We have the native seeds, What to do now?

Now I just feel worse LOL. Oh well nothing sprouting but perhaps one day...
C

Some things about winter sowing that I can't get my mind around. I understand how it works so well in the north where winter means consistently cold temps. But here in our area of north central Texas where winter is so fickle (spring temps most of last week and now wind chills as low as 0º predicted for the next few days) what happens to those seedlings that have sprouted? If we had consistent winter conditions they would not have sprouted yet and it has been my understanding that's why we have some years with fantastic wildflower displays and some with almost nothing. How do we trick Mother Nature into playing the game our way?? LOL. Should the seedlings be brought inside or what?

Glenna

I think I will bring my sprouted ones in for this cold spell, don't want to chance loosing them.
That won't be hard and better safe than sorry.
Josephine.

Since I am further south, it has worked fine to cover them with a sheet or blanket when it gets cold like it will this week. I have 12 kinds of seeds that have sprouted so will sure be giving them a "binky"!

Tonya

I haven't planted anything yet.. but then I really don't have a lot of room. I did manage to plant some bulbs over the weekend & saw some daffodil bulbs poking through!! hahahaha. I know, that doesn't count! hahahaha

Here is part of my set up for winter sowing, I have covers on them because of the squirrels.

The other part with the big tarp covering the potted small perennials. I didn't cover my in ground plants.

The smaller tarp with more potted plants. Those are all hardy plants in the ground, but not in 4 inch pots.

In going through my seeds I found several that I had not labeled. Thought I would remember etc or didn't know.
I id this one as a bundleflower, Josephine can you confirm?

Not sure where I picked this one up. The pod was very hard to crack.

Sorry Sheila not Bundleflower, the pods seem too fat and short and the seeds too big, I really don't know what it is.

The second one is Texas Mountain Laurel, be sure to scarify it and give it the boiling water treatment, they are very hard.

This one was from a tree in San Antonio along the riverwalk. I have the tree will post also.

"San Antonio" pic looks like Mexican Buckeye..

Thanks on the #2 Josephine....I will treat it as you said.

Here is the #3 leaves

This message was edited Feb 1, 2011 1:08 PM

Yes, Mexican Buckeye, a beautiful tree, the flowers look a lot like Redbud.

And the tree....#3

Oh great, thanks for the id Tx-gardener and confirmation Josephine.

I am going to make sure to id things in the future...I don't like tracking them down later!

I was mixing some soil the last week and found 3 of those red beans. Not a clue as to where they came from. Not knowing what they were I managed to get a hole it them by rubbing them on rough cement (it wasn't easy). Soaked them for 3 days, they did swell some and got them planted the otherday. I wonder if I ought to dig them up and give the boiling water treatment.

Dane

Dane, if they swelled they should be o.k. I guess you broke through the shell pretty well.
Josephine.

Thanks for the reply. Yes the seed was very hard. My knife didn't even scratch them and the first cement pad I tried was too soft and barely dulled the seed.

Dane

As kids, we would take the red ones and rub them on the concrete and then "burn" each other with them! LOL We were easily amused.

Simpler times Stephanie.

That is really funny Stephanie!!

Steph...the rubbing and burning reminded me some how of something else amusing. My girlfriend's DH was using a hacksaw to remove the heads from some nails he used to repair a bannister once. One popped off and she reached down picked it up then promptly dropped it. Her DH said "hot wasn't it?" ...Jean replied "no, just didn't take me long to look at it!"
I had tried to make a knick in the seeds with no luck. I will take them to the shop and get pliers and use the belt sander maybe.
I am proud to say I went out day before yesterday and planted three flats of seeds!! I was going to take a picture of my shelf, but didn't want to chance walking back down on the ice with an expensive camera I might drop. They have had two days of light now. I guess that is what I am suppose to do...turn the lights off at night?

We had a bunch of texas mountain laurel to do last year. We finally decided just tapping them with a light hammer was the most efficient way to get a break in the shell. You lose a few by tapping too hard and they shatter, but the rest of them go very quickly.

I was thinking about trying that but figured I would crush it.

Here is my setup. Only three trays planted so far. The one on top is some parsley I started months ago, for black swallowtails. I have grow lights in two ceiling fixtures since I have all of our hanging baskets, fruit trees and potted items inside the shop.

Very neat Sheila, good to see you got going.

Great set up, Sheila! We've got some maters and peppers growing under lights. Our setup is in the front bedroom, though.

I saw your pictures out on fb! Coming along nicely!

Oh, no one answered my question as to am I suppose to turn the lights off at night?

This message was edited Feb 3, 2011 5:15 PM

Yes turn them off at night, to simulate daylight.

good deal, guess I am doing it right then. Now to get my bum busy planting the rest of the pots.

I'm leaving my lights on for 12 hours. They run 7am to 7 pm.

That is about the same as mine, so guess I am ok. Thanks all.

Ok, I got out there for the last two hours and planted everything I wanted to start indoors and about 5 milk jugs outside. Cross my fingers I remember to keep them as watered as they want to be. The shop is heated for my feline friend so my daylight bulbs should work.

Ok Stephanie...wintersowing guru.....On the milk jugs I left the top on cut on three sides put holes in the bottom and taped after planting. Is that all? With future watering, will I remove the cap, or soak from the bottom?

Out of the 14 or so species I wintered sowed, I only saw 2 that had any sprouts at all. Both had only a couple in the pot. I am still hoping they will start to germinate now that the weather is better.
C

I still have many that haven't germinated and some may not, many of them are difficult, but we hope.
Josephine.

Frostweed-What types are difficult?

Many of the tree seeds, some penstemons, and clematis and I am sure many more can be difficult to germinate.