Hi, all.....
I am new to this forum and want to know which seeds that you have had good experience sowing this month, inside or out, but no greenhouse...alas! I won't be putting any plants out until April or May, unless we have unusually warm weather. The snow has melted so far, and we have had loads of rain, which is unusual for here. Usually just snow and sunshine, but not this year. So I won't be putting out lavender at least until May, as we have saturated soil which is death to many plants.
Thanks a bunch!
What Cottage Garden seeds should be sown now? And which ones
I think whatever zone your in makes a big difference. For example, I am in Zone 8b and most of my seeds are not supposed to be put out until after all danger of frost has passed, which is around April 1 for me. Do you know your zone? You can find it here on Dave's. Probably under guides & information.
Yes, Mini!
I am in zone 8. I am wanting to start some of them inside, as many need a head start in order to get maximum bloom times, such as petunias. I would just be discouraged if I had to start all of them in April or May, as I would see them already grown in nurseries and then would buy them and waste my money that I used on the seeds that I purchased. This year I don't want to take those chances, and many more plants can be realized with packets of seeds than with the same amount of money towards plants. I could not possibly buy the amount of plants that I would like to plant this year, so this year will be for me, "The Year of the Seeds".
Hi Evelyn,
If you are starting them inside under lights, then NOW is the perfect time to start for zone 8. This is just about 6 or 8 weeks before the last frost. What kind of pretties did you buy?
This message was edited Feb 11, 2010 6:04 AM
Well, I will put some out in March and April, but sometimes we have late frosts, so I won't be putting everything out until May 15th, even though it may seem late.
Hmmm then you can just count back from May 15 about 6-8 weeks and that would be the right time to start your seeds. So probably anywhere from March 15-March 30...
Thanks, Mini!
Hi all - I'm not new to this thread, but it's been about a year since I've had an opportunity to sit and relax and get "back to basics". I live in zone 5 (not sure if a or b) and I know it's too early to sow any seeds outside yet. My question is: are there any seeds that do well without grow lights or other artificial means? I would like to start some seeds in my south window, which gets great light, but not as great as it would be under proper conditions. Are there any seeds that aren't that fussy? Any info would really be appreciated. (And hi, Evelyn, it's Susan)
You may want to check out the Winter Sowing forum here on DG as well. In your zone you still have plenty of time to experiment with a few containers and ask questions. I would bet that many Cottage Garden plants would be successful wintersowing candidates.
Yes I agree about the wintersowing, though it will be my first year doing it. Also I have started some very old seeds (1997) indoors and they are germinating after 14 days! I put them in a former blueberry container, in seed-starting mix, with a bit more vermiculite and perlite added to the top layer, then pressed them in. I watered with some chamomile tea added to it. (I have been told that the chamomile tea prevents damp-off.) I saw that there were just a few seedlings so I put the said "mini-greenhouse" on top of an old heating pad wrapped with two layers of towels. Now there are several. I have put them off and on the heat for just a few hours a day, and they get cool during the night.
I am looking forward to doing this to many more of my old seed packets, as I have many.
Has anyone else tried old seed packets??
I just wintersowed some sweet peas in 1 gallon milk containers - 1992, 1995 and 2003. Will be interesting to see if any comes up.
SUZY"S SEED STARTING INFO FROM '08' PIGGY SWAP
Annuals need a true head start. A 14-16 week head start-in Jan.
Angelonias (serena)
Begonias
Geranium
Lisianthus (Eustoma)
Lobelia
Pentas
Vinca
Pansies
Primula
Rudbeckia (annual-Indian summer)
Dates based on average last frost date of April 22 to get the sizes of plants a home gardener needs for set out. These are probably not the dates a commercial grower would use.
