Seed starting in summer

Are there any plants that you would suggest I can start seeds for this time of year and possibly plant out this fall for next year? Or if you don't suggest I plant them out, keep them in pots and overwinter them in my greenhouse? I started my tomato, annual and some perennial seeds in very early March this year and would have preferred they be larger when I set them out. I still have to keep my New York Asters ,Cape Fuchsia and Coral Bells in a mostly shady 'nursery bed' because they're still too small to set out in my garden, especially since we are having such an early hot growing season. They would have burnt up they were still so small when I planted everything else this Spring. I am keeping the Coral Bells in pots until next Spring because I don't want to chance losing them but I would like to learn how to utilize my greenhouse better so I can have a headstart next year. Any suggestions on methods will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I am trying the same thing too. This will be my first year trying it. So far I have started hollyhocks, coneflowers, painted daisy and coreopsis. I chose all of these because they usually don't bloom until the second year. I have been taking cuttings as well with hopes of planting some in the fall. Everything is in pots protected from the really strong sun. I plan on putting some in the ground in fall and overwintering the rest in the greenhouse to see what works best.

Well good, Clyoung, let me know how you do. I might as well try some myself, all I can do is lose some seed, right? It will be a great help if it works. And I'm definately doing some fall and wintersowing too. If nature does it we might as well too, right? Let's keep in touch with our progress. Thanks for responding, I was beginning to think I had asked a really stupid question.

Sounds good. I know how you feel about the whole stupid question thing. If I decide to ask a question ( I rarely do) on here it is usually serious business for me. LOL! I need some expert opinions and advice.

The only stupid question is the one not asked.... It is always ignorant, inconsiderate, and impatient people that make it look as if you asked a stupid question.
Ask away and someone will eventually try to help with what knowledge they have on the subject and be happy to do so....and if ya don't get an suggestion/answer, well maybe you have come up with something new....(~;

I am planning on starting ornamental kale seeds soon for the fall/winter.
You can also start broccli and cauliflower as well. I usually start cuttings at this time of the year. This winter I will have cuttings of coleus (maybe 3 different ones) and sweet potato vine (2 colors). Last year I started my seeds in January for April/May plantings. I just had to keep the greenhouse a little warmer to get them to germinate. I was reluctant to start them too soon since every year I fight with mealy bugs.

One of my journals I put notes of what are cool weather plants for La.
Thank for reminding me to review that list.

Good luck!

Oh! How did you collect your cora bells seeds? I have 2 plants in pots tht I would like to propagage.

Dirt_Lover,
During the 80's while I owned and operated a commercial greenhouse in Nebraska, I sowed perennials both spring and fall. The reason was that I could not possibly sow all that I needed at the same season to be sold the following spring. I specialized in drought resistant perennials for Nebraska climate..

I started slower growing perennials in the spring. Once they were large enough to handle, they were planted in my coldframe to continue growing until August. They were then potted up to be sold following spring. End of July through August, I sowed different varieties of perennials. When large enough to handle, they too got planted in my now empty coldframe. They remained there all winter. I potted them up early spring as soon as they began to grow.

I have followed this action here in Wyoming. The house I bought had no flowers so beign the good gardener that I am I proceeded to plant 54 varieties of perennials, devided into spring and late summer. I built a simple coldframe to house my seedlings. With no greenhouse, I grow the seedlings under light in the house until last week in May when large enough to go in my coldframe.

A greenhouse is not needed to grow perennials even in the North. Why not use your greenhouse for the beautiful tropical Hibiscus and Brugmansias, etc. I am not familiar with your climate so don't know if tropical plants will grow outdoors where you live.

Coral bells, (Heuchera) can be propagated by division. That is quicker than seed sowing.

Below is my coldframe which without I could not garden. It is 3ft x 6 ft long. cover has a shade cloth. No attempt is made to protect seedling from winter weather. This was I know that they are hardy.

