My Spring Garden and I would love your opinion, please

I'm sitting here with my spring garden wish list, a seed catalog, Doug Welsh's TX Gardening Almanac, PlantFiles on "speed dial," a cup of strong tea and I'm more confused than when I started.

I'm getting conflicting info from all three sources and I would love to add your seasoned advice into the mix before I place my seed order.

What should I direct sow, what should I start inside under lights, and what would I be better off just waiting to buy at the nursery?

Here is my list:

Gaillardia Arizona Sun
Butterfly Weed
Gazania (perennial)
Nasturtium
Catmint
Rudbeckia Cappuccino
Salvia Fairy Queen
Shasta Crazy Daisy

Thank you for your kind help!

GreenerBeaner

I don't grow those plants so I can't be of much help, but I hated to see your question fall on deaf ears, so I will say, Follow the package directions and good luck, most plants are very forgiving.
Josephine.

I don't usually have success to start plants from seeds, but I was able to direct sow butterflyweed

Catmint direct sows easily. The rest I have no experience with.

Have you read about wintersowing? These might be suitable for planting in that manner.

You might ask this question over on the wintersowing forum too... http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/coldsow/all/

I've started nasturtium in pots, then into the ground or just planted seeds in the ground. Either way works.

Thank you, folks! This is the advice I was looking for. I guess what I need now is a leap of faith!

GB

This message was edited Jan 20, 2010 7:08 AM

GreenerBeaner, I've had a bit of experience with the following from your list:

Nepeta (I think that might be what you mean by catmint). I would get the plant in my honest opinion. I've started nepeta from seed a long time ago. The variety commonly offered in seed form attacted several unwanted cats--usually in the middle of the night. I've found that varieties such as Walker's Low and Six Hills Giant don't seem to have that affect. These varieties can be divided easily and you can get a good return on your investment. I've also rooted cuttings and they do occasionally send out volunteers.

Nasturtiums are easy to start from seed. Honest! Mine seem to melt in the heat, though, so start early indoors in peat pots and just plant the whole sheebang out where you want them. They grow well for me in the fall too. The seeds seem to start fast for me if I soak them overnight and nick the seed coat a bit. They might do better in partial shade, but I don't have a lot of that. I usually only have luck with the easy seed starting projects, so that should tell you a lot about my abilities.

I've had mixed results with Gaillardia from seed and have only had any luck at all with Salvia from seed when I started the seed as a winter sowing project. As I like a lot of the unusual Salvias I've found that it is easier for me to frequently check the specials pages at the Bluestone Perinials website and just get the plants. There are quite a few local nurseries that carry serveral varieties of Salvia and last year I found some cool Salvias at Lowe's. Once again, Salvias can be divided and they do send out volunteers.

I'm trying the Rudbeckia Cappuccino from seed as a winter project and can't give any comment as to my success just yet as I only planted them this past weekend--and I was probably too late at that! I like to try new things as that is half the fun of gardening for me.

Hope this helps and I also hope that you have fun too!

Perfect. Thank you all so much for your help! I'll consider this post closed. If I remember, I'll try to post how things went. Happy Gardening-

GB