Begonia 'Bada Boom' — Feb week 1
Dusty Miller — Feb week 2
Gazania 'Daybreak Pink Shades' — Feb week 2
Gomphrena — Feb week 2
Hibiscus 'Luna Pink Swirl' — Feb week 2
Hibiscus 'Red Shield' — Feb week 2
Salvia farinacea (blue salvia) — Feb week 2
Alternanthera 'Royal Tapestry' — Feb week 2-3
Dianthus — Feb week 2-3
Digitalis — Feb week 2-3
Heliotrope — Feb week 2-3
Salvia splendens types ( red salvia etc) — Feb week 2-3
Angelonia - Annual (Grow with impatiens) — Feb week 3
Impatiens — Feb week 3
Nemesia - about 10 weeks before last frost, grow cool. — Feb week 3
Heliotropium 'Marine Lemoine' — Feb week 3
Osteospermum 'Asti White" — Feb week 3
Ornamental chilis — Feb week 3
Salpiglossis (Painted Tongue) - says Mar 1, but also says 10-12 weeks — Feb week 3
Torenia - 10-12 weeks before last frost — Feb week 3
Coreopsis— Feb week 4
Gaillardia — Feb week 4
Hibiscus — Feb week 4
Hollyhock — Feb week 4
Heuchera — Feb week 4
Milkweed — Feb week 4
Statice — Feb week 4
Marjoram — Feb week 4
Oregano — Feb week 4
Petunias — Feb week 4
Portulaca — Feb week 4 or Mar week 1
Marigolds — Feb week 4 or Mar week 1
Six weeks ahead of time, about March week 2
Six Weeks: Cutting Ageratum, China Asters, Celosia, Cleome, Coleus, Nepeta Catmint, Forget-Me-Nots, Dahlia, Helichrysum, Globe Amaranth, Nicotiana, Platycodon, Scabiosa, Snapdragons and Thunbergia
Salvia farinacea (blue salvia) 2/7
gomphrena 2/7
dusty miller 2/7
Salvia splendens types ( red salvia etc)- 2/14
impatiens 2/14 and 2/21
ornamental chilis 2/14
petunias 2/21 and 2/27
portulaca 2/21
marigolds 2/27
cosmos 2/27
celosia 3/3
zinnia 3/3
Gazania-Feb
Heliotrope-Feb
Cosmo-March
Coleus-March
Abutilon Bella Mix - says sow April 1, blooms in 80 days. (Mar 22)
Accroclinium - This species prefers direct seeding (May 1)
Angelonia (Annual) - Feb 14 (Grow with impatiens)
Aster (Annual) - Direct sow Apr 15, or start indoors Mar 15
Basil - Indoors Apr 1 or direct sow May 15. (Apr 1)
Bells Of Ireland - WS. It needs a week of cold, then to fluctutate between 85 and 50 degrees to germinate.
Brachycome (Swan River Daisy) Direct Sow May 1 (May 1)
Celosia - Needs heat; Do not sow before Apr 1st.
Heliotrope - slow; start indoors by Mar. 1st for July blooms.
Kochia scoparia (Burning Bush) - Easily grown from seed outdoors.
Lobelia Annual Dwarf/Trailing (Jan 25)
Lobelia Upright - 14 weeks (Jan 14)
Nemesia - about 10 weeks before last frost, grow cool. (Feb 12)
Nemophila - warm soil with bell jar and direct sow April 15. Cool season annual (Apr 15)
Nolana - Mar 1 for April 15 set out after frost (cool season) (Mar 1)
Osteospermum Hardy Annual. Cool Season annual, full sun. 80 days, but wants daytime temps below 75.
Phacelia Annual - Direct sow as soon as ground can be worked (needs hot, dry, full sun)(Mar 15)
Phlox Annual - Best thinly sowed in a flat and transplanted HOS. Weakest seedlings are best colors. (Mar 1)
Reseda odorata (Mignonette) - Direct Sow (May 1)
Salpiglossis (Painted Tongue) - says Mar 1, but also says 10-12 weeks (Feb 20)
Torenia - 10-12 weeks before last frost (Feb 12)
Thank you Meredith,
I will add this info to my other lists and will keep it in mind, as it is most helpful. That was the exact info I was seeking, details and all, not just general info, which is on most of the seed packets.
Your welcome, although I see you are in a much warmer zone than I. Perhaps you could just do everything a month earlier than it says.
Meredith,
Since we get sometimes get unexpected late frosts, I have found that either I will not put them out too early, or if I do, I will give them a cover or some type of overnight protection. Right now our nighttime temps are at about 35 degrees, but subject to change at any time.
Your schedule seems a good safe bet for me. I had rather put them out late than lose them. Thanks again.
Evelyn
Oh good I'm glad it is helpful! You are welcome. : )
That schedule is really cool!
I see you live in California. Do you know about Annie's annuals website? www.anniesannuals.com . She has cottage flowers that would suit the cottage garden look. Not only is her website fantastic but request a catalog so you can drool over that often too. She also has slideshows that shows various combinations of her flowers. Her catalog tells what USDA zone specific flowers will grow. I think her prices are very reasonable for live plants. I'd give anything to see her flower gardens/nursey in person.