Very interesting Blomma, thank you for taking the time to give me advice. I think I need to stop worrying so much about losing plants and just do some experimenting and see what works good in my area. The summers can be brutal here, it started very early this year and not much rain to speak of. My garden is struggling and has made me change my choice of plants, I'm going for the more drought tolerant ones appropriate for xeriscaping. I had already talked to my husband about building a cold frame for veggies so I will probably visit that idea again after your advice. Thank you!

Dirt_Lover, you are welcome. If your husband is going to build you a coldframe, ask him to make it a huge one LOL. It is amazing how quickly one outgrows it---just like a greenhouse.

The only plant I have that is not drought resistant are 3 hardy Hibiscus. They get mulched heavily and watered regularly. They are the only ones I baby.

My favorite are Iris, Daylilies, Sempervivums (hen and chicks) and Sedums. Both Iris and Daylilies are drought tolerant once they are established.

There is no sense being a slave to your garden. It takes the joy out of it. You are wise to rethink.

Enjoy and good luck.

Excellent advice - "slave to your garden." Hadn't really thought of it that way but like Dirt_Lover mine is experiencing some doldrums. Even though I have mostly natives which are acclimated to these conditions, this that and the other have kept me from doing much of what I had wanted.

I appreciate your wisdom and will re-think my garden status too - especially those tomato seedlings that never got planted in their buckets. ;)

A.

I too start perennials now for next spring. It gives them a chance to get a good root system before the heat of summer sets in. I also start any fall veggies now too. It just works for me.

Amanda who r u kidding - ur already a slave to that beautiful butterfly haven you've created :) but I do think it's necessary for us all to lean towards plants that need less attention... do you grow Agastache in your garden? I know my Tutti Frutti coupled with black and blue salvia have been blooming all summer and I've not once fertilized them and only a few times had to hand water - now the rest of the yard... ahem...I need to ween it off the soaker hoses LOL

Hmm. Early on I decided that the sprinkler was not very efficient/effective for watering!

Only recently watering the hyssop/agastache by hand too - yellowing a little. I only just got a tutti fruitti from a friend and still hoping it develops good roots so I can take the bag off it's head! Have black and blue salvia also doing well but it's got southern exposure and not much afternoon sun.

Weird - well I guess not - but not much is blooming! My echinacea have asters yellow (?!) and have had to prune/pull 'em out. The swamp milkweed and butterfly weed are bloomed out and even my parsley dill and fennel have gone to seed! All this before the butterflies hit - folks all over the country lamenting how there are no butterflies this year (rain and cold weather in the spring I think). I have faith that they will be here in August. All of a sudden there are skippers on my zinnias this week. Okay I have zinnias.

I am still planting milkweed seedlings, fleabane, sage, tho' I am pretty sure unless you are watching over your seedlings every day every hour, I wouldn't be starting seeds in this weather! You're right. I am enslaved. :/

A.

Dirt_Lover did you have any luck getting your seeds started? I finally had to stop trying to germinate outside. It is Waaaaayyyy too hot. I had zero luck with the hollyhocks in the heat. They seem to be doing fine in the mini jiffy greenhouse in the kitchen window though. I have started some black eyed susans in the window as well.

Someone on one of the threads said they use a clear storage bin (They are not really clear but a milky clear). I have a Sterlite one with a white lid that snaps on. It is working great. I use those peat pellets that swell up when you add water. Even in this heat and drought it is working really well. I need to take some of them out soon as they are touching the lid. They said not to use one with a clear lid nut a solid color one.

I have a container like that which I use for my cuttings when I try to root things. Works pretty well, sometimes too well and the humidity is too high. I hadn't thought to try it on seeds but that is something I will look at for fall plantings. Thanks. :)

I had thought about using one of those too. I was a little worried about drainage though. With the peat pellets I can control the watering process or if I mess up and put too much in I can just take the pellets out and empty the container. Now that I think about it I could even use that in the windowsill and it will hold alot more of the pellets than the mini greenhouse. Amanda do you poke drainage holes in yours that you use for cuttings. I have also considered using them for wintersowing.

