2014 Seed Starting, part 2

Aha! Well the hydrofarm lights are going in my wishlist! Your garden pic is AMAZING! I zoomed in as much as I could before it turned into a pixelated blur! LOL

Wow, I'm with Becky...Pam, that's friggin BEAUTIFUL! Good job!

LOL on the garden companion comments...I miss my dogs...sigh.

Welcome Nedd.. Yup give your babies a bit more time...second set of leaves are the true leaves of the plant... First set will drop off eventually, second set will be easier to determine what the plant is. You'll have to list also what you started to make it easier on us experts (lol...experts).

Am keeping up with germination dates above (or trying if the info is needed). So pam you've already started your Verbena b.? Gosh I always goof up and forget that one...better put it on my list of things to start this next round. I'm thinking I have the Salvia Indigo Spires but wanted more so I need to reseed that one also (will look today and see how many babies I have). And a big WOW. You're plants are BIG....looking good! I didn't start things as early as I did last year and haven't left the lights on as long. Gosh..it does make a difference.. I guess that's what I get for goofing around.

Ok, Pam has put me to shame...I should go and take care of my babies now...........lol.

Love how chatty the group has gotten, keep it up. Lol.

I started the V Bonariensis now because it's always been really slow to germinate for me. One year I spring sowed it and it did well, but last year I got nothing better than was already coming up on its own in the garden. I always get some volunteers, but like to have at least few plants that are farther along.

Haha, yes, some of my babies are ginormous! I wonder if the Seaweed Maxicrop made that much of a difference? Last year my giants were the Salvia Turkestanica and Ceratotheca, maybe it's the extra light?

The Salvia Indigo Spires is the one I thought was S Victoria when I bought it, then it got really tall and bushy. Gorgeous. It is an annual, zone 7 I think, and a hybrid. So either the seed is sterile, or if it does germinate it may not resemble the parent plant.

My maybe A Maggie Mae turns out to be either Linum or Asclepias tuberosa. :-(. But now there's another speck of green in that cellpack, which might still be it. Or something else, lol.

Yes, you all, keep up the chat, it's great! And everyone sharing their experiences is amazing, I learn more all the time, we all do.

I have cabin fever for sure... I keep studying my pics, looking for ways to improve the garden. Here are a couple more from last year.

Yes indeed Pfg , One or should I several pretties as a Garden there !!!^_^

Mipii; #1 The little white Bell pepper that sat arched for days The larger fuzzy little thing , the smaller still around it are probably purslane ,
#2 Planted at the same time , A not so red leaved Black pearl pepper (these take a lot of heat in sun to turn red leaved , they usually do mid summer here .
I guess 10 to 40 days . that kind of thing ? I'm still trying to figure out an average Germination rate .

Going on 9 days for me Juhur and I still don't even have arches. I've ordered a heat mat and will have to try again. There's a big difference between your two varieties, interesting. Thanks for sharing.

With Cayenne and Habenero ? I still have zilch .. 0 ... myself .. older pepper seeds are not fun .. Temperature is 80 - 84 degrees where their at ,,
Maybe I should try a heat lamp for 90 ? lol

Pam what is the plant in pic 3 with the chartreuse foliage and pink flowers? And the yellow spike one in pic 4? Beautiful! Juhur, I hear you in the sloooow peppers.. my fish pepper seedlings are still wimpy looking, peperone de cuneo are catching up quick! I can't wait to start the black pearl seeds you put in the robin!

Just having fun guessing:
Pic #3- Spirea Walbuma
Pic #4- Baptisia tinctoria

Robin I second your spirea and baptisia. Maybe different varieties though. I love a good guessing game so I'll say

Spirea japonica 'goldmound' and
Baptisia 'Carolina moonlight'

Either way their gorgeous :)

I have a Baobab, Jatropha and a couple of aloes sprouting today. They're hefty sprouts.

You grow Celene!