I do order from her and I lust after so many of her plants. I've been to the nursery once and am trying to attend the spring party I went in fall last time and it was great but I'd love to see it in spring!
Yes, and thank you. Her shipping is about the best as well. I have ordered plants from her the past 2 years. This year, however, I just wanted to grow a lot from seed, as I cannot afford to buy all the plants that I feel I need...and many of the plants that she sells can easily be grown from seed. I usually get things that are a bit less commonly available, and will probably order from her again this year, though less plants.
I can sure understand what you are saying. I dearly love flowers and I want so many plants and there's only so much money to go around. Sound familiar? I make numerous list and now I'm making a list for 2011 and I don't even have the seedlings planted in the ground yet! Crazy!
Ah...Pippi....yes! We are like 2 p's in a pod.
Me three! I just started 40 Zinnias. Don't even know where I'll put them. On the Annies note. I've been buying her plants and then collecting the seed from them and sowing for my self. I buy 1 plant, get to see what they look like and then if I like can have as many as I want next season. It works out nicely for me - instant gratifications + money saving, + shopping satisfaction. I find that the ones I grow from seed the next year always do better than the starters in the long run.
Hello Everyone. I've been watching this thread for a while to get some ideas. I save some seeds and plant them each year (gomphrena, 4 o'clocks, mossrose, rudbeckia, coneflower, and some zinnia). I don't really have space inside to start seeds, so my questions is what seeds work well just sown straight in the garden? Which should I sow in the fall and which should I sow in the spring after the first frost? (I've tried lupine and larkspur, and they germinate, but do not make it to flower because they do not like the sultry heat of GA, on the line of zone 7b/8a.)
All advice is greatly appreciated!
wonderearth...I am doing the same as you on Annie's Annuals...only the 'Yellow Garden' cosmos was so late to bloom, as I have been wanting to grow that one "en masse'....so it may have re-seeded, as I tried to collect them but I missed them somehow.
Has anyone collected cosmos seeds? I usually just let them self-sow...but this one is special and she has another one...C. bipinnatis 'Apricot'. I also want loads of them too, as I have not ever seen the seeds for that one. I cannot afford to buy "loads" of annuals, or loads of anything actually, and that is why I am growing from seed, as I want "loads" of flowers...more than the deer can eat...
I have collected the seeds and they are usually very reliable self sowers however, I've noticed some of the more unusual colored wild flowers are definitely not as prolific as the more traditional ones. I usually pull the seeds off the cosmos. It kinda form a little spikey seed head when it goes to seed. The spikes are the seeds. Id love some apricot cosmos but i'm cutting my self off for now, lol!
I was looking at those Apricot Cosmos too. However the minimum shipping to the part of the country I live, is $28! Ugh I just can't do it this year. I really want them though ..sigh.
Yes, I googled for those Apricot Cosmos and they seem to be very rare and dear, indeed. I'll have to wait.
But in the meantime I 'wintersowed' today some Ladybird Cosmos, and 3 other kinds thanks to your thread discussion.
And, ladybug, you might want to check out the Wintersowing Forum, especially the 'Sticky's' at the top of the forum for an explanation of how to start seeds the easy way using Wintersowing.
And/or look at the Propagation Forum where there are very knowledgeable seed sowers who know all the details, too. (It's too bad that 'Suzy' whose seed sowing table Meredith referenced above, doesn't post much anymore~~she was a whiz at all the seed sowing details.
ttfn tab
I started some Sonata White yesterday! They are supposed to be short ~about 24" :) I still want those apricot cosmos! Someone said they don't bloom until Oct. and I get frost then, so they definitely aren't worth the shipping.
This message was edited Apr 17, 2010 8:39 PM
I sowed the Sonata White outside and they germinated fine. I did not use the W/S method but just put them in small containers wrapped in a plastic bag. I took the bag off when they germinated and then just yesterday, I put them into cell packs. They all look good. I am surprised as many times the temps were about 35 degrees, but no damage and good germination.
I started mine inside, hopefully they do good! Iamnot positive where I will plant them yet.
Last night I took all plants off the shelves and covered them with a blanket, then a tarp, as it was 35 degrees then. I suppose no harm would have come to then, but I did not know what the low would be, as there is no predicting our "spring" weather, which looks a lot like winter weather...it snowed all day yesterday after rain/snow all night, then today it snowed some more, but is now raining. Well, it appears our drought will be over for this year....LOL ☺
Evelyn from snowy CA
Oh man !! More!?
e., What a spring time you are having?!! I had to look up Grizzly Flats CA on MapQuest to find out where you are~~a little isolated in the mountains it looks like...any way, I see you're fairly close to Lake Tahoe and my DH used to have an office there and he would find himself unexpectedly snowed in in the springtime or 'snowed out' of his office too from SF and miss a lot of meetings one way or the other. A lot of folks don't realize that parts of CA have pretty drastic winter weather...
