Here goes... Pretreatment: Starting the first seeds for 2013

wow, Campanulas look great!!!

Kathy, you asked about Ceratotheca triloba, South African Foxglove a while ago...

Pic is today. It sprouted on 1/15 after 4 days, Deno method, then moved into cells. I just lost one, these 9-cell packs don't quite hit the capillary matting and dry out.

For some reason the holes in the bottom are slightly raised and have to be pushed down hard when I fill them, which I didn't realize at first. Even that doesn't always work. I've moved a few things into other containers and watch the rest carefully now that I know. Good thing we're going to be around for the next few weeks. By the time we go away again in March they'll all be in different containers. I won't use those packs again unless I can figure a way to make them more reliable. I can't imagine putting wicks in every single cell, too much fiddling, I do enough already. I just got some 6-packs which look better, and the wide ones are fine. And to think I bought all new this year just to prevent this problem. Last year some re-cycled cell packs were indented on the bottom and I lost some seedlings... Grrrrr....

Oops- I can see by the copyright that it posted upside down again...it's impossible for me to tell otherwise, it looks normal on my iPad. But I think I have it figured out now...

A breath of spring or two to brighten up Super Bowl Day... A few friends are coming over later for the game. I'm making beef stew with cognac, a recipe gotten from a friend years ago, perfect for a cold February day.

Aww, sorry you had to lose any of them. They are flimsy on the bottom, so I can see how that would happen. Darn!
The blooms sure brighten up the indoors in the winter!

LOL...too funny on your photos....how do you keep water in your forsythia vase? ooops!!! lol!!! I know, shut up!!!

Love your spring flowers!!!!!! Hey, did you know your tulips will continue to grow, give'm a few days and see what I mean...just resnip the bottoms off. Most pople don't realize, lol..... But make sure you smell them for me PLEASE!!!!
yum!!!

Newly sprouted this week:Daisy (48") Becky, Daucus carota Rubra ( am excited about this one as is very RARE, it's Biennial, about 24-36" and red, I got it in my first trade about 20 years ago and just came across the seed the other day and thought I would give it a try, I only grew it once but thought I'd love to try again...Sure hope I collected the right seed, lol...), Monarda Lambada, Alcea rosea dark red, Nicotiana sylvestris ( I know a bit early but I just couldn't resist...duh..lol), I will literally have tons of this...(any takers come spring let me know)

I did know about the tulips, just love them when they start to wave around gracefully instead of sticking straight up like little soldiers...

The forsythia vase is a long, tall one, water lasts for quite a while but I do top it up from time to time. The tulips need it more often.

The Daucus sounds interesting. I'm doing Orlaya this year instead of Ammi Majus, similar look, yes? But I know yours is pink, or red or something, mine is white.

My only new sprouts are new batches of Alchemilla, Campanula and Danthus Loveliness. They popped right up. I'm still waiting for the Veronicas, Verbascums, Aquilegias, and a bunch of other recalcitrants.

I've had a lot sprout the last two days. A couple of nicotianas, dark red rose of sharon, dill, hawkweed, coreopsis, there are others, just can't remember. I put in two dozen plants and probably two hundred seeds in the new "butterfly garden" yesterday. Today I started Spring cleaning and re-organizing the greenhouse for my first plant sale of the season next weekend. I have lots of new 4" succulents ready and still have lots of gallon pots with geraniums and other perennials. I'm interested in your red daucus carota, be sure and post us a picture next summer when it blooms. I'm not so patiently waiting for the other mallows to germinate, I have quite a few colors and I think they will look great in the butterfly garden. I have some orlaya seeds too, can I just sow them in the garden in place?

Seems to me I've grown the orlaya in the past....if I remember right the flowers were more open than the Ammi tho. And I did start them inside, so can't comment on if they can be done insitu. Where did you get your seed, a trade?

Pam, am not sure if they are an Ammi or Daucus. Both are the same family (carrots). Am thinking they were labled as Ammi majus rubra (but listed as biennial). 'Spose to be 3-6ft. I grew them in 2003, seems like they only got to 30". Then I moved and forgot about them. Dome.. just made up a packet for you and am thinking I will include in the seed trade when it gets here this week so others can give it a try. Dome anything else you want, lol, don't wanna send just 1 packet....I know I sent you a bunch of goodies a few weeks ago but anyhting else you can think of? LOL.

Ky...how's the weather down south?

