2010 Seed starting in the MA group

Lady. those petunias are encouraging. Mine are up and about, still in the Jiffys. Here, you can see the remains of the pellets.

All done with my seeds - now all I can do is wait and see if I actually have any luck - I'm contemplating starting half my MG's indoors and the rest outdoors ^_^ Since I'm only doing annuals on the deck this year I know I'll have to pick up a few flats for the planters when the time comes (and a few planters for that matter) - last year I had no luck with using Jiffy's - apparently so did several others, this year I invested in the Burpee's seed starters with wicking mats - they are under lights now - crossing my hopefully green fingers!

Bec, I don't inderstand about the Jiffys. I haven't had any problems using them for many years. I do remove the netting when transplanting however. Here's some Benary's Kniphofia (red hot poker) I started.

I didn't understand either - it was weird, they sprouted, they grew for a few weeks - then just stopped growing! The only ones that did anything were the MG's - like I said, I invested in the Burpee's this year - hopefully I'll have more luck :)

wow all the babies look great... LG how long will the cannas take to flower?

Becky, have you seen the method I use with takeout containers as seed starting trays? It's probably lo-tech compared to one of the seed starting "systems," but it works for me. See http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/862/

I transplanted 54 hot pepper seedlings into deep cell packs this afternoon and also clump-transplanted a 48 cell flat of my favorite Italian Basil. Tomorrow I'll deal with the rest of the basil (want to come over, Terri?)... 9 or 10 kinds in little rows in a container that once held BBQ ribs from Sam's!

Allison, I received the original cannan at the plant swap last year, can't remember who gave it to me, it was one of those "got one left, do you want it?" plant. It bloomed late summer, and I really enjoyed the tropical looking leaves all summer. It set seeds and I snipped off the brown pods before frost, I sowed 6 seeds, soaking them about 2 days before planting.
There is another seed that just started sprouting today so that will be 3 so far. I did not realize how easy they were to grow from seed.
A big Thank you to the gifter!

I got some at the swap this year.. good to know they are not that hard

Canna seeds are funny, so perfectly round you almost think they can't be organic. I had some rolling around my shed one year (figuratively and literally) and took awhile to figure them out LOL
Second ones up, Laurentia, also from Chris- TY! and tiny evening stock babies up after I think five days from sowing.

funny

No pics, but, I can report success! I see all kinds of tiny seedlings popping up!

Glad your new system is working for you, Becky!

They are talking rain today so I expect we should get some of the seeds planted today.

Good idea, Holly! This is the rain that will make the grass POP!

I still have some to plant that I did not plant with all the others--such as marigolds, Zinnias (probably should just put these in the bed!), and a couple other fast-sprouting ones.

BUT! I need to go to Wallmart today and get some things.....
My hair-dryer died the other day
Need to find a less expensive spreader that the ones HD carry--$29-$43--Geesh!
And check out some other garden stuff.....

Gita

Last year I did some crazy spending to try getting some of the clay broken up to give the lawn seed a fighting chance. The liquid stuff was really expensive and didn't do much. At the end of the season we go a plug aerator (which cost the same as the 3 bottles of liquid stuff). I have just finished plug aerating, overseeding and putting down the fertilizer that "holds moisture" and can be put down when starting seeds. In the past, the first application of lawn fertilizer was to prevent crabgrass (which it didn't) and the second one was for the broad leaf weeds. There was no good time to put down seed. Now I'm thinking, if I can get lots of grass seed to grow, it might crowd out the weeds!! Wishful thinking?????????/

Columbine leaves are pretty distinctive... I'm not sure if they even put up other-shaped cotyledons first.

If you don't have big established weeds or patches of crab grass, the theory works fairly well... especially in spring, new grass will out-compete new clover, etc. Crab grass usually wins, but if you've been using the preventative stuff you probably don't have a lot of it there to spread around.

I think thats right so I am even more suspicious of these familiair looking symmetrical coyledons. Lawd knows I've seen enough henbit,chickweed and other seedlings ...

Sally,

Did you not save this link on ID'ing what actual seedlings look like when they sprout? This is a VERY good link!
Bookmark it! Besides what the seedlings look like--the Author of this also tells you how and where he started any particular seeds. Inside? Outside? How early or late?

I posted this link in about 3 different seed-growing related Threads a little while ago.
Just go to the plant you are looking for. I believe it is alphabetically listed.......

http://theseedsite.co.uk/db1.html

Gita

Aw, thanks G gal~~ yup my seedlings don't look like that! in fact today I notice a bunch of pink ones in one container, they really do not look like columbine. The potting soil re-using has its surprises.

