Starting Seeds 2013, Part 3

You can keep pinching the snaps all season, remember the more you cut them back the more stems you'll be getting... Tho about the time you plant them if already pinched back let them grow to develop flowers and remember to deadhead. And pam, don't worry about putting out the snaps, they like it on the cool side, also Dianthus like it cool too...Since they are (both snaps and Dianthus are not hardened off yet don't let the frost get to them... just sayin.... A rule of thumb might be...those that bloom early (spring-e. summer) can take the cooler temps. I'm quite sure there are probably a few exceptions. And Pam if daytime teps are above 50*, then you can open your greenhouse up for an hour and begin extending the time so they can be ready to get planted early if need be.

Ok, I've still got a question on the table so to speak...and only one answer, come on...lol.

LOL, Celene, you don't like Nasturiums do you..? Are there any others you don't have? Looks like maybe you've turned into a plant collector... My downfall are the Centaureas and Campanulas (Adenphora and now including Platys see below).....

Now I have another couple of questions for the group....anyone in Zones 5-8, ever grown: Dierama argyreum, ambiguum or erectum? How about Dietes? And Oenothara hookerii? Need pro, cons and general info as these are actually out of my zone but I have babies and might try to push the zone requirements, or do I need to bring them in for the winter cuz heavy mulch just won't do it.....

Hey Pam, was thinking about it, aren't platys and Campanulas related? Cuz my first impressiom of your question on putting the platy's out later cuz they like it warm is the opposite of what I would have guessed. Ok, just looked at one of my ref. books: HERBACEOUS PERENNIAL PLANTS, by Alan Armitage, (professor at one of those Southern colleges, and the go to guy in the U.s. says that Platys, Campanulas, Adenophora and Codonopsis are all related. and the platys are Z3-8 ( so theoretically they can handle the cool temp (harden off first tho), and that they are late to emerge in the spring also did you know they bloom from the top first? Platys are also one of the last to emerge in spring so care must be taken not to plant over or dig out accidently in spring cleanup. Seed germinates readily with warm temps and moisture. Divide and move in spring (shoots 2-4") if necessary. Lol... ok class is over, now answer my questions...lol!

Dianthus stays evergreen for me so can take some really cold temps.
Did some weeding today. Ach! so much chickweed and henbit. It comes up right in the middle of my plants!

Edited to add:
Kathy, I will send you some of the Snapdragon 'Plum Blossom".
I am sure you have something I would like!

This message was edited Apr 13, 2013 7:13 PM

I like campanulas, too. Not as much as euphorbias, sedums, sempervivums or nasturtiums, but hey...you have to draw the line somewhere. I really like that Campanula "Blue Eyed Blonde".

I also like variegated things, especially tricolor variegates. I have the tackiest garden, ever.

We're in good company, Celene. My garden is planted willy nilly and adore variegated plants. Used to have a tri-color Sedum that was really cool looking. It should have survived with the Semps but didn't return last year even after our mild Winter. Go figure.

birder, we're in the same boat. Weeding never seems to end this time of year. Henbit is the bane of my existence!

Susie's Robin is a tempting place to let your fingers do the walking, Pam. You and Kathy have some mighty fine looking seedlings. Have learned and continue to learn from both of you and so many others.

Yikes! The computer just ate a really, really long post! Grrrrrr...

SparklinBarb,, we have some very old azaleas next to the house, and every couple of years just after they bloom I whack them waaaay back. It doesn't take them long to fill in enough green to cover the stems.

Congratulations on the Orlaya, Celene!

Thanks for all the info on hardiness. Campanula and Dianthus get kicked out next week, along with the snaps and Alchemilla.

But since the Platys are so late to emerge in the spring, and so quick to dump their top growth in the fall, I figure they don't like their foliage to get chilly. I'll keep them inside until time to put the Basil out, here it's usually around June 1.

This thread has been so much fun, and such an on-going education. I just love that so many have been sharing so much experience, I've learned a ton!

Having said that, sorry, Kathy, I don't know the plants you're asking about. Maybe someone else does? And THANKS for all the goodies in the robin, especially the ones I had trouble germinating this winter. I'm about to try again this week.

My garden is beginning to wake up. Daffs are up 3" and weeds are spreading as I watch. :-(((. Time to get to work out there...

A pair of cardinals hung out for a while this morning, sooooo beautiful. :-)))

daff;s are getting frozen here ,& also my hyachins are or were almost open & Now with all this snow & rain i don;t think i will see any blooms on them . this is to stay with us for another week yet no sunshine in sight for a few days .