Celene, aren't they little fatties, the jatropha? Mine are so cute, stocky little fellas :)

My guess is Thermopsis montana on #4, but could be the Baptisia…lol.

Got a few peppers that are starting to sprout, tho can't remember which is which at the moment….

Is that 8 days for you Kathy on the peppers?

Juhur, do you eat the Black Pearl Peppers?

I've tasted one , their grown as ornamental , edible yes , I'm no judge of peppers ..The seeds I planted 1 sprout of 6 or 8 seeds not real good germination there ,,
A more direct answer would be not usually ..

Good guesses, you all...

Pic 3 is Spires Gold Mound and The Fairy Rose,

Pic 4 is Baptisia, but I don't know the cultivar. There are two clumps on the property that have been here since before 1970. Both were buried by weeds, until one June day I looked out the window and saw that gorgeous flash of yellow. There is still a huge magenta phlox right in the middle of the clump. I hate to pull it out and damage the Baptisia roots., but I've been keeping the rest clear and it is slowly expanding. This fall I added a Bartzella peony nearby. I hope they bloom at the same time, or at least overlap. Once they get going, I'll have a better idea how to add to that area.

ANYONE Have any of these
standing cypress Ruba
Ling Calluna vulgari Darkness'
Elecampagne Inula helenium
Saxifrage'Carnival'
Saxifrage'Monarch'
Encrusted Saxifrage 'Southside Seedling'
Caucasian Comfrey, Beinwell, Blue Comfrey
Russian Comfrey Symphytum x uplandicum
TALL THIMBLEWEED * Anemone virginiana *
FOXGLOVE YELLOW * Digitalis ambigua D.grandiflora

Pam, lucky you to score pretty plants and not even know it! I'm sure you'll figure out how to arrange that bed soon, you obviously have a good aesthetic!

Susie I have lots and lots of ipomopsis rubra seed! Are you in the spring robin? I put a ton in there, but if not I can send to you directly, just Dmail me your address.

I already posted a pic in the other thread, but I have to post again. My 3 year old learned how to clean the standing cypress seeds and is really good at it!

Wow, I may have to borrow that kiddo in the fall sometime! ;)

Mipii...Peppers have been sprouting. So far 7, 8 and 9 days and have 4 more yet... I updated the sprout times above per variety (origional post of March 20th).. Back later folks...Kathy

Well, maybe I sowed mine too deep. I'm getting my heat mat today so will try again...thanks Kathy!

Celene, I offer 4 or 24 hour rentals. He also gives great snuggles! ;)

Kathy, are you planning on saving seeds from your peppers this year? I read they have to be 100 feet apart to avoid crossing! Any experience with this? I have 4 different kinds in my garden plan so maybe I should just plan on not saving seeds from their fruits?

I have more WS jugs sprouted for a total of 25/59. I'd say that's pretty good so far :)

Something I had heard and started doing only recently is sowing the seeds at the same depth of their width. It's working, I think, I have better germination this time around. Could be attributed to something else or a combination of things maybe but I like to think this helps. I have noticed some of the sprouts may emerge with the seed still encasing the sprout leaves but it comes off easily after a few days.

I find planting on the shallow side is more successful than too deep. 2 or 3x the size of the seed sounds reasonable. I also like Kathy's trick of covering the seeds lightly with vermiculite instead of soil. It holds moisture better without getting soggy, and is lighter for them to break through. The idea is to let the seedlings use their energy for growing, not use it all up trying to get to the surface.

Some seeds, Datura and Lupine particularly, have a hard time shedding their seed coats. I spray them to soften them, then tease them off gentlywith a toothpick or something like that. One of my favorite tools for this is bamboo skewers. I use them for all sorts of things. I even ue them to plant small seeds one by one. I dampen the tip in a puddle of water, then just touch the seed and it adheres. It's easy then to place in the cell where I want it.

Hey guys (and by that I mean guys and gals) does anyone know if you can transplant sunflower deeper like you can with tomatoes?

