Time for some fall planting?

Just wondering if it is time to plant seeds for snapdragons, violas, and sweetpeas in south central TX? Anyone...anyone...

Was thinking of the "wintersowing" method, although it would be "fallsowing" technically.

Tonya

I winter sowed some sweet peas last winter (this past Feb) and had great success!

Tonya ~ when you say the 'wintersowing' method, you aren't thinking of using the milk jug type containers are you? The greenhouse effect would not work well in the summer here.

In the end of June or beginning of July I started a batch of tomatoes for fall planting with shorter maturity date. We'll see. October is a good time to spread the poppy seeds for spring blooms. I need to remember to do that ~ lol

Yeah, I usually figure Oct-ish for things that I want to grow in the spring, although I don't think I've ever tried any of the plants you listed. I'm planting (desultorily) now things that I think will bear in the fall, although we could still get a stinkin hot August and they all bake to dust.

There is a central texas viola society, so they could tell you totally for sure. I _think_ some years, depending on the weather, they could grow over winter for you.

There are some cool natives you could plant at the same time, maybe some drummond phlox?

Thanks for all the replies.

I was thinking I had read somewhere that sweetpeas needed to be started in the fall in this area. Maybe I will wintersow those in Nov or so and see when nature let's them grow. I hear you podster on the wintersowing being too hot right now. I bet they would bake, even in the shade. I need to remember those poppy seeds in Oct, too. I tried it last year and they did great. I especially liked some purple one's that looked like "Lauren's Grape".

Snapdragons and violas are used for winter color around here. That's why I was wondering if I should start the seeds now. I guess I would need to start them indoors. I don't have a misting system outside so I am afraid they would dry up to quickly while I am at work all day! I may have to look into that drummond phlox. I got a Fannik's Phlox at a plant swap and it was just beautiful this year.

I'll look up the Central Tx viola society and see what they have to say.

Thanks again for the input.

If you start them in the fall, you can soak them overnight, then direct sow them. Just nick them a bit before soaking, soak, then plant.

Thanks Steph, I think I will do that instead.