LOL, you missed the question again, and so did many others. "It is: What is everyone last frost date?"

I'm just wondering say for instance mine is approx May 10ish for z5 (actually a new z6 here), is that the same across the country for anyone in z5, or does it vary for those at a lower altitude? Trees in Denver are already budding and some early leaves, here at my place they are just beginning to show swelling buds, but yet I'm in the new zone listed as a z6.

On a CT website, our zipcode comes up as May 11-20. My town doesn't have its own zipcode and is not listed separately anywhere that I can find. Of the two nearest towns, one in each direction about 10 miles away, one says 5/18, the other 5/29. I'll stick with experience and local lore, tender annuals and veggies at the end of May, and whatever feels right before that for the rest. I actually test the soil temp for a few things with an instant read-out meat thermometer. Nothing is simple...

Kathy, my last freeze date is April 15th. My zone is 6b. Our cherry trees, pear trees, forsythia, hyacinth, daffodills, aubrieta, iberis, scilla, anemone blanda, tulips, phlox sublata, blueblells, red bud trees, serviceberry trees are all in bloom. The viburnum have swollen buds. Spring is in full swing here. Garden Centers are full of plants. We mowed our yard this week. We were out of town for awhile and now, the landscape looks so different! We are behind on our spring activities!

Z5 here also 1st sunny afternoon in a week we have had snow & Rain for over a week & more to come later tonight our last frost is usually the 15 th of may this year not so sure this time last year i was finding Mushroom not this year for sure .
happy gardening all .

There's a tool here at DG to calculate first and last freeze and frost dates.
I plugged in 12345 as a Zip Code sample. Erase those numbers and plug in yours or another Zip Code you'd like to check.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/freeze-frost-dates/index.php?q=12345&submit=Go

April 28, here.

frostfree from Sept. 19 to May 22=120 frostfree days

May 6 through October 5 / frost-free growing season is around 183 days.
Safe planting date keeps inching up here. We still 'traditionally' say May 15th.
Haven't been to one of my fav nurseries yet, but the owner always puts big signs on her greenhouse doors warning buyers not to plant tenders until..... then she fills in the date.


Lily, how close are you to the latest blizzard? Or are you in it?

We have nurseries here selling tender plants like basil, tomatoes and peppers. They're only going to die if they're planted now. Second worst garden center pet peeve.

Hi Susan,
No blizzard here. We have had snow off and on since last Monday when we got 18". Then snow off and on all week. Friday another 3 " and yesterday 3" more. Slight dusting of snow this morning. It is19 degrees.

We really need the moisture so no complaints here. I would have preferred moisture in liquid form. I don't have to shovel that. Oh well....!

Thanks on the zone info. What I find interesting is birders is April 15 and a z6b, I'm a new zone at 6a and May10.
Celene are you a 6a or b? and blomma I would have guessed would have been later, only about a week after most of us. And blooma aren't you getting that snow storm today? (We're on the southern end of it. I may only get 2". Can send here if you might like to share, lol.)

Lol Fruity, I thought it would be easier to ask than try and figure what's happening in others areas than looking at a map. I was more interested in personal expeince. It looks like everyone is pretty much the middle of May. But it's interesting that birder is 6a and you are 7a but later than birder. Fruity, I would have guessed you at e. April..(being in the south). Just curiosity...lol. And have you grown any of those above that I was asking about? Sure would like to push the zone on those.

My H.Depot had already put tomatoe plants out last week and we've had snow since several times...go figure..lol.

I cannot go by the zone numbers. Even though I am in zone 8, many time we will get snow late April or early May. We live in the Sierra foothills at 3500' in elevation. This year has been unusual that we have not had snow since February. When I first moved up here in 1987, the snow stayed on the ground for months and the temps averaged out to 40°. Now the snow melts within a week and the weather warms up. This time it stayed warm for at least a month in between storms.

So I (usually) don't put out any tenders until May 16th. Now I have tomatoes planted. If they freeze, I'll just replant. I have to wait until almost fall to get tomatoes otherwise. Our nights in the summer will usually fall to 50°, until August anyway...I know they like 60° nights and 75° - 80° days. How many of us get that consistently?? It has been consistently 60° for about a month now, on average during the day and not lower than 50°. Of course, we had rain last night and this morning I noticed it was 45°. Gosh, how are we supposed to figure out the weather???