Trimmed my bushes just in time to use the trimmings for trellises for all the vine seedlings that are looking for somewhere to climb. (.........get OFF those curtains, now..........)

ok, since we had some good rain today I thought I would check on how bad things might be messed up in the jugs.... well to my surprise one jug has greennnnnnnnnnnnnnnn in it.... Planted Mar 7th White Lychnis are up...... the jug right beside it is pink lychnis so wonder how long it will be before they are up....

I'm really encouraged now......

Janet

Way to go, Janet ! I have observed over the years of seed starting some colors even when they are the same plant take longer to get started.
Glad you have a start, it makes a world of difference.

Oh you guys are so good. I can't seem to get around to starting seeds. I thought for sure I would get to it yesterday as it was raining but spent most of the day running errands and then came home and crashed. The only seeds that have gotten planted here are peas & raddishes in the Veggie Garden. LOL

Reading about peppers last night and found I am due to start them NOW. Also must have basil, besides the great seeds critter always shares I had forgotten and bought some more--DS decided he likes pesto and the price of a jar--- eek!

Peas were planted St. Patty's day. On Sunday I started Basil (6 different verities) and 2 types of sweet peppers. Thanks Jill!
I love the lemon and lime basils in fresh green salads.

Sally, teach that boy to make his own pesto! He'll have a sure fire thing to impress a date with down the road... grilled chicken & pesto pasta...

I'm with you, LadyG.. most of the use that I get from the "other" basils is to put them into fresh salads!

I've got basil babies! 3 days.! The hot and spicy basil babies are a bit slow.

Give them another day or two.. I got just a couple of sprouts at first, and then the H&S basil came up as thick as any of the others. I sure hope it comes true from those saved seeds!

Well, the main Spring garden was planted March 15, right on schedule. Lettuces, Mesclun and radish coming up thick. (At the first hint of hot weather, they dissolve, kinda like the Wicked Witch.) The snap and May peas were planted Feb 25, and they started peaing this past weekend. Also this past weekend I finished the Spring garden by planting turnips, purple globe, and also 7 tops, for the greens. I also planted in the beds a pack of Bells of Ireland, and mixed Bachelor Buttons. Indoors, too much...Impatiens, kniphofia (3 kinds), red salvia all growing very good. Was the gardener who asked about Impatiens here? I put 2 seeds (not pelleted) on each Jiffy and they grew no problems, I'll transplant the extras to cells. My favorite peppers were planted, and carefully labeled, last year they got mixed up, and as one pepper seedling looks like another...Mixed color bells, mixed mini-belles, Biker Billy, Burpee's 5 variety hot mixed (I sold bag after bag of these at work, literally 'til frost) and Bulls horn, which is my favorite pepper. I have more than enough seeds left over and you're welcome for a SASE first come first served for
Biker Billy (The LARGEST jalapenos I have ever seen), Burpees 5 mixed Hots, and T & M's Chrunchy mini belles.

nice list!!.. the mini bells were cute.. didn't get too many with the cold wet weather last year though

OK, I definitely have not been starting my peas soon enough. This year is later yet, because I tried to pre-sprout a bag of older snap peas, and they're not doing well (only a few have started to sprout, and they look stunted somehow, rootlets no longer today than yesterday... might plant them tomorrow after the rain stops, might just buy a new pack & try again).

I "might" have a few extra basil plants.. I didn't think I'd sowed quite that many seeds, and yet I have 5 1/2 flats of basils!

oohhh just a few huh?

Just received more seeds. This has got to stop. A few days ago I took everything out of the domes and potted them up. The domes are FILLING UP AGAIN!!.

I know that feeling

gosh--some of you are plant crazy snicker snicker

I saved some pea seeds from last years vines, soaked them over night, then planted last week. I also have been planting later I think. -''-peaing '' snicker snicker I am watching the lettuce, mustard, spinach and radish I planted last week, and the chard I planted very early to see if it would sprout on its own at the right time.

So glad we have this thread cuz it reminds me to check on mine evEry day!

Karldan, Yes I am the one with (or not!) the impatients. I have two very nice plants, out of 24. I will contact Burpee sometime today, I think. Everything else is going crazy. I may try pelleted seeds next year, where did you get them? Thanks, Pam

I nicked some Morning Glory seeds and planted them on Sunday, already have at least 6-8 up and growing. Must keep cats from eating.

Have you all heard that Edens has gone out of business? They are the ones that manufactured "Messenger"....

I just came across this Thread.....I will check it out myself.....

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1079900/