03 February 2015

going to seed - or do you want to grow indigo?

It seems this blog is going to seed, in more than one way.
Lets make a new starting point, and lets start by offering some Japanese Indigo seeds!


I won't charge anything for the seeds, but I like to trade, so if you do too, that could be fun. Anyway, I have plenty, more than I could ever grow myself - though not an infinite amount.



There's no end to the joy though, playing around with leaves, yarn, wool, clothes, baskets etc.


 So, if you'd like to try out growing these lush green wonders yourself, leave me a note!


48 comments:

  1. I wish I still had a garden to plant such seeds: but not anymore right now. I'd love to grow indigo—one of my favourite colours. I'm glad to see a post from you after some long time, as this is one of the more interesting blogs I follow.

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    1. Thanks, Reifyn! You could grow a few plants in a flowerpot or two - enough to dye yarn for a hat or some mittens - just for the fun of it. I'd be glad to send you a few seeds, if you'd like to :)

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  2. Hello Mona,
    that is such a generous offer but I must decline as well as I don't have a garden for growing them neither. :(
    I've been missing you in this space, and I hope you are doing fine & enjoying the season. Be well.
    ox

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    1. Hi Sonia, thank you, I'm fine, just too busy to be as active here as I'd like to. As I wrote to Reifyn, you could grow just a couple of plants for the fun of it. And dye some embroidery thread and a little piece of fabric for your beautiful creations, perhaps :) Actually my seeds originally came from Eva (Tinctory) - and she grew indigo in a pot on her balcony, I believe. No pressure, just wanted to let you know in case you feel tempted ;)

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  3. H I was just checking out your blogs I love to natural dye as well-you stopped by to help me with my spinning wheel. If you can mail to the states I would love some seeds not sure what I can trade-I will me making handmade paper this week
    Kathy

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    1. Hi, I'm glad if I could help a bit! You don't have to trade, I'll send anyway! If you want to, you can pm the shipping adress - and how many seeds (plants) you'd like. I think the germination rate is almost a 100% with these seeds.

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  4. I love to dye paper and have had quite some success with pastel or word that is historically very important where I live. I also love dyeing with sage. I would love to trade with you and I've lots of seeds, including pastel if you want to try some?

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  5. damn spellcheck, grr :( that should be woad not word! :)

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    1. Hi Suzie, I'd love to trade with seeds! If you send a pm, we can exchange adresses. Please let me know, how many plants/seeds you'd like.

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  6. Oh, Mona, how wonderful!
    I'd love to try to grow these!

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    1. And I'd love to send you some seeds! Please let me know how many you want - and where I shall send them :)
      Mona

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  7. I'd very much like some JI seeds. My last batch was transmogrified by gremlins - I can offer chiliseeds or early tomatoes in exchange.

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  8. Replies
    1. They've germinated. Amost all of them! Your seeds are fabulous. Thank you.

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  9. Hello Mona, I wonder if you could write more on how you grow them. I haven't had much success so far. The trickiest is to help them through a cold spring here as I have nowhere to germinate them and protect from cold, wind and frost till almost late May. Thanks a lot! Your naturally dyed yarns are gorgeous!

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    1. Hi Monica, well, they would certainly need to be sown inside, 6-8 weeks before planting them in the garden. I've just bought a small greenhouse (yay!!!) - but untill now I've always had the seedlings in small boxes in my small windowsills. Even though it haven't been the most optimal conditions for them (too dark and crowded) they have been thriving once they got out in the garden. We've had cold and wet summers, where they have thrived too. If your garden soil is good, rich and moist, they'll be happy there too! :)

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  10. ..I wonder if there is any left for me..? Surprise in exchange! : )) Nice to read about you again!

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    1. Hi Helen, yes, I most certainly have some for you too! Please send me your address, and they'll be on their way! :)

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    2. Huh, don't know why I wrote Helen .... sorry ... but you can still have some seeds! ;)

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  11. Hi Mona,
    If you have any seeds left I'd love a few. Even just five or so to try to cultivate indigo. I've been thinking about it for a long time and would love to try growing, harvesting and dying with it. X

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    1. Hi Veronica, you can indeed, and you can have more than five too! :)
      Please let me know where to send them!

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  12. I would love to have some seeds. I used to do indigo dyeing in my textile class many years ago.

    Please notify me as to how to send them.

