roots can settle themselves in before any worries about leaves. I hope you find something nice to replace poor peach tree.

3/4 of my grapes, and both of my roses died over the winter. I haven't planted enough to have killed much this spring (yet).

May Lotito wrote:Not just about money. I grew this plant from 4" starter for 3 years and it started blooming this spring. Without this one, the other blacklace elderberry won't bear fruits. I guess it is soil fungal infection. I am going to get a compost tea application and see if that will stop the progress.

I understand the hard work of plant breeder need to be acknowledged and protected. The thing is there seems to be less and less choice of heirloom plants in the stores. Majority of plants sold in Lowe's are propagation prohibited if you read the labels carefully. Fine with perennials but for annuals, that's lots of money to buy them very year. I bought most of my plants from walmart: no brand, no label, cheap and robust. and I can propagate as many as I need. Or I just do wildflowers.

Very old thread to respond to, but Canadian law is very sensible about this. I can propagate a 'patented' plant for my own personal use (in Canada plants aren't patented, but there are Plant Breeders Rights applied).

I can't sell  those plants (without paying royalties).
I can't sell parts of it from the plants I have propagated (like cut flowers, or fruit).
But I can divide and propagate my own plants in my own garden as I please.

Which is a good thing, because I'm a compulsive plant propagator, and despite generally avoiding patented plants out of principle, some times I don't notice until too late.

I feel like this is a good balance between protecting the plant breeder (who obviously has money tied up!) and protecting the home gardener.

I still find the PBR system frustrating, but at least it seems sensible (trademark names get sillier).

From Gov of Canada

"Plant breeders' rights do not restrict anyone from using the protected variety for:

- private and non-commercial purposes
- experimental purposes
- breeding and developing new plant varieties
- storing and saving seed harvested from a protected variety for planting by farmers on their own land"

A little update 5 years later on the elderberry:

I rooted a cutting and planted in a different location. It died 3 years later, same problem.  I also cross pollinated black lace with black beauty but never planted the hybrid seeds. However, the original black beauty held on long enough for me to figure out what was wrong with the soil. It is growing back.

However, I lost a large fruiting mexican lime tree over the winter in 2025. It produced over 70 limes that year and the leaves looked yellow before over wintering indoors. Then it dropped all the leaves and the twigs died. Maybe I didn't keep up with potassium. There's a lot to learn growing fruit trees.