Seed Swap & Chat #51 .... Let the sowing begin...

No, it is not my putr, cause mines doin it too.
I thought it was mine.
Glad it ain't.....

I posted in DAVES forum.... hopefully if he's not already working on it ... someone will notify him.

Maybe they getting ready to change over, You think??

I was thinking something along those lines... but i do think Dave is still in the "talking" phase ... i honestly have not kept up on the thread .... but i cant see why they'd change the graphics.

me either, bt can't tell what these "big business" may do. Just have to wait and see.
Here awhile back I tried to get on and couldn't get anything. Hope that doesn't happen again.

Not sure what is going on....I am not having any trouble...all pics are visible. Maybe they are working on settings or something.

Ella the thing is that I don’t water my trays that much once I see a spot of water coming thru on these tiny seeds I just let it sit a while on a towel and the water comes up to get the rest of the top damp then I don’t water them until they dry out the dirt is almost dry to the touch or lighter when it’s pretty dry then I do the same thing.

I put my soil less mix in a cake carrier of Tupperware with the lid on put about a quart of water in oh I fill the container about half full set it on high in the microwave and let her rip for about 15 min. think Gourd is the one to give these directions it was a long time ago may have been someone else :) The lid always pops up but it’s getting microwave tired I think lol But when I take it out I stir it then seal the lid again and let it sit for a while.

I’ve never used those Ella couldn’t I just buy some seed starter mix at the store then just put a small amount of it in a baggie would that work and do the same thing with the mister :) Thanks for trying to help me :) I’ve got some of those little six packs that came with some containers that are really seed trays after you put holes in them that I bought at Wal Mart just for the trays could I use those they are skinny I could cut them down to about an inch then put some seed mix in with them maybe my soil less mix just holds onto water too much for them I’ve never had this much trouble with begonias before lol Darn rex begonias would have to be this much trouble!

Thanks you guys we’ll see what the container looks like when it gets planted :) I always have these high hopes for containers but they are never as pretty as the ones I see here! I planted my lisanthus and the orange bells together last year and it should have looked good but the orange bells didn’t bloom as much as the yellow ones so it was green and blue lol I love my yellow bells with the lisanthus. I’ll put the EE’s and others in one of those big terracotta pots I think it’s 14” may be bigger I always seem to have lots of root space when I dump them out in the fall. Only thing is about this 'Illustris' it’s one of those that puts runners out so kind of worried about space on top of the soil but I think it’s doable.

No problems here but this is the first time I’ve been on this afternoon.

Mornin all,
Started WSing yesterday and moved all my gal jugs full of dirt in to sow them and now there is so much ice I can't open the storm door. We are really socked in here. Star I would like to have some of the MG heavenly blue :) I always try to have a bunch of plants cause a lot of people here really like it, it grows well here in the summer heat and humidity.
Does anyone have a WS priority list - like whats the best stuff to start first then second and so on. So far I have planted ornamental grasses and thought I would move on to the bush/shrub/trees next and lupin and delphinium. Any opinions??

Finally ansonfan ... i was getting worried about you! lol
Kind of funny you can't open the storm door ... not for you i guess, sorry.

I haven't been down to the basement yet to see if anything new has come up. But yesterday there was one seedling in one of my lisanthius trays. :o)

The Cats musical is coming to Detroit in May, so I was busy buying tickets this morning for my daughter and I to go. She is a huge musical fan, we hardly ever go (last time was 7 years ago), so I thought this would be pretty nice gift for her. Cant wait.

Talking of cats, my cat was down the basement with me yesterday. I had some dilute chamomile tea cooling so i could mist the seedlings with it. What a surprise when Ahi the cat jumped up and took a drink ... cats like tea?

I haven't been to the theater since I lived in CA. The last one I saw I think was tango argentina and I really enjoyed that. Haven't seen cats but I've heard its great.
I planted some lizzies inside too but I lost a lot of mine because they got a little too dry. I have to resow now and give it another try. I check in on the thread when I can toofew even if I'm just lurkin lol, but I have missed quite a bit in the last week or too trying to get my seeds organized and my WS containers ready.