Kathy - I hate to have you send me more seeds, it was so nice of you to send the first batch. I can wait until next year.
I got my orlaya in a trade, I've got quite a few annuals that I thought I could give a try at just putting the seed out. Our weather is already warming here so they will have plenty of time to do there thing. If I do it now it will be easy to keep them damp.

I got Orlaya in a trade, forgot that I had also ordered it from Parks. My Ammi never got over 3'- maybe that's the difference between it and Daucus? Or maybe it's just local conditions. I don't have totally full blazing sun even in my hottest areas, and we almost never get more than a couple of weeks of really high temps in one stretch.

But speaking of seeds, you wouldn't have any more P palmerii, would you? I hate to ask, I can't believe it's been such a challenge for me! The last few seeds are doing nothing, but that was always a long shot, everything else germinated long before and got smothered one way or another before I learned what they want :(

My one Pp seedling is right in the middle of Pic 1.

Still waiting for Veronicas, Verbascums and a bunch of other stuff... Some got stratified and aren't due yet...

Everything else is doing fine- look how cute the little Alchemillas are! I just love them! And the Platys are moving along, I'll have plenty to plant when the time comes...

It just snowed for thirty minutes--and stopped. We still have patches of the 2" from a few days ago. Thankfully, it's not bitter cold out!
I got zone envy when I read Dee's posts...lol.

Don't we all!!

LOL...Nope I get jelous when I read of those getting snow!!!!!! LOL.....
Ok, Pam I've got two packs for ya....penstemon p. and Ammi majus rubra, anything else????? Just ask!!! Since you have a box of plants coming this spring remind me to send you some veronica and some verbasums, don't worry about the seed, just remember to put on your list to remind me. I have sooooooo many verbascums in the garden!!!! And I'll be dividing my veronicas, time to split them up before they get a hole in the middle, it's been 3 or 4 years now..... Did you get the vermiculite? Am thinking you said you had, might try giving some of your babies 1/16-1/8 dusting around those seedlings that are iffy.....might do the trick...or atleast try on 1 plant and see what kind of results you get.... Your platys look great, mine are still in their 1rst pot..am waiting for them to get some size before moving up...Have bee working on dividing some of my pots that have a gazillion plants into them, like all my different Digitalis, oh my I will have tons of babies!!!!! Just to make sure I will have some that bloom this season I had started a pot of Foxy too, lol... is spring here yet... I know, I have to wait til May!!!!
Am getting excited...the box will be here in a few days!!! Yeah, my turn to get goodies!!!

Oh you'll enjoy the "box", I didn't think I would find much of interest in there and I found myself taking little bits out of 40 types of seed, and that was like 1/10th of the types of seed in there! I'm getting some germination from them already. I think what I got most excited about was all the annuals. We don't do a lot of annuals in California, so many perennials grow well here that most people think they're just too much trouble. They're all just new to me so it's going to be fun to try them. They'll probably all go invasive here and I'll have fence to fence flowers every Spring, LOL.

What a LOVELY sight!!!

Fence to fence flowers sound great!

Kathy, I did get vermiculite. It worked well for the Digitalis, just a light sprinkle. I put a dusting- less than 1/8" -around the Veronicas and Verbascums, and nothing has surfaced yet. I took more seeds of each the other day and did the Deno method.

The Verbascum Wedding Candles seed is from a volunteer plant from last summer. The parent (purchased) bloomed two years ago and vanished. Was I ever surprised to see it in the rock wall! Pic 1 is the secondary bloom, the first was just one long spike, pic 2. I have no idea where the roots found room... In this pic it's just above the lichen-covered rock near the bottom in the middle, sticking out sideways from left to right.

I still have more seeds of that, if you want some.

One of the Veronicas is a low-growing blue. I got it from Bluestone last summer, only 1 of 3 made it, but it was lovely and I'd like more. The other is Fairytale, a silvery pink from the robin, which is new for me. So I'll keep trying...

I actually have a lot of a Veronicas, if you want some: Sunny Border Blue, V incana Pure Silver, Icicle, Eveline, Romiley Purple, Red Fox.... I love them all.

Pfg,
Are you stratifying Veronicas and Verbascums? I believe they need coldness, followed by warmer temp to break dormancy. Many perennials take their time to sprout. Annuals sprout pretty quick cause they know they don't have all the time to set seeds that perennials have. I also found that not all varieties in the same genus require the same sowing techniques, including temp.