I'm going to try Kathy's vermiculite trick too and sow less deep, it makes sense with their limited energy supply. I've used the narrow part of plastic plant labels (moistened) to pick up and place small seeds...didn't even think about getting my chopsticks out of the drawer. Gee, it's so nice to hang out with you guys (and by that I mean...), I learn so much! Thanks all.

The bamboo skewers are pointed at the end, and come in packages with lots and lots in them. It takes me a couple of years to go through them all, I re-use them until they get gross or break.

They're also great for transplanting little sprouts that have been cluster sown. I use it to tease the seedlings apart, then push the stick down into the new cell an inch or so and widen the hole a little as I pull it out. Then the little root goes straight down into the hole, guided by the stick. A dribble of water to settle it in, use the stick again to move the soil around the plantt, and it's done.

Yup, pam's right, I sow most everything shallow...The only things that go deep are the larger seed.... Dust like seed are surface sown, mostly with a touch of vermiculite just to know there's something in the pot...

Sorry...pix are older, most from years ago, but gives you an idea I'm a prolithic seed started...lol. Must be sucessful too as my gardens attest to and those that saw pix from last season.. (Not sure when my puter will be fixed, darn!!! LOL)

Oh ho Kathy, you're more than prolific...you're a serial seed starter! Nice setup. Good heavens, I'm gonna ask really nicely for some more pics of your shelving...I want to build that (this is me asking nicely, lol).

Kathy gets the blue ribbon as far as I'm concerned, lol...

I think I will show a skewer ,, I was going to post a catgrass seedling .. But after watching here My hopes seem so small indeed , lol
Well at least with the skewer I knew what someone was talking about ... For now , I think I will go sit in my corner and dream ..


Kathy , Really nice goods !!!^_^ oh , my .. BIG ( Sigh )

Very cute, Ju... And you are no novice! You're rooting all these exotic trees and shrubs and who knows what... Waaaay over my head, lol.

Yeah Juhur, I do a lot of that 'dreamin' stuff too. Heck, I don't even have a skewer...I'm guessing it's a standard tool (everybody in 'the know' has one)? Check, skewers on list.

However, I'd like to see that variegated cat grass seedling!

Pam, it looks to me like Kathy gets the blue, she's also set the bar really high (can't wait til she gets her puter fixed).

Pfg I appreciate the comments , I am having a little fun waiting for warmer weather , it storming and it woke me up ,
The most exotic plant here is a Diffenbachia , of course I do have five of them including two new cuttings ,
Some of you may remember Kathy (besides you do ) I was humoring with her once about the old
Days of Gurney's at Yankton SD . Kathy was the Gurney's Girl a while back ..
Smile Kathy ^_^ I am spinning a Yarn? We love your seedlings and you being here , You teach more than we , We learn , from reminders and you showing us some very , very nice plant setting ,

Mipii; Dreaming makes many , many things worth while !!! And I know you do some Really nice Gardening and Arranging yourself , I can't arrange plants for anything , Only until someday I will keep trying ,
My best set so far , A Wild Aster , Wild white yarrow , and perennial Fleabane , Not a weed can grow between them ,, ? Because they are weeds !!!LOL
I have an arching Steakhouse Tomato seedling today.
Here's a very pale looking variegated Catgrass Aveena Sativa lol ..

Thanks for the pic Ju, it's still white. I hope you collect seeds from this when it's time. Thanks for your kind words. I'll keep trying until someday too.

LOL pam, how much is the prize money for that blue ribbon...? LOL....(Don't I wish...lol)