Ansonfan, I believe that delphiniums and lupines are warm germinators (no stratification needed), so I don't really see a point in putting them out mid-winter. I've already sprouted some dwarf delphiniums indoors, because they'll flower the first year. I'll be starting some other delphs and lupines indoors if I have room under lights. Otherwise closer to spring.

Ella & Lea - I'm following your begonia advice here.....will be getting the 288 cell trays for next year, have been eying them for awhile. Last year I got ONE begonia that made it through. hee hee. I loved it dearly though. Not sure if I will get any this year, but will NOT give up. Ella, have put all your advice in my notes - thank you, thank you!!!

Now to vent just a little. In Ohio I bought all my potting soil from Sam's - MG, big bags and never had a problem. Always wonderful stuff. Moved to OK, went to Sam's a couple weeks ago and got the same MG bag I always do......it is full of big mulch and sticks!!! So I know you all have had this conversation already....I'm just peeved! Maybe MG has a different supplier in the south than in the north, but it really is horrible. Now I need to go out and get some good stuff. Ella, was it ProMix? I have a Lowe's a block away. Also, do you think it would be ok to just dump this stuff onto my beds? The soil here is horrible and I've started lasagna beds already.....was thinking about adding this stuff to it.

Thank you PM for the advice. I have an indoor setup so I'll
just do that.

You're welcome ansonfan. Seed germ database says pour hot water over lupine seeds and let soak 1-3 days until swelling noticeable. Germination in more than 2 weeks at 68 degrees. Delphs germinate faster at around same temp and I think are surface sown, but you'd better check. My short-term memory isn't what it used to be. Think I read 8 wks before last frost for lupines, and 10 or 12 for delphs, but you'd better check that as well.

So just to confuse everyone, lupines are way too easy to germinate! I have some sprouting outside even in the gravel walkway near where a lupine was growing last summer. It's been cool - 40-50 and wet except for the 2 weeks around Christmas when it was well below freezing

I find that Lupine germ. depends upon the variety. Some of them; like the wild lupine seed I sent out, do better with a cold period, BUT can be sown directly in the spring, they just take a bit longer that way. For native plants, it usually depends on what area they are native to. I find that the hybrid or Russell varieties are fine for warm germ. (all of this is my personal experience of course).

herb... i think i got some "wild" from you. I do not thing i've WS'ed it yet.... but plan to.

Toofew from what I have see cats like tea, coffee, coke and cranberry juice or they will have what ever you are drinking! lol I can’t keep one cat of mine out of my coffee! You have a lisanthus baby congratulations mom!

I thought lupines would be good to WS they reseed and like it cool here mine go under when the humidity hits not that I grow a lot of them I don’t have much luck with them I think because of the humidity aren’t they plants for cool weather like spring? I know they will germinate under lights but thought they would be a good one to WS? Come to think of it I’ve sown them in the ground and they are one of the few that has come up in the spring. They aren’t going to bloom the first year anyway are they? The only ones I’ve had to bloom the first year was the Texas something that Ansonfan sent me a couple of years ago. Anyway I have some lupine seeds and going to WS some and pitch some around the last of March.

Chele, doesn’t that just make you mad about your MG mix! I don’t understand it when it first came out it was great stuff! I’ve read on here that MG mix isn’t good for the ground messes with the ecological system, but I would do it as a matter of fact I have done it because I’ve gotten bags like that here and just hated to waste it it’s so expensive but someone needs to bring it to their attention not that they would care! I haven’t bought it for years now and won’t! It may be the plant food MG that isn’t good for the ecological system but don’t remember why there are a lot of threads about it somewhere :)

I'm so excited! Actually managed to get my poppies out yesterday, and we have a nice little blanket of snow/ice on them now. Considering this may be the only snow we get, I'm psyched I managed the timing this year. Hope it works :) Threw a bunch in my veggie bed that is getting a little too shady. Figure it won't be shady when the poppies come up because the trees will just be leafing out... and maybe any shade they get will help keep them cool enough to keep blooming longer when the heat hits. I hope! Have a new area for the more demanding veggies, and the front of the bed that I put the poppies in will probably be OK for some things...