I love the center photo above. So lush with plants. Question. Why do you close your house for the winter and live in an apartment? Is it just a summer house?. It would drive me nuts to have to go back and forth.

All you gals are really doing a lot of sowing. Brings back memories. I used to do many also. Did 54 varieties of different plants back in 2002 when I bought my house and not a plant was here. I went nuts figuring where to put them all. Now I am content doing just iris and daylily seeds. My daughter does her own sowing---finally.

Blomma, according to Clothier they don't need it, should germinate in less than 2 weeks at 68. I use a heat mat since it can get quite cold in the window, but this year I have a thermostat, and the temps have been fluctuating between 68-71.

After years of city-based careers, even after retirement we're still city dwellers who love country weekends and vacations in the summer. I do miss the garden in the winter, but the house is very old and not well insulated, making heating it difficult and expensive. Most of our friends leave then, too. We're used to the back-and-forth, but it does take some organization, I can tell you!

Edited for spelling

This message was edited Feb 6, 2013 9:37 AM

One (1) Helianthus Lemon Queen sprouted, in a pot filled with MG seed starting mix, covered with 1/8-1/4" vermiculite, on a heat mat set to 72, average temp 69-71, under a dome. I have a total of 3 batches sown 3 ways. The first was Deno in the frig for 5 weeks, then under the dome (still in the baggy). The 2nd, sown at the same time as the one that just sprouted, is also Deno but not chilled, also under the dome.

Last year I also got one plant of H Laetiflorus, germinated at room temp.

Does anyone have experience with these?

Sorry Pam, I can't remember if I bought my origional plant(s) or grew from seed, can't look up since origional seed germination book was lost...I'm almost thinking I got them from Bluebird Nursery as a 3 pack more than 10 years ago, and my plants will be comming home this spring so if you need!!! Also thanks on the Verbascum, I've started Verbascum chaxii Alba which is 36"x18">. Also got some seed from the Netherlands in a trade: V. blattaria Alba (moth mullein), 6ftx24">, (not up yet). (LOVE that platty above, can't wait til it blooms for me too!!)

Stopped at H.D. yesterday, got 4 more light units and a roll of plastic so I can get my outdoor section set up..Been potting on some of the digitalis and figure they might be able to go out in a few weeks, but need to warm the area when I get the plastic up..

Just went thru the robin and got a bunch of goodies...now have to decide what to start next.......lol.

Here's some new pix from today....

Wow!!

I must say, Kathy, every time I see your pics I turn green, LOL! I just have to keep reminding myself that I'm not trying to fill up a prairie... But oh, the luxury of that much raw space speaks to me!

Meanwhile, I'm making some progress, too. Helianthus Lemon Queen gave me a new sprout today, that makes 2. Yippee!

I set up a reflector for my lights, using materials at hand, namely cardboard and foil. I may adjust the design a bit so only did 1 so far, for the top shelf, which I am just starting to use.

I was running out of room again since I still need both domes up on the smaller trays for germination and new starts, and some of my second batches are needing growing room. C White Clips filled out really fast. Alchemilla and D Loveliness are a little slower to come, but it won't be that long. Also, a few things are getting some height now, particularly the Salvia x Turkestiani and the S Nekon.

And just look at the little Campanulas after the haircut! Sooooo cute!

New reflector

I had my first "home plant sale" for the year. I have lots of those little 4" pots with succulents for $2 and gallon pots of various plants for $3.
I advertised on Craigslist and put a sign out on the road. I had like 12 groups of people stop by and sold almost $200. in plants. Wow, that's the best sale yet. Met some really nice people too. Inspires me to keep seeding.

Good for you, What a windfall! 200 great reasons to keep on seeding!

Today I did more transplanting of tiny sprouts.

The Digitalis Camelot were easy. I did D Pam's Split yesterday, and all look good.

The Dianthus are very young, but the cotyledons were well developed and I had the time today to do it. Much to my dismay, there was barely any root at all.

The Aquilegias, on the other hand, had such long taproots on the largest seedlings I couldn't believe it! They've only been up for a couple of days- they do a lot af work underground before we see them! Some came out nearly bare root. I hope they don't mind the disturbance. To be on the safe side, I planted several much smaller ones that were'nt so developed. Are Aquilegias known to resent being moved? Does anyone have experience with them?

