Carolina Gardening: Help: ? Planting Seasons for Columbia SC ?, 1 by pyromomma

pyromomma wrote:
Hi, all
I have lived in Columbia for 20 odd years, but this is the first year that I want to try my hand at seeds.

I am both new to planting seeds and new to doing so in the South. - any tips on when to start planting so that I can start to make up a 'tickler' calendar?

I am originally from the Pacific NW, and while that is the same zone the season are quite different -

* Ex: I used to pick strawberries the week after school was out (mid June) and I still have to remind myself that Strawberry season here in the April - by the time that my 'tummy clock' is hankering for strawberries, they are all gone here.

Bulbs I am good for, and I can certainly spend money on plants that are started (LOL)

But I have seeds from some flowers (am researching Cold Stratify, and am totally confused) and will try my hand at summer veggies (cukes, tomatoes, etc). Am trading for some nice heirloom seeds that I remember from my grandmother's garden (I am quite pumped about it!)

So any help that you could give me would be great. I have mostly containers, but am putting in beds, too.

I need help on when to plant or start:

* Perennial Seeds (like Rudbeckia, Gaillardia, etc) (I also have some seedlings coming up from my ones that I planted this summer - should I cover them?

* Other perennial seeds like Milkweed (I have several var. of those and want to have more monarchs next year - that was such fun!)

* Annual Flower seeds like marigolds, zinnias, astrolomerias, etc.

* Summer veggies - carrots, tomatoes, green peppers, cukes

* possibly spinach? I love it and eat a ton of it - and it is expensive!

*Herbs like Basil - I have some that I grew and it was so easy from plants - is it easy from seeds, too? I harvested seeds from the plants, not sure if I can grow them inside- I would love to have fresh basil in the winter.

* Winter veggies like spinach (I missed that window, I think, but there is always next year)

Also, how do I take cuttings from Mondevilla ? I have 2, one in the ground and one in a pot - I will try to keep the potted one in my garage over the winter, and ulch the other one heavily, but I heard that you can start them from cuttings. Is it too late for that?

I know that it is all a learning curve, and what works for you may not work for me but if any of you could jump start me, that would be great!!!

I do have an attached garage where I can keep a rack of plants and some larger pots

I live in Columbia in Whitehall and have a very large yard.