Ok, Begonias, Lisianthus, Angelonia... what else to I need to get planted right away in my newly sterilized containers, and clean kitchen? (had to clean up so I could make another mess. Now I've got cloroxed and dishpan hands... might need to hit the moisturizer big time tonight!)

How about Pentas do we plant those now this will be my first year planting them from seeds that I got off mine last year I just fell in love with those plants!

Not to change the subject if we have one particular one LOL But did anyone order bulbs from Bill yet? I love his quality of bulbs I’m getting ready to make my order today :) I’m getting the bigger bags for this year the smaller ones just aren’t enough for me they are so beautiful! I had a yard sale with the neighbor a couple of years ago and everyone from the yard sale noticed my caladiums from across the street and had to come see them! I think the reason I like them is because I can plant them in shade or sun he has so many varieties, I have so much trouble with how the sun is in my front yard. I didn’t get any for last year and really missed them! I think he said he was out of Gingerland that's a pretty one too! Those white ones are awesome in the shade garden Neal :)

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1069945/

Lea, I'm trying to resist :-) Already in on the mum coop, considering the other two that are trying to get open... Hopefully I can do caladiums next year... First have to master some of these other things! They sure do look pretty though. I've got begonias and geraniums in the garage overwintering... if they live I'll consider adding something else I have to save from year to year.

KL, according to my chart its about time to start these:
Vinca
Datura
Diochondra
Heliotrope
Viola
Larkspur
Philipine
Geranium
Eucalyptus
anytime between now and 2/6

Cheles and leBug. Hold off on doing your begonias. Will sen dya a complete little s et up for ya to do them. I cut the trays up in 24 cell siz e so can plop in a bubbler with the special seed starting mix to get ya started.

Cheles... Go to Lowe s and get the turquise coled bag. 2 cubic feet of Jungle Soil Proffesional Growers ( look for word s professional grower on bag) for flower s and veggies. I won't buy any mor e Mg either.

Ansonfan. Will get ya out soem of the Mg seeds.

Think ther e like about 3,000 seed s in the bag if anybody els e wants a bunch of them. LOL Probably be abotu wed once the weather gets better. Car been actign stupid so I not drivign anywher e in this bad weatehr and gettign myself stranded. been sick the past coupel of days. All them days in cold and wind and rain , think I got something not good feeling.

I do Pentas now. The thing I always get the timign wrong on is Asters. I either way to early or way to late. never can remmerb when they suppose d ot be done.

You know George I alway start my Datura later I'm glad you brought those up I'm going to wait until I get my lights to going down stairs but I am going to start those earlier this year thanks! I was always worried I'd be fighting the lights with them but really they don't grow that fast while they are small, does that make sense lol Does to me :)

Neal I'm still talking to you and you haven't been on here forever it seems! lol Have you started Pentas before and would you start them now if you have?

Made my order with Bill for my caladiums this is what I got:

These are going in my mini shade garden.
http://www.caladiumbulbs4less.com/servlet/the-24/10-Grade-%231-White/Detail

Won't these look pretty with some nice red impatients under them!
http://www.caladiumbulbs4less.com/servlet/the-129/10-Jumbo-White-Queen/Detail

I always have to have a pot of these on my front porch they are just beautiful!
http://www.caladiumbulbs4less.com/servlet/the-15/10-Grade-%231-Florida/Detail

Last but not least these look beautiful too so many to choose from it's hard to make up your mind! I haven't had these before so just had to try them for the front porch too :)
http://www.caladiumbulbs4less.com/servlet/the-748/10-Jumbo-Dr.-Groover/Detail

Is it spring yet LOL

Thanks Ella that's so sweet of you! I have one more little bunch of seeds to plant from the rex begonias I almost feaked out yesterday because I was looking and couldn't find them they were hiding in a glass jar on my counter just waiting to be discovered!

Great, I've got some more seeds to go thru to find out how many trays I need to get done today so I can sow them tomorrow I love those pentas! Everything seems to be going in slow motion this year for some reason I'm ready to start my lights LOL

Ella apple cider vinegar and honey with a slice of lemon squeezed in it! I'm tellin ya :) The organic doesn't have as much taste to the vinegar if you are afraid of it :) I'm so used to drinking the reg. one the organic tastes so week lol My kitty knocked my bottle of water and vinegar off of my end table this morning been waiting for that the way she walks on my end table right here good thang she didn't spill it on my computer!