Actually, the container is rather large - one I have used for blankets and winter clothing storage. It's about 40"L x 18" W x 20"H- ish

It's opaque/clear plastic with a white lid. I was trying to do cuttings in small containers (2" sq plastic pots) inside plastic bags to retain moisture. They were just too hard to handle and precarious to place. I don't have a lot of room in the house that is safe from cats and outside they just seemed to be in the way. I decided to use the storage bin for the greenhouse effect it could provide, still putting cuttings into containers inside the storage bin. I did not put drainage holes in it, though a couple of air holes at the top in the lid might be able to provide an out for extra hot air/condensation.

At first I had it in a side window that caught afternoon sun. When the angle of the sun got too high I brought it into my iguana's room (HA!) which has constant temp over 70 deg. and gets east/morning sun as well as late afternoon sun from a south/west facing window.

This has worked really well for me as I am a newbie at cuttings. I have been pleased, but I did note some mildew on my last batch of cuttings which I attributed to too much moisture.

I haven't used it lately, but expect to clean it out well to make sure not to propagate mold/mildew. I think the air holes up top will be the trick. Thoughts?

A.

I often use forsythe pots. a small unglazed terra cotta pot in the center of a larger pot and cuttings between the two. Keep the smaller pot full of water at all times and the water will seep through and keep the potting media evenly moist. they work wonders for me. I tried some daphne in one this year though and something went wrong. I lost the whole pot.

I haven't ever done cuttings in a container like that. I feel an experiment coming on! LOL

Well I like your method too and will have to try that! This is the first season I have started trying to do starts of woody perennials and shrubs. Some annuals are easy, but I am feeling challenged.

I guess I'll keep trying. Let me know how your experiment goes!

On the 2 pot method, I assume that the larger/outside pot is plastic or something non-porous?

Thanks.

A.

Yes Amanda. I use large plastic pots for the outer pots and then the terra cotta for the watering pot. I will try to post a picture of my set up for you.
I usually put a cork in the bottom of the terra cotta pot, but the new puppy has caused me to choose duct tape.

I would love to see pictures of your set up before, during and after it is all together. Does the duct tape really help keep the pot holding water? Sounds like a cool idea.

I laugh at your need to use duct tape b/c of the puppy. I have all but given up on houseplants until the last cat in this house croaks or gets kicked out.

I think that set up sounds really great. What kind of soil/medium do you use?

ibartoo, I remembering reading about this method on one of the forums, but forgot all about trying it. What is the method called? Some of the DG'rs use vermiculite only I think.

Okay so now I will have to try both, I haven't heard of the pot method before. Please do post some pics.

For just a few seeds I use the containers that the seedless grapes come in from the grocery store.The lid is already attached and it has holes in it alreadyVery handyI take my seed and put
them between a dampened paper towel and then put into zip lock bag.Keep a check on them(do not let dry out)When sprouted enough transfer over into grape containers with sparguam
moss seed starting potting soil.Just put nine Radius Hibiscus over into bigger pots.A lot of good information posted above.Could some one post a list of the seed to plant now to set out in
spring?
Rachel

Ok, here is a link to one of my blog posts that talk about the forsythe pots. In the post there is a link to a tutorial ( not mine) that you may find helpful. check it out and let me know what you think.
Linda

Linda I don't see the link, can you post again? Thanks!!

Ibarto, we want to see your post. What happened late night out?

oops! Sorry I will try it again.

http://sandypetals.blogspot.com/2010/07/i-should-be-in-garden-but.html
Don't forget there is a link there to someone else's tutorial on the forsythe pots. Enjoy

Thanks for the info. I must try it especially for those hard t propagate plants like bleeding heart and accuba.

Thankyou! I think I will try it with two different plants camellias (I have had no luck at all with them) and something that I have found easy to root like passion flower or geraniums.

I started my bleeding heart today. Now just wait and wait and wait.

Clyoung, Don't give up too early on the camellia cuttings. Sometimes they take 6-9 months to start rooting.

Peg, let me know how your bleeding heart does for you.

You are all welcome. I am happy to share anything that works for me.

That is good to know about the camellias. Unfortunately I already dumped them, but the good news is that they are all over the place here, so I will just snag some more to try with the pots.