This message was edited Apr 15, 2013 12:47 PM

warrior - thanks for the pinching info on the snaps. I sowed my seeds 2/20 and they were all up in 5 to 6 days. I wasn't sure if pinching them a second time too soon would result in top-heavy plants before the main stems were sturdy enough. They are exposed to some light breezes so hoping that will toughen them up some. They've already gotten a small dose of organic starter fertilizer (Dr. Earth) when I potted them up but I haven't fed them anymore other than some seaweed juice when I potted them.

Yes, Kathy, I agree the zoning is confusing. A friend of mine is in the north east, her zone is 7 and yet has snow longer than I do. But, we usually get about one snow per season, and then, it's usually about 3-6 inches. From what I have learned, snow protects the perennials from freezing. Not to be picky, but my zone is 6 "b" and I am probably 45 miles at the most from zone 7. Also, it might be that I am close to the Mississippi River (15 min.) and perhaps the water puts out warmth. I don't know!

Sure enough, it snowed today...go figure!!

Well, guess what...WE HAVE SNOW!!! Right now! Oh well...as I said, I cannot go by the numbers...any numbers...

See everyone does have their little micro climates. And the maps just don't explain that. Not only that I would spend days trying to figure out where everyone lives and the maps are sooo small..
And I would have never guessed that evelyn gets snow, lol.... Speaking of which it's coming down here now and more over the next three days. Yeah!!!

Been potting all day and figured out I'm gonna run out of pots, ohoh!!!! Best I go dumpster diving at the nursery recycle bin personally.... Sure wish I could remember when I scored a gazillion a few years ago, was April or May....? Did see a bunch in the bottom of one bin but couldn't reach them, and figured if I tried I might end up in the thing..lol. Got a bunch of trays, but at the rate I'm going thru them they be all used by the weekend...

Pam.. I'm trying to remember if you had pinched your Platys a while back? Mine are getting leggy and don't think they will bud up for a while yet, so maybe I should.

This message was edited Mar 9, 2015 11:56 AM

My zone went up, too, but I don't bother much about it, haven't changed it on my listing here. According to my mini-maxi thermometer we didn't get below 20 degrees this winter, but other factors, like the late freezes, make me mistrust believing in a warmer zone. It's too soon to tell if my'iffy' plants made it, probably by next week I'll get more clues.

Yes I did snip the Platys, a couple of times, and most of them got nice and bushy. But once they started to bud I stopped.

Meanwhile, something very interesting has happened. I've been in contact with Diane of Diane's seeds, who says that my double Platycodon Perlmutter is a sport, and unique. I am going to keep that plant separate from the others, and hope that the seeds come true to type.

New sprouts today: Dracocephalum and Orlaya.

Lots of new goodies from DJ's robin to get working on, and lots of potting to do...

How did you get your Orlaya to sprout?

On 3/26 I soaked it in the usual hand hot water/peroxide 10:1 for 3 hours, then put it in vermiculite in a 3oz cup, then stuck it in a small covered container by an open window. After 2 weeks (last week some time), I brought it in and put it under the dome. Et Voila!

Then mine should continue to germinate, I hope I get more than one seedling :)

Kathy bring a UHALL I can fill it for you Not a problem trays pots 3" - tree size Pots you pick any size you want about 3-4 Hundred + no joke . well you would have to load since I Have to stay in bed a few more days Yet :) findly 56* today then rain for the next 3 days . have a great day

LOL susie... got a bunch of pots here of all sizes too. What I'm low on are the 2 1/2" that fit perfectly in my trays (32 to a tray). Potted up 62 yesterday, am thinking I need to get at it. And Charlene said her plants made it just fine, so will be able to ship you babies in a month or so... Don't ya just love it....your Christmas presents just keep comming....lol.

Blomma..just curious, how much for how many? Am thinking I need a few thousand....

Ok pam, I'll start cutting them back as they are getting too floppy.

Our house is apparently in a weird position. We're down the east side of a small valley, with the wind blowing straight down the property from the west. I guess that's why here our little various things are barely budding at times, and the same things up at the road are already in full budding stage. It makes trips to the store fun, seeing the difference in such a very short distance from home to here. For example, my redbud out front Friday had no blossoms, but a mile down the road I was so pleasantly excited to see blossoms on the redbuds there!