That reminds me...Ants there is no way I can close my bedroom door with the cats I've tried and they scratch it like crazy they like to drive me nuts when I'm trying to go to sleep LOL Why do they always pick that time to run over your bed this is like 1 in the morning!

Ella hope you get to feeling better this has been a rough winter for you!

I started my Pentas this week. Also found some Sea Star Aster seeds from 2007, planted them and they all germinated (I think) in 3 days. Didn't know they would germ so well or so fast ... yikes. Started my Dusty Miller this week too.
Starting my Fuchsia magellanica - hardy fuchsia tonight.

Lea, never saw a cat drink anything but water or milk. Your cats are crazy!!!!

I ordered the caladiums from Bill before. I planted them all in containers. They were alot bigger than the ones I've bought at Lowe's or HomeDepot before, but I wasn't thrilled with them, especially when they didn't make it through the winter in my basement. Do you plant yours in the ground or containers? Maybe they do better planted in the ground?

I started Tutti frutti Lupine seeds last year. Planted 5, gave the rest away. I can't wait to see if they pop up again this spring.

Thank you Star for the MG seeds :) To me there is no other blue so beautiful in my garden.

Toofew, cats really aren’t suppose to drink milk are they I gave mine milk one time and they got diarrhea then someone told me we weren’t suppose to. Mine drink anything that I’m drinking think it’s the thing of being mine lol I went to the kitchen yesterday and had a glass of tea sitting on the end table and Patch started drinking my tea but she is my bad cat can’t sit any food or anything down that she isn’t into it and don’t even sit candy kisses down she pounces on them and runs LOL She loves chocolate and doesn’t wait around for me to take that away she is gone with it! She is the one that spilt my vinegar and water this morning climbing on the end table!

Caldium bulbs don't like to be stored in cold temperatures. Keep at 50 - 60 degrees F. Pack loosely in peat moss.

I keep mine in my closet with shredded newspapers it’s about 50 in there never have had a problem with them, I’ve never kept them for two years though I always buy new ones the second year for some reason think I’m just being lazy or I have too many other bulbs to dig like canna, EE’s and dahlias I’m not a bulb saver too much trouble! You people here got me started on that I used to never plant anything I had to save I don’t have that much storage space for them but once you see the darn blooms you gotta save them lol

Are you sure they were dried out good I’m sure you probably stored them right :) I don’t think that was Bill’s fault the way they were stored. Plus if you want more leaves they have a jumbo size I ordered a couple of them this year it depends on how big the bulbs are as to how many leaves they have those Florida Sweethearts have lots of leaves to them just beautiful! And another bulb that I was going to order jumbo size bulbs on was the White Christmas but he didn’t have any jumbo bulbs for the Florida Sweetheart or that one so I figure the White Christmas will have a lot of leaves too I’ll see this year :) I’ve never worried about how many leaves they got really I’ve always enjoyed mine I just tried some new ones this year and wanted to see what the jumbos do for me. Which ones did you order that time?

Lea,
My Mom loved her caladium's my Dad on the other hand said if you can'y eat it why grow it so she spaced her flowers off and still grew them , she spent 6.00 years ago on them and grew in pot and after first year made a pot for someone else. She always did the garden first for food but her love for flowers she gave away and she started the garden plants to hand forward to the family and the neighborhood. Being raised on a farm you just know what to do but a flower is so awesome but she wanted all to see . She babied those blub's and took them up each year and put in paper bag and in the garage they went , she told me what to do wih them and who to fix a pot for because she knew the joy they would fill. Bless her heart her love of plants where wonderfull but she knew the need for food came first . When I see a calsdium I always think of what she said . She gave her roses banana's and what ever she could and they blessed her with flower's her fruit trees when we had no rain she took a gallon jug of water and poured down the tree and said that was enough they know they are being loved.
I miss her and really wish she was still here instructing us on how you do thing's the ole fashioned way bet she could grow anything we have problem's trying to grow.
Carolyn

Do tilers work where there are rocks? I am talking lots of big heavy rocks. I can't even dig a hole, have to ask the bf to do it. I have stepping stones in places in the garden over areas with rocks too big to move. Here, you have to dig a hole, fill with water, if the water doesn't drain, you have a big rock or , hopefully, several small rocks to move.