My WS cosmos (on Sunday) have sprouted outside. They seem happy.
Did I already say on here that I WSed about 8 kinds of Vine seeds on Sunday too~~campsis, morning glories, passafloras, black-eyed susans, etc. No signs of seedlings with them though. They probably won't get really big enough to make an effect by the end of summer, but they'll be fun to have.
tabasco, Won't you want flowers from these vines? Wouldn't that be the point? I hope that you will get flowers from them.
Yes we are west of Lake Tahoe and southest of Placerville and about an hour and a half from Sacramento, which is the largest nearby city, though the town of Placerville has become a city since I moved up here. I was hoping for a sleepy little town there, and instead it has all the accutremnents of a large city with violent crime and drugs as well. I suppose there is no escaping, but I lived in SoCal for most of my life and wanted to "get back to nature", and are pretty much there where we live....but the city and city ways are looming ever so close. What used to be farm land is in many cases now vineyards owned by "fat cats" moving up here from the bay area (SF). They sell there million $$ homes in SF and buy a pretty large piece of property here...and you must know the rest of the story. I have wanted to live in the "country" for my whole life. My mother moved here first, and then she was seriously ill, and wanted me to move near her, and she did need my help. So, I did, and now I am married and living in a log cabin in the woods!
So, now you know my story...tell me yours...
Your cabin look wonderful! Just the thing I'm looking for here! Did you build it?
I had a good friend whose parents lived in Placerville and we went up there often for fun/visits. Very pretty country you have there!
Yes, from what you say, it sounds like urban sprawl is creeping in every where.
We lived in San Francisco from 1972 until 86 where my DH had a law practice. Then moved to Pasadena CA where he opened up another practice and he worked in both offices and we went between the two much of the time (and Tahoe where he represented ski areas). Then in "94 we moved to Cincinnati in part for law reasons, and in part because we wanted to get away from the traffic and congestion and travel/commutes. Now we live out in a 'township' with lots of 'green space' but close enough in to do all the 'city' things. We miss CA for many things but there are many things here that weren't available in CA, too. Our eldest daughter lives in Pacific Heights in SF. And our son is in the process of moving back to CA. So we go back often. (And my husband still has clients in SF and LA). I know, sorry, too much information!
Just got back from a short trip up thru Indiana into Michigan to visit the Holland Michigan Tulip Festival and stopped at a couple of historic gardens along the way. Fun trip and boy, do they know how to grow tulips in Holland MI! They were beautiful.
Anyway, checked my WS seedlings just now and all are fine and I am shocked at how many have sprouted in this cold blast of air we are getting now. I am hopeful for the garden this year!
Another snow storm has been predicted, but so far just cold blustering rain....it is usually dry in April, so I guess I should not complain as it was almost time to ration the water to the farmers in all of the CA valleys, which would mean much higher prices for food as well as shortages...
It was spring for two days before today, so I sowed peas and carrots, and put out broccoli, potatoes, and beets, which normally are planted in early spring and the potatoes and peppers should be going out now. I have started many flowers indoors, and on shelves outdoors on my back porch on shelves. Once they are germinated, I uncover them and when large enough I put them into cell packs.
So far I have cosmos, cornflowers, lupine, alyssum, lettuce (many kinds), parsley, lobelia, petunias, impatiens, vinca rosea, heliotrope, and ageratum, as well as tomatoes, tomatillos, peppers, eggplant...these are the ones I can remember, without looking at my notes...
Sounds like you have lots of great stuff ... spite the snow! Lol I saw on the weather that Ca was getting more! Hopefully it turns to rain. :)
Yes, we had snow again last night, and a bit more rain, late this afternoon. I guess I am so used to not having any moisture...I should not complain...especially when they were about to ration water to our valley farmers...then prices would go even higher, and there would be shortages as well.
We just get snow in the mountains and foothills, as the lower elevations get rain...we sure had a lot of that as well, and I guess that I was not prepared for so much of it. I will never complain that I live in CA, though I sure am enjoying not seeing billboards on my way to work, but trees!!!Yeah!
This picture was from this morning.
Much prettier than billboards!! :)