Korean Job Discussion Forums

[coolsage]

Despite being at the same latitude as Northern California, the horticultural landscape of Korea is mighty bleak for a third of the year, especially up here in the northern tier. And yet the notion of spring bulb plants has never caught on here. I'm suggesting that every newbie who arrives should stuff into his/her luggage a few samples of snowdrops, crocuses, hyacinths, daffodils, and/or tulips, to be planted here, as a floral gift to this country. Now that's a gift that keeps on giving; a daffodil bulb will produce flowers for fifty years. These blooms poking out of the ground in March just might accelerate the onset of the notion of spring, and perhaps retard the consumption of soju during the grey months. This is a land that is desperately in need of color. Let our slovenly legacy be more than merely some transient aquaintance with English and the violation of their finest maidens. Let's bring them an ever- recurring early spring as well.

[Saxiif]

Plant them where, in the concrete?

[eamo]

My thoughts exactly. In fact I'm going to a garden center tomorrow to buy a window box and some bulbs. Is it too late to plat bulbs now?

[Corporal]

[Saunagukin]

Saw some at the Goyang Flower Expo. Lovely.

http://www.flower.or.kr/english/korea/korea01.asp

[canuckistan]

[coolsage]

Good feedback already. It's either too late or too early too plant most bulbs; autumn is the usual time. But if one is thinking in terms of a legacy, what's another season or two? Corporal, I'm a fan of your contributions here, but check your dictionary again: there is no 'c' in aquaintance. (One of those most difficult words to spell.) As for importing the bulbs, I believe that only 'live' plants are subject to quarantine; mangos, papayas, etc., not actual 'seeds', which technically, bulbs are--seeds on steroids. Bulbs are 'asleep', and therefore not rife with bacterial nasties. Bring them on.

[Corporal]

[coolsage]

Corp, let's call it a draw. I googled it up, and the spelling, as in Robbie Burns, 'Should Auld Aquaintance be Forgot' is valid. 'Tomato, tomawto, let's call the whole thing off'. But it has little to do with planting hyacinths on your deck or in your garden . That's what the intent of this little thread is. Cheers.

[Harin]

[jinglejangle]

[eamo]

Surprising myself in the extreme I followed up on my gardening idea and went out to the Yangae Garden Center near Costco and scored a few plants for my verandah.

Good service there BTW. I got mucho plants for 39,000 won and the guy even arranges then into the window box there and then, with soil and a nice moss topping, so all I have to do is go home and install.

I've decided to keep them indoors for a couple more weeks as I fear a late frost which could kill them off. Any advice on that?

So here's the pics including my now bare verandah. In April, if you're walking around Daechi-dong, and you see a verandah in full Brazilian rain-forest jungle glory....that's me!!

[desultude]

Costco in Daegu has window boxes and potting soil- cool, but plastic, boxes with the hardware to hang them over the rail of the balcony. There are lots of seeds and plants here (and bulbs) to fill them with.

I would like to know about seeds coming into the country. Are they legal? I would like to have some shipped to me for things like cilantro, which I am fairly sure you can't get here.

[coolsage]

Eamo: Looks great. Those are tropicals you have there, so indeed keep them indoors until any danger of frost has passed. Better still, don't put them out until the daytime temp exceeds 20c. What sort of exposure to sun do you have there?-- As for the seed issue, there's no problem bringing in packets of seeds.

[The Bobster]