The bf said that the rocks would break the blades of the tiler.

I may have to resort to raised beds. Lasagna gardening looks easier (and cheaper) especially if you had a rototiler.

Your neighbors dogs are as bad as mine! And the people are even worse. My dog trots around on a leash wearing hand knit sweaters. She even has her own gardening pillow. I pick up after my dog and any other dog who goes on my grass. I have no patience left for my boozehag neighbor, her pothead boyfriend and their junkyard dog.

You can add up the replacement cost of the seeds in the containers the dog spilled (check T&M or Burpee, not a discount place, list the source). Make sure there is a cc. somebodyorother esq. If your town has a leash law, copy the mayor. Give them a letter with the "damages" caused by their dog. I doubt they will pay you, but they may be more careful with their dog in the future.

Guess who's dog woke up and wants to go out. It is 12'F outside. She is going to pee icicles.

Lea, I didn't mean to imply it was Bills caladiums fault they didn't make it through the winter in my basement. I just throw most of my bulbs in labeled paper bags. For some reason the caladiums got a fungus or mold ... only type of bulb to get it, I'm sure it must have been from my soil. I got a bunch of bulbs that co=op: Carolyn Whorton, White Christmas, Red Flash , Pink Beauty, Fire Chief; yea, 5 sets of 5 for 25 bulbs thats what I got, thought it would make an Outstanding Display. Maybe I just have the wrong soil, weather or whatever for caladiums. I love the pictures people display though. Make sure to show us your pics of them. And let me know if the Jumbo bulbs did better than the others.

Wanted to say, my hubby is not a big cat fan, so Ahi cat was chased out of our bedroom uncounted times during that first year. Now he waits to be invited in ... he sits at the door, even when its open, does not meow (usually, cause hubby used to yell at him when he did), and if he is in there with me and hubby comes in, out he goes. lol He is curled up on my lap right now.

Cat story ... sort of. I bought a bag of dirt the other day at Lowe's, had to go to the frozen outside pile ... yikes. I took the bag downstairs to thaw. The next day I went to the basement and the cat had urinated all over the bag and on the floor. I figured he must of smelled something that upset him on the bag. So I cleaned it all up. Then the next morning I found the same thing, well, I was ticked and its a good thing he wasn't in the basement with me cause I would have yelled at him. As I was cleaning it up .... again, I realized it didnt smell like urine. The ice in the bag was melting, seaping out of a couple tiny holes in the bag, making it look like it had been peed on. The color of the water was a yellowish color just like urine. Good kitty for not peeing on my bag of dirt. lol

Just wanted to share with you all a money saving tip. I wanted to force some hyacinth bulbs using the water method, but didn't want to go out and buy more of the forcing vases. So I looked around and found some glad containers I don't use, cut a hole in the bottom for the root and put them in mugs and a wine glass. The lip of the container fit over the top of each of these.

Anothere

Clever toofew! I'll have to remember that!

George, thanks for your list, there are a few in there that I need to do too! Well got the others started yesterday, but in my giant dome, so room for the rest today!

Those Lisianthus seeds are sooo tiny! I really hope I get some... seems impossible that something that beautiful can grow from dust! I'm used to the begonias, but the lizzies seemed even smaller.

HI all sad today as i just read the latest update on this company selling Daves. seems only want Dave as a member not in the drivers seat

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1072712/

Good kitty!!! cute.
Nice idea with the hyacinths. When they are through, then you plant them outside??
You are so smart!!!

Toofew, I have taken to using the bulb dust for my bulbs this year last year I loss some to fungus/rot, don’t think I’ve lost any caladium bulbs to that except rot in my mini shade garden because it stays moist there all the time I have the good old clay soil even my big bulbs that you buy in the box stores of EE’s rotted. The only ones I can grow out there are the ones that like water like the black one I’m planting on the porch this summer so I’m putting the White Christmas in pots this year for my mini shade garden Bill says they get 24-30” tall can’t wait to see those! I’m hoping they get the 30”!

