Who has started inside sowing yet?

I need to start some Dark Eyed Susans and Sunflower started, and the Rudbeckia bag seems to say sow indoor 6 weeks before last frost, which is about 1 Reb according to Dave's Calendar. But I just don't think its too early yet.

I started lobelia, marigolds, nicotiana and ageratum last weekend. All of those seem to be very, very slow in taking off once they have germinated. No sprouts yet, even though I have them over a heated sand bed. Today I am going to concentrate on winter sowing, if I can get up the energy after a slow but wonderful recovery from the January seed swap. This will be my first year of WS, so I can't share any experiences yet.

Then will come snapdragons, rudbeckia, sweet peas, and salvia. Then a pause for a couple of weeks.................

Rob - I started about 2 weeks ago. I'm in a quandry about the weather - will we escape Winter altogether, or sail right into more spring-like temps? Actually - these are spring temps....

This is similar to: take the umbrella - it won't rain. Don't take it - it will pour. We were joking about even saying anything out loud...
My vote is on sowing early, but I'll still wait another 6 weeks before starting tomatoes/eggplant/cukes...... Everything else is starting this month...I think.

OK, I got a Flower House Power Tower for my deck. http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/flowerhouse-tower.shtml I am not greatly impressed right now, as I have barely put it to any use at all, but I am wondering when the prudent would move seedings into it. Yes, and its has both PVC and 60% Gray covers.

I have started sowing things inside, although I wait for March/April to do most things (I start an incredible amount of seeds each year, so have to pace myself throughout the next couple of months or I will be overwhelmed). I already have some baby salvia coccina peeking up, and have also started datura, thunbergia, several other salvias, euphorbia, dusty miller, and impatiens inside. Started some winter sowing tonight as well. I guage when I start my seeds as to how long they take to "need" transplanting, and how cool I feel that they can get without damage.

I have a very similar "tower" (actually a couple) that I use to harden off my seedlings. The tougher kids can go out into it even when the weather reaches "just at" freezing as long as it is zipped well and in a sunny location.

I was so excited about spring that the day after Christmas I was in the greenhouse planting geraniums. Have have 2 true leaves now. Also have Rudbeckia, bacopa, dragon wing bagonia, mocca pink bagonia. Soon will start salvia. I like victoria and Fairy queen.
Hate to butt in but this seems like a fun group and in my back yard.

Springcolor, welcome! You are not butting in by any means... please participate! The PNW forum is a wonderful forum with with fun and knowledgeable members, and quite a few of us are very local to you. Fair warning as off topic is very common, but always very interesting. Sounds like you have quite a few good sized babies already. Isn't it fun to see the little green popping up?

One thing that I forgot to mention about the tower, which is VERY VERY important... Make sure it is secure where ever you put it up. I have to anchor mine to the ground as the area it goes in is an open area and it is free standing. It holds up to a little wind, but we at the edge of the Buckley/Enumclaw wind tunnel through the mountains, and I learned the hard way that a big gust will cause the cover to act as a sail (especially if it is open) and it will easily tip it over. I cried as I picked up all of my little smashed sixpacks and tried to save at least some of my seedlings.

What a heart break! One year I had my plants out harding off and went to the movies. Well, the weather turned and it hailed. They where under one of those costco pop-ups and it broke under the weight of the hail. Smashed all by babies. That was a tuff year.
Thanks for the welcome. My friends here roll their eyes when they see me with plants that they must have. They just do not understand! Always used the dave site to check or companys before buying, then joined lookig for others with this plant obsession.

Welcome, Spring. My SIL lives in Lk Stevens, it is such a lovely area. I love to see/read about other gardens in the area.

A welcome from me, too. springcolor. You will definitely find the type of person you are looking for here, and everyone will understand your plant loves too.

SpringC - great name - looking forward to hearing more from you.