Susie ~ We hope you feel better soon. Do you have to go back into the hospital, or can you stay home and rest? Prayers are going your way. You must be feeling frustrated. I did not start anything this year, for the first time in years. Now I am too busy with outside to start seeds....well except for yesterday when it snowed! After being warm for months with only rain. Now some of my tenders may succumb to the vagaries of the weather....grrr...

Sorry to hear that EVELYN We have had snow & Rain Mix for over a week it seems yesterday & today some sunShine the back to rain & Storms for the next 3 days . My Molly Duck Is enjoying the sun shine :) Looking for worms . My Doc's office is taken their own sweet time about calling me to let me know if i can stop the heperine & Go back to coumadine or not so for now I'm still home & Staying in bed with my legs elevated sure happy to have a lap top to rely on when i have to :) well zoey is here now so ya all have a great day

This is where I get my 2.5" pots, they sell them by the hobby pack, 32 for 2.80. And they are extra deep, 3.5" so the plants can live in them quite a while. This year I got the 3.5" as well, they are deeper than standard 4" pots so more pots fit in less space, but there is still good root room.

http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/product/black-form-pots-hobby-pack/containers

Potted all day, nothing fun. We're heading out tomorrow owning for a little road trip, so no gardening for a couple of days. I decided to wait before starting anything new until next weekend in CT. BTW, except for the basil, I don't see that soaking made much of a difference in germination. No Lobelia, no Parsley so far. I just checked the list- Dracocephalum popped right up, maybe the soaking did make a difference, but certainly not Lobelia in 3 days. It's been 5.

My one Astrantia White Giant seedling bit the dust. One day it was green, the next brown. I got the big seed head off it, but there was a smaller one underneath I couldn't budge without damaging the seedling. I guess finally it gave up. Me too. Now I'm on the hunt for a plant to buy. All those months, all that cold, colder, warm, cool...yikes! At least I know it worked, something germinated, but now I want someone else to go through all that so I don't have to, lol.

Is spring really getting here? Sigh...

Thanks for the info pam.. have a nursery supplier I will be checking with in the morning, tried online but their catalog didn't show up...Like I say, I'm needing a couple of thousand...so I may buy a box or two. Been a long time but am thinking they are 1800ish to a box.
Don't give up on that Astrantia, I've had plants that I thought that had died off, kept watering for a few weeks and low and behold, new green. One example that comes to mind is my Asclepias. They looked so good a few weeks ago..now leaves are yellowing and stems die from the top. I had this happen in previous years. First time it happened I decided to keep watering and finally got new sprouts to the side. Now afer experiencing this several times, I just figure the tops will die off and new shoots will appear and I'm guessing it's one of the plants idiosyncracies *gosh, hope I spelled that right...lol. (if not forgive).

Ok, gkids are keeping me busy so will be back to,orrow and let ya know about the pots..TY all. Kathy

http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/product/black-form-pots/containers

Case of 800 is 51.90

My last post was on the fly, just wanted to give the info while I had it.

My father the English Teacher would have been impressed!

Sadly, the Astrantia is toast. Brown from top to bottom. It was only a thead, never even got its first leaves open. RIP. :-(

I have some yellowing leaves on a few plants, more near the bottom, especially on the cool weather plants. I figure they're getting sick of confinement, but it won't be long now.

Does anyone have experience with Impatiens Balfourii? I did it a couple of years ago but can't find any reference to it in my records. Is it quick? slow? Need any special attention?

Thanks!

I wintersow Impatiens balfourii, but they mostly just volunteer now. They definitely need cold stratification to germinate.

Thanks. I guess it wil have to be the fridge, it seems to be warming up out there. I want to try them in containers, since the regular impatiens went kaput last year. I got the seeds from a couple of volunteers, so I guess it's not affected by the blight.

Thanks Pam ,just ordered a case. Was $7 cheaper than I can get from my supplier in Denver and less gas (about 100 miles). Still will dumpster dive and see if I can get more..lol.. (Plastic pots are goning to cost: .07 vs. .02 on styrafoam but will fit my trays). I guess if I still need some next month, I'll reconsider..lol). Thanks gals..I believe I need to start winning more at the Casinos to support my habit!!! LOL, would be wonderful, how do you do that again Susie?

Snowing like crazy today, yeah!!! 'Spose to be a blizzard by late afternoon with 6" possible.....just loving it.

Ok, a few threads to catch up on and off to the plant room..clipped my Platys and some Dianthus this morning and my little rose grown from seed is still blooming, yum..smells so good. Speaking of which, Pam did you smell that Dianthus yet, never did hear...lol.