I’ve grown most of those bulbs that you grew and had great success with them they were beautiful! Lots of foliage I’m sure you used the granule fertilizers on them like I did :) Maybe you should try them again you know those box stores don’t have as nice of bulbs like Bill’s they aren’t as big so they don’t put out as much foliage I’ve thought about buying them a few times but if I can see the bulbs I won’t get them because they are so small! I do grow most of mine in pots and find that I tend to water them too much thinking they are dry I’m going to try and keep the water away from them this year they grow really nice leaves but when I go to take the bulbs out some are rotted I just need to learn how much water to use. My neighbor doesn’t water hers at all and always ends up with more bulbs than me and I share them with her she won’t buy them but wants them when I go to planting them lol

I’ll let you know about the jumbo bulbs not sure about the pictures though I may get my camera to working this winter I hope I do lol I signed up for photo shop I think I just need to figure out how to get them in there I’m not to bright when it comes to things like that! :) I was even going to brake down and buy another real camera this year and there aren’t any out there in the stores here they are all disposable cameras or digital!

My dahlias this year got a fungus on them from all the rain gout or something like that there were white bumps all over them had to throw most of them away :(

Loved your kitty story lol I may go thru the same thing here shortly when I go out to the garage and get another bag of dirt need to make a note to put something under it for when it goes to thawing it's good to know, I can't put mine downstairs don't think it would ever thaw it's that cold down there!

Great way to do your bulbs I've never tried to force any before but I don't keep flowers in the house.

Klstuart, don’t keep those lisanthus too moist or they will damp off on you :) I keep mine on the dry side and water them just a little when the top dries out glad you have babies!

Carolyn, wish my mom was into plants when she was alive I got most of my learning’s about them from her mother, my grandmother she could put a stick in the ground and it would grow! So nice to have such grand memories of your mom like that! I’m still babying two roses that mom had I put bananas in them every year but they just seem to be hanging on to dear life I really need to move them maybe this is the year.

I’ve GOT to get thru the rest of my annuals and get what I need to in seed trays today! What about annual geraniums it’s been so long since I’ve grown them I know they have to be started early does anyone know how early for them to start blooming by around May? How long from seed to bloom? I do need to pinch them right? How fast do they grow if I start them now would I be able to wait until March sometime to put them downstairs under lights and just leave them in seed trays? I don’t have much room under the table lights but have enough for a seed tray but I have several that I’m starting this year. Trying to hold off with the lights down stairs as long as I can the electric bill has tripled since Tony has been here already paying a lot more than when I was here by myself last year but he has to have heat on with his RSV nerve damage. Last year it was under $50 and now it’s like $120! Not right lol It doesn’t really start getting warm down stairs in my plant room until I have several lights on and not really wanting to hook a heater up because of the electric I’m trying to hold off as long as I can :) At least until I start transplanting…

Hmm, I could take one of my hoods and set it up somehow instead of my small table lights on the table that would give me more room for a while it does take the geraniums a while to come up doesn't it, sorry it's been a long time since I started them and my notes from doing them before I didn't even write down when I transplanted them I'm sure it was shortly after they germinated didn't even make notes when they started blooming and don't remember if they did under lights or not :)

Too few... really neat idea. : ) I get amazed sometiems with the things w e cna find to make and use to grow our plants when we out of something, or somethign else to expensive.

Lebug. Yep need to start geraniums now. They take so long to get going for sure. I aoin't neve r pinched the annual ones that ra e a geranium plant, but do pinch alogn the way the Ivy Geraniums.

It freezing here. Ha d been in the 30's most of the day and gonan be in mid 20's tonight. This codl front needs to hurry up and get itself done gone already. I hoping that the folsk we all mssing are able to stay warm. So many folks and state s where our gang is in th emiddle of this nasty ba d weather and withotu electric.

Hope they all staying safe and get power back on soon.

Yep agree them Lisianthus i think are smalle r than begonias seed. Ya definately dont inhale or exhale when workign wiht them .