Cut to the chase: we are pretty much have an affinity for plant acquisition & enabling it in others. Both are enjoyable. No rolling of the eyes here when you find something you have deemed wonderful & worthy of a spot in your garden!
We are equally afflicted in this arena & dabble frequently in the "OMG! You've gotta grow____!"
And, we share...
Please pull up a chair & tell us fun things you like - looking forward to meeting you1
Kate

springcolor, I am a lifelong gardener but brand-new to the Northwest climate and learning everything FROM SCRATCH!

I've started only some herbs, including basil & cilantro, right now because my veggie garden has yet to find a site in my acre of river, hillside & heavily planted front & back yards. I'm thinking the iris bed along the side will be the first to fall to my wrecking ball. It's so perfectly situated.

I've done a lot of winter sowing and today planted out Geranium maderense into the new bed for hardy babies. They are so cute! I will have extras if they continue to do as well as they are. Inside I have started germination on a number of hardy grasses, and some other perennials, and I have some things that have been germinated inside in filter paper, then potted up and placed in the greenhouse. Yellow morning glory (can't remember the actual name of that) , desert willow, canna musifolia , Zauschneria from the garden (can't remember the species), all in the greenhouse. The Zauschneria is actually hardy, so I'm gradually moving it outside to put in the seedbed.

My last 'safe' frost date is not until April 20, so I still have a number of weeks to go before then. Do people start their annuals this early when the frost date is still 10 weeks or more out? I have been on the fence about that.

Pix - we are hanging on the fence at this point. Although my gut says we'll continue to experience low 40's, my brain cannot fathom it because it IS February, after all.
I will wait a bit depending on the plant. Not putting all my eggs in 1 basket this time!

Pixy, I do start some annuals now. Am doing marigolds and petunias this weekend, and my annual salvias have already sprouted. I like to get an early start on the stuff that will be able to survive in a cold frame in March if the temps dip just a degree or two belowe freezing, just because otherwise my greenhouse would be over run.

BTW, you gave me a start of some kind of impatien last year (pointy leaf, purplish veins, kind of a snapdragonish type of flower) that kind of "hung out" until September, and then it went crazy and was really pretty when it bloomed. I liked it enough to pot it and bring it in the greenhouse over the winter, where it has been very happy. #1, do you remember what it was (the pencil was worn off by the time I planted it) and #2 if you do and don't have any and would like some back, mine is now in three pots, and I would be more than happy to give one back this spring, and I bet it will bloom much earlier. It was a really cool plant and I am looking forward to it growing this year with a more agressive start than just being a bitty seedling.

do we really have to wait so long to get together again?
Or will time pass faster than I can imagine?
I have been hanging out in front of the grow lights; perhaps i will sprout something out of the top of my head...

Julie, is it this:
http://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/plant_display.asp?prodid=1306&account=none

If so, it's allegedly hardy down to about zone 7. I left mine in the garden. If it croaked, I'll get a cutting from you. Yet another good reason to share cool plants!

Katye, we don't have to wait that long. When do the rhodies bloom, anyway? I can't remember.
You need a treatment light, the really bright kind.
http://www.alaskanorthernlights.com/
This is a box of sunshine. I have this one and keep it around when I want a bright light. I love it. Worth every penny and I've had it now for about 6 years. Lights are still good. I still want spring, but I don't get as crazy when I have this.

Thanks for the ID Melissa! I will be curious to see how yours did this winter...would love to leave it out. I couldn't take the chance on where I had mine planted as not only was it in the coldest spot in my yard, but also one of the wettest over the winter. It was too cool to leave in a spot where it was almost guaranteed to perish. Because the spot I had mine was pretty damp, it layered itself quite well, so if you need him, I will do better than a cutting. He is in three 1/2 gallon pots right now.

Also forgot to tell you that DH got me that light for Christmas...I had not gotten around to buying it yet, and he knew I really wanted one. I love it! I honestly feel that it has made a big difference for me over the last month.

This message was edited Feb 5, 2010 10:05 AM

Well, I'll take one from you anyway, whether mine lives or not. I lost enough plants to the voles last year that I have plenty of holes to fill.

Great! I'm so glad to hear it, and what a thoughtful and loving gift!