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    1. Hi Rosemarie, please send your address to jardarmama at gmail dot com

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  13. Dear Mona, I would love to try some seeds also and try to dye my yarn! I could propose my own grown arrugula or cilantro, or many other kind of seeds I have in stock :)

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  14. I'll be happy to make it possible for you to dye your yarn! Or at least do my little bit. Please let me know where I shall send the seeds. :)

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  15. Replies
    1. Hi Chrissie, please tell me where to mail them at jardarmama at gmail dot com

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  16. Hello Mona, my name is Mariam. I was wondering if there are still any seeds left for me? I have some marigold seeds from last spring if you'd like to make a trade. Though honestly I'm not sure if they are still viable, I planted some myself to see.

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    1. Hi Miriam, I'm sorry to have overlooked your message as well - and for such a long time too. If you're still interested, please send an e-mail to me, so we can make arrangements. jardarmama at gmail dot com :)

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  17. Hello Mona,
    I have just stumbled upon your blog...so lovely!
    I would love a few seeds if there are any left...and would be happy to trade:-)

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    1. Hello there, I'm sorry to have overlooked your message! If you still are interrested in seeds, I'll be happy to send you some. Please pm me, so we can make arrangements.

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  18. thought I would drop you a note I am so excited-my seeds came up and I just transplanted them today-where I put them I don't think the deer will walk on them-fingers crossed
    Kathy

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  19. thought I would drop you a note I am so excited-my seeds came up and I just transplanted them today-where I put them I don't think the deer will walk on them-fingers crossed
    Kathy

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  20. Hi Mona, I guess it is too late now, but next year I'll ask you some seeds too:) May be you'd like some of my handmade wooden buttons for your knittings...
    Ciao from Italy, Helga

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  21. Hi Helga, if you wanna try, I'll mail some to you, I see you live in Italy, so there maybe there'll be enough warmth for them to reach maturity? Please send me your address, I'd love to trade :)

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    1. Great Mona, thanks a lot!! I already sent you a message at the email-adress you gave to Chrissieday (up here in the comments). Ciaoooo :-)

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  22. Hello Mona,

    I just discovered your blog now. I'd love to have some seeds too but like Helga, I hope it's not too late. I guess I'll have to plant them later, I live in Sicily and now it's very hot. If you can give me an advice I would love to trade with you. Thank you.

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    1. Hello Claire,
      Sorry I missed your comment! I would think it's too late for growing indigo this year. Maybe I'll make another swap next year :)
      Mona

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  23. good morning, I ended up with three really nice indigo plants-we had soooo much rain here where I live for several months in the spring going into most of June as well so very little sunshine too-I am not really sure on when to do my first harvest-we have had about 3 weeks of very hot weather-and on a few of the stems a few of the leaves have turned blue and a little limp but when I take a green leaf and bruise it I see no blue. some reading says harvest end of august but I am thinking that depends on the weather? and I have read to wait til it flowers or another article says harvest before it flowers any tips for me on when to harvest? thanks so much. I have shared some of the seeds you gave me with two other people-one friend in northern Missouri usa and another friend in a different state in Tennesse usa thanks again Kathy

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    1. Hi Kathy,
      It's hard to tell if your plants are ready.. I think there must be a certain time, where the level of indigotin is at it's maximun. But I haven't figured that out yet. Blooming depends of the length of daylight, and is maybe not the best indicator of when to start dyeing. I dye over a period of weeks, beginning when the plants have reached mature size, and the leaves are dark green. I keep on dyeing when they bloom, and until the temperature go below freezing point (at which point they wither and die). So you must try it out when it feels right :)
      And remember to save some seeds - take stems with flowers, approximately the length of your underarm,and before the temperature drops below the freezing point. Remove the lower leaves and put the stems in water. Change the water every few days, and keep doing it until the flowers are dry and you can feel the seeds as small pebbles in the flower. Good luck!
      :) Mona

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  24. hello Mona, i love to grow indigo myself! i live in the Netherlands...

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  25. Can you grow indigo indoors? I live in Montana and I have been wanting to grow some but I live in an apartment, no garden so I have to get creative with finding plants to use.

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  26. Can you grow indigo indoors? I live in Montana and I have been wanting to grow some but I live in an apartment, no garden so I have to get creative with finding plants to use.

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  27. Hello Mona!How generous of You! I would love to have some indigo in my land!Do you think it will survive in Devon' s(UK) climate?Can it grow indoors? Blessings .Wioletta

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  28. Do you do a crop this year and yield any seeds? I would love to care for some!

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  29. Kære Mona,
    Jeg kan godt se, at der ikke har været aktivitet her på bloggen længe - men jeg forsøger mig alligevel. Jeg er på jagt efter japansk indigo, men det ser ud til at være lidt svært at finde. Hvis du får frø dette efterår, så jeg jeg meget gerne aftage nogle. Betaler gerne :-)
    Hilsen Bonnie

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