Robin...you could go into last years threads on seed germination..(pfg started ).I included pix and directions on how I put my first unit together, including measurements of how to cut wood (lengths). Even built a second unit that was larger than the first) Both were built with 2"x2"'s and 1"x2" x 8ft peices. Both stands were less that $100 each.... and will last years.. First one built has lasted more than 12 years atleast...... Each shelf can hold 7 full sized trays and has 4 shelves and the floor also. So that is a possibility of 35 full sized 11x22" trays (And depending on what size tray inserts or pots used . I can raise or lower lights as they are on chains that are hooked on the underside of each shelf with cup hooks,(two 48" flouescent light units per shelf). I got the origonal plans from Fine Gardening back in the '80's but can't find their plans online so that's why I redrew and gave instructions for those foolish enough to want to try and build their own...lol... Only joking.... Seed starting has become a wonderful winter hobby..... My newer stand first build last winter has shelves that are different heights to accomodate taller plants.... First stand can hold 1120 plants using 2 1/2" pots and if using 72 trays thats2470 plants....and if I use some of the tray inserts that can hold 144 plants...that's whopping 5,040 plants. Stand now is 61" long X32" wide X 77" tall, (origionally was another shelf taller but had to cut off part of the top to fit into the room it's in now. The second unit I made can hold even more plants as I made it wider...(each shelf can hold up to I think it's 12 trays). So now that my gardens are beginning to get filled I will need to figure out what to do, grow for selling to commercial nurseries or sell at flea market type locations or maybe go back to some of my other winter hobbies....keeping atleast the smaller one up for annuals and veggies. (LOL, shouldn't have asked., only joking........ glad to share any info that would help anyone interested)......It's been fun, and keeps me busy and out of trouble....is much cheaper than buying plants ffrom the nurseries although that's fun too but costly.... ( I used to buy all my pots but now one of the local nurseries recycles pots and trays so I dumpster dive for them, sure can't beat those kind of prices....) My most prolithic season I remember is having 117 trays of plants.... Gosh I need to get to potting things on...lol, wanna help? LOL. Ok, ask if you have any ????s.... am hoping to sell some plants to the gals at garden club this year but won't happen unless I get busy with potting.......

And now Juhur has me rooting shrubs...lol...might be another new hobby... Ok, I've babbled on long enough....Later all...Kathy

That was more info than I could've possibly imagined to get. THANKS so much Kathy! I'll be building something on a somewhat smaller scale though -- perhaps graduating later. I'm loving my new winter gardening hobby, never thought I could have so much fun in the winter. Good luck, sounds like you've got quite the operation going.

Ha ha, I'm really glad I asked!

I think I may try that next time. The vermiculite trick with seedlings. Was it you Kathy who said it helps prevent damp off? Seems like it would as it's more breathable around the plants stem. I can't imagine growing things on the scale you do, unless it was my sole job, kids off to college, etc. That is, unless my hub gets me that greenhouse this year, then I can play all I want! Lol

Pam I do the same thing to help the sprout shed the seed, spraying and teasing.. I know most of the time they will eventually do it on their own but I am a bit smothering I guess! I really like your ideas with the skewers for sowing and potting up sprouts! Robin is right, I learn more and more from y'all every day!

Ju you are too funny, with all the green things you are raising, you don't have time to sit in the corner and dream.. Get to work! Lol

I'm off, rain has finally stopped, gotta get some housework done while the sun dries up the ground a bit. Garden needs to finish getting tilled..

Just Dropping by to share a website with ya all My Niece Wanda was here & told me about Her new Hobby & Web site
so thought I would share , if ya have something you would like her to make she can do it & She works way to cheap for the work she dose . hope you will pass the Link to other friends who are into woodworking .

http://www.etsy.com/shop/WandasWoodShop

Hey there susie!!!! How are things up your way??? Still burry huh.. Did you ever get any seeding done inside yet? We've been waiting to hear from you...Thought about you yesterday and here you are...lol..

Also wanted to ask....how much seed will be left over from the Robin when it's finished? The reason I ask is through my garden club we will be working with a 4H group.. They will be getting alot of seed from me but might there be anything remaining from the robin? I would guess they mostly want veggies, but will ask when I go to my meeting on April 1. I will ask Amanda if you think there might be anything left over... I was thinking she said that there were alot of beans, wasn't it? Anyway...just thought I might ask.... How's your budding gardener? LOL, get that 'budding'.How is chicky fairing the winter?