I forgot to ask

Does anyone know if it is too early to plant out hardy annual poppies? It seems like it should be fine, since they self sow. But I also have some icelandic poppies I'd like to direct sow. I don't have many of the seeds so I don't want to be too risky.

This message was edited Feb 5, 2010 9:33 AM

For what it's worth: Cliff Mass said this morning on NPR that "El Nino is dominant" and that "winter is essentially over". Precipitation is being driven and will continue to be driven (by the dominant El Nino) to California, where this winter has put the snowpack in the Sierra Nevadas at maximum capacity. That bodes well for reestablishing reservoir levels for the Californians. You're welcome, California. Happy to share.

http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!

Pix - i sowed poppy seed back in december. they are all sprouted & trying to become teenagers now - Poppies are tough guys!

I love the grow lights - I'm going to get another set instead of a light box. T5's rock!

Yippee!!!! I sowed some today, Kayte. I figured 'why am I asking a dumb question like that, I already know the answer!'.
Hello spring!

Kathy - i had missed your post. Funny...
Yes, always happy to share rain with CA.

Cliff Mass' blog is a must read if you're inclined towards geekness in the weather department.

My WS seeds are peeking through. About time I say!!!!

My lobelia sprouted overnight and I see a couple of ageratum starting to show, too. Yes, it is about time.!

You guys will giggle when you see how I start seeds indoors.

Giggling now.

I love it!! Excellent!

I save shells all year long. Wish I had all those pretty speckled, green & blue ones over in the Poultry Forum.

But it's also great because no plastic is involved & the shells can go directly in the ground. I'm thinking that, if I leave the edge sticking up, it might be a slight deterrent to slugs?

VERY clever. Looks like a great project for my 11 year old granddaughter, who once told me I was her 'messy' grandma - which I thought was the ultimate compliment.

Yes, I just wash them & store them in their containers. I use a coffee scoop/tamper to add the starting mix & compact it, then I just run them under the diffused spray of the kitchen faucet before setting them on a plant stand.

It just occurred to me that I could use a Sharpie to label the shells themselves, no?

So, how do you go about breaking the eggs to leave a larger container? Knife?

No, I just gently bang the small end of the egg on the counter, remove the shards, and empty my egg into the skillet or whatever. It doesn't have to be exact.

Thanks. I'll start tomorrow -- my husband is the weekend breakfast cook, which is the only time I really get a decent breakfast, and I'm sure eggs are figured in there somehow.

So what about drainage? Most seeds need good drainage. Do you poke a hole in the bottom with a needle or something? I just love the idea of a little seedling coming up from half an eggshell. and you are enriching the soil!

Hmmm ... well, after the initial watering, I pretty much leave them alone, other than bottom watering occasionally. They seem to suck enough moisture through the shell. Also, I suspect that the leftover membrane gives them a little organic sustenance.

These are put in the sunny front porch, not under hot lights, though.

They ARE cute when they sprout! Which is mainly why I do it. I like everything to be beautiful, even the utilitarian stuff.

You know, shells are quite permeable -- that's why eggs will soak up smells in your refrigerator or absorb the dyes at Easter.

OK, I have about 5 packets of eschscholzia & P. nudicaule.

1) Would these fare better in the meadow or in a flowerbed?
2) Can they be broadcast in the meadow or must they be sown in turned soil?

Just throw them out in the meadow, as long as it isn't too wet. Those like a well drained, rather lean soil. Don't bother turning the soil. Just surface sow them. Frankly, just toss them out there. As katye says, everything wants to grow.
Good point about the eggshells. I think I will try it. What a fun little project. I think it's one of the dearest things I've seen in a long time.

My spreadsheet now shows 147 varieties of seeds, annual, perennial, and biennial. I am a madwoman.

Aw, Pixy, glad you approve.

And they can look better -- they don't need to have mud splashed all over them; I just got a wild hare to take a picture & share with you guys. Was a little shy about it, thought you might all send the butterfly-catchers afte me ...