Pfg,
I have started many different varieties of Aquilegias from seed and never had problems moving them. I don't care for the hybrid for they don't come true from seed and the original dies out. The only one I like is the A. chrysanthea, shown in the first photo. It never changes from seed because it is not a hybrid.

The 2nd one is A. 'Red Star', and the 3rd is A. 'William Guiness'

I'm glad to here the Aquilegias are going to be easy to move out of the pots. I have a few of the A. chrysanthea in 4" pots. They are really tiny now but I'm sooo excited about having them germinate. I"ve tried to germinate from seeds off of my other Aquilegias in the past with no luck. I have been moving more seedlings today. I had so many Lobelia siphilicia germinate that I had to divide them. I have 2 and half flats of 4" pots with like a dozen seedlings each in them. That's alot. But we love Lobelia around here so I'm sure it will all get planted and look great by next summer. We're heading down to the beach tonight for a shrimp cocktail and a drink. Low tide is at 4:30 and sunset is 5:30 so it should be fun to go for a walk out at the tide pools.

Both Dianthus and Aquilegia are easy to transplant..as are the Digitalis...
Finshed going thru the box and did some restocking, put in more Columbines a mix of several and short spur blue, yup, love the chrysanthas too and one of the newer ones Denver's Gold which is fragrant!!! So sweet.
Love that William Guiness, if you have any extra seed or remember to collect this season, I would love to replace, somewhere along the way I've lost them....Shucks!

Oh my, I have soo much to get potted on...lol. I've been dividing things up into a few pots to allow them to get a bit more growth before potting individually...Now if I had my other stand I could do all of them....lol. Nope trying to keep the costs down.. Will be trying to do those first that can go out.....

We had snow last night...thought we were going to get a bunch (2") then petered out....lol. Think we got an inch or so...Maybe!!!

Dome....Wow...great job..I been thinking about doing the same, selling some babies but I live off in the boonies...Heck, who knows...Very inspiring tho!!!!!!! Hey, $2-3 sounds rather cheap, aren't you worth more than that? LOL. If they scarffed them up that quick might try and raise prices another dollar... But wow, I'm impressed, good for you!!!!!!!!!! And yes keep seeding, and if you need more, just hollar!!! (and I mean it don't hesitate to ask for any that I have....am glad to share!!!!). And have a great time at the beach..sounds wonderful.

I know, I should charge more. But I really just like to share and the money just goes to buying more pots and soil amendments. I know last vacation I found this succulent nursery way off the beaten path and she was charging $6 a pot and I didn't bat an eye. Maybe I'll raise my prices some and see how it goes. Thanks for the seed offer. I'll keep it in mind, you have such interesting plants.

I don't have that Aquilegia anymore. As I stated, the hybrids tend to have a shorter lifespan than non hybrids, and just disappears.

Domehomedee,
the best way to germinate Aquilegia is to stratify them. I had a heck of a time getting them to sprout. Then I put the container in my garage for 3 weeks to alternate freezing. When bought inside, they germinated. Or you can leave the container covered on the north side of a building and they will sprout in the spring. It is a perfect plant to use to winter sow.

The seeeds of A. chrysanthea, sprout on their own where the mother plant grows. It is almost weedy. I grow mine on the north side of the garage.

Blomma, I'm glad to hear you've written off dealing with a lot of the hybrids. My only success years ago was collecting seeds from a purple one in a very old garden. I stuck them in a planter in the fall, had seedlings in the spring, and enjoyed them for years afterwards.

My current aquilegia were in the frig for about 6 weeks, out for 10 days or so before germination. Christa Barlow came up a few days ago, nothing yet from Maggie Mae. On our property we have what looks like the McKanas in all colors running wild all over the place in the spring, but so far this is the first time I've had any luck with new varieties. I've tried WSing and fall sowing in the past, with commercial seed and seed from trade, to no avail.

I just couldn't believe the length of the roots on these little babies! No way to get them in the new pot without some disturbance, and some things don't forgive you for that. But tonight they all look fine, so far, so good. Glad to hear no one has had trouble moving them.

Dome, good to hear Lobelia Siphilitica is so easy to germinate. From what I read, it looked difficult. That's another plant that comes up here and there for me, and I love it. I've collected seeds but have not yet tried to do anything with them. BTW, You're killing me with the sunset beach cocktails...

Kathy, you could easily become a show garden plus sales that people would travel to the boonies for...

SIGN Me up for a tour of your gardens Kathy :) if my seed growing dose not work out i hope that I can rely on a few from you all :))) off to town back later

Thanks for the compliment pam!!! But you make me giggle....show garden, yup hope so...for me...lol. Maybe when I can get my ---- together lol..... I know I spend too much time on my gardens..but love it so. I still have soo much I should be doing for my house yet...kitchen is still not done...soooo much remodeling to do yet.....but my flowers give me soo much pleasure.. I wanted to make it a plant nursery years ago but just don't think it will happen. Can't get my plants big enough by May when people want big plants (1gallon) not just a 21/2" pot.

Susie...absolutely, when they are hardened off enough this spring to make the trip, goodies will be coming your direction.... and by the way...still working on your plans...so I won't be putting them in the box. Anyway I figured out they wouldn't get there til March or so....am hoping I can get them mailed brfore then, lo....ok I'll get back to work on them again...

Pam...remember you can trim roots of those plants that need it usually without any harm.....but don't do it to those with a tap root>>>>> When I was transplanting my Digitalis I cut half the rootball off and they are just doing fine now and are growing great.

I've never done anything (chilling) for my Aquilegias. Will have to pot them on in the next few days tho.

Pix 1&2 digitalis, am thinking I trimmed the roots on tray 1(Alba), tho not on 2 (Pink-purple)
Pix 3 Aquilegia c. Yellow fragrant, A.Maggie Mae, A. Short Spur Blue, A. Short Spur Pink, A. Neighbor's mix, A. Sweet Rainbows, A. Chocolate Soldier, A. v. Winky Double Rose-white, A. vulgaris stelata 'Christa Barlow', will all get roots trimmed, potting on this week. All sprouted 7-14 days no chilling nor bottom heat, just lights and a dome over the tray.
Pix 4 my Lobelia cardinalis, nothing on my siphalitica yet (oh and I want it soooo..lol.)

I think you'd be surprised if you offered 'starter' plants. There's a place not so near us that does, much cheaper to buy a dozen babies than 1 big one and cut it up. I've been unhappy with their choices the last couple of years, lots of annual herbs, sempervivums and flowering plants have been mostly harsh reds and oranges, not much in the ranges I usually prefer. Also their big plants are too $$$$. But we have schlepped there every year when they start up Memorial Day Weekend, and again in early July when they try to sell out. That's where I got my perennial osteospermum, I have no idea where they got the seed.

What I'm saying is, not everyone wants to spend a lot to get a garden going or to add a few new things... Who was it that said, 'If you build it they will come?' LOL...

I was about to ask you about Maggie Mae... I should try again and not chill, sounds like she doesn't need it.

Also meant to ask, was there any of my white 'knautia,' aka Cephalaria left in the robin?

Didn't see any...and I'm not having any luck yet with mine. I finally put them in the fridge, will pull back out at the end of the month. And remember it's not Knautia if it's over 30-36"....(lol, just teasing ya). Have added A. chrysantha yellow (fragrant), seed is from 2003 but should sprout....mine started on 12-29-12 and forgot to write germination date...ooops, but is still germinating out from under the dome. Thought it was in the pix above but isn't.... Also added more Maggie Mae. Your goodies are in a seperate envelope ....just take out what you don't want or need, cross off your name and put into the baggie from me so others might take them....(or keep them!!! lol.)

Ok...gotta finish the box ....

Too funny, when we left in early August for 6 weeks it looked normal... Who knew it would get like that?! I was totally shocked-- Knautia on steroids, lol!

blomma, you know the aquilegia I tried to sprout originally was from my own plant. Where I live it doesn't always get "cold" in winter and none of the seeds sprouted. The seeds I have now came from a colder climate and I stored them in the frig for awhile. I'm getting some sprouts with them.
I rarely get any volumteers, I probably do need to "chill" my seeds for success. I just started saving seeds in the fridge last year.

domehomedee:
It isn't just the cold that is stratification. It with moisture as Nature intends. Just coldness don't do any good, except to store seeds. It needs moisture and cold. That can be accomplished in a plastic shoebox full of sowing mix and stored outside during the winter. That is how I do my iris seeds. They spout in the spring when temp reach 50 to 70 degrees.

LOL I just looked at your zone. Ok, use the fridge but with moisture. Use a deli dish with moist seed mix and sprinkle the seeds in it, tap down, and stick in the fridge for 3 weeks.