Those are beautiful TYP! I'm looking forward to sowing the ones you gave me! If only spring would come!!
Seed starting MAF 2014
Just read through the whole thread. I always have a hard time growing things from seed. I know, I know it's very easy, but..... I love reading about what you all are doing and am living vicariously through you. Heehee.
Not putting anything new in this spring. Will not be home for most of the summer so won't be able to care for things. I'll enjoy what is already there until we leave, then hope they can manage on their own.
In addition to all the lovelies being started by us from seed, please check out the following post for starts of Asters, Goldenrods, and other pollinator preferred plants still available on our North Creek Nursery Group Buy at very reasonable prices,
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=9792237
Wanted to mention that Helianthus (Sunflower) 'Lemon Queen" is the variety being planted across the country as part of a citizen science 'bee count' multi year project
https://www.greatsunflower.org/Pesticide%20detection
Pretty smart Jan, I love to garden but I do also think that it ties you down. Ric and I have talked about doing a long trip 6 weeks or more out west and back. Then you think how hard it is to leave for two at a time. One of these years we will let the garden go wild and head out.
But, what fun to uncover it all again. Hehehe
thanks, Coleup. I'll go in for a 1/4 share of these as well:
Solidago odora (Anise-sented Goldenrod)
Solidago caesia (Blue-stemmed Goldenrod-dry shade)
Coleup, I'll take 1/4 share of the Rudbeckia fulgida var fulgida (I'll also post this on the Monarch/group buy forum).
This message was edited Mar 18, 2014 6:08 PM
Karen--
I think I may plant your Rudbeckias in my YUK bed amid all the DL's.
That way, when the DL's fade--there will be something to look at.
Do you think, over time, as they get bigger--they may interfere with the DL?
You know--the soil there is not the richest--as there are maple roots everywhere.
I can amend it somewhat--but, usually, that kind of chore gets put on the back burner,
We ALL will be in a big rush to catch up once the weather settles down.
I seeded some in bottles last fall--and again now--in seedling trays.
It better grow somewhere!!! My double yellow Hirta as well.
I can't wait to see my side bed where I9we) dug up all the iris. I planted
Alliums in the back--another Bee balm--some new oriental Lilies.--Clustered Bellflowers
from Donner....will seed a lot of tall Zinnias as well to plant amid the iris. phew...
OK..enough drooling.....G.
I never made it to the GH yesterday. Holly chained me to the computer and said, "TAXES NOW".
By the time I was done I was grumpy, But in fact the fed, state, and local are all complete and efiled.
Nothing got planted and no pictures were taken.
I have bumps coming up in the pot of Texas Bluebonnet! Just planted and put under lights, no special treatment.
Sally that is great - how long did germination take?
I now have sprouts from the five spot, Joyanna's nigella, hollyhock, and violas. No signs of anything yet from the daturas, cleomes, or balloon flowers.
Do you find that you have to water the seedlings EVERY day??? I skipped one day on the tomato seedlings and boy were they dry last night. On the seeds that looked big to me, I used those jiffy pellets and put one seed per pellet. I have them sitting on a wicking felt mat that in theory holds water and wicks up from the bottom. On tiny seeds, I just used little aluminum cake pans with plastic lids and jiffy seed starting mix. They dry out pretty fast too. I guess I could add moisture crystals???
Aspen, I'm using Burpee's self-watering seed starting kit for some of my seeds. The plastic dome was removed as soon as the seeds germinated, but the coir soil and wicking felt mat kept the soil way too moist. The soil never ever dried out and got algae and mold, so I had to remove the wicking mat. I think this is a great system for germination, but not for keeping seedlings in there for any length of time.
And reviews online say it's impossible to get the seedlings out of there without the soil crumbling and falling apart and damaging the roots. So it's not just me!
On the other end of the spectrum, I have seeds in cups that need to be watered everyday. I think I may have lost a whole tray because I skipped a day. They were completely dry in 48 hours.
Congrats on getting the taxes done, Ric! I'm sure that's a big weight lifted off of your back. Thank God for my husband who is so diligent about all those things. He's a financial advisor so he knows what to do. We "have a guy" who does our taxes. It's nice to be able to sit back and feel confident that someone else is taking care of it and is at least partly on the hook if the numbers were wrong. A word of caution: my husband said that he has gotten calls from 3 clients already this year that didn't do their own taxes right and now the IRS wants thousands of dollars from them. Please be careful doing your own taxes!
Anyway back to the subject at hand: seeds!
I already have germination from the Red Sea Ageratum and I can see the Dahlias are putting down roots. I moved the ageratum away from the heat immediately, but left the lid on the container because they are itty bitty seedlings and they can't take the atmospheric change yet. So you guys don't cover your pots when you sow seeds inside? Why not? I found that I have much better germination when I cover the pots or seal them with saran wrap or put the whole thing in a ziploc bag (increase the humidity). After they start growing, I gradually expose them over a week or more. Until I figured this out, I lost so many seedlings by shocking them by exposing them to the atmosphere too quickly. Anyway, when the pot is covered, there's no need to water them every day. As long as there are beads of water on the plastic, you know it's not too dry. This also means you don't have to disturb the baby roots in the soil when you water them.
I'll try to take some pics tonight of my embarrassingly crude (but effective) setup for you guys.
Still nothing sprouting from my tobacco seeds but they need a little more time anyway.
The burpee system comes with a cover, but it has to be removed as soon as they germinate, since the whole "greenhouse" set up stays so very wet. It's beyond a little bit of condensation and more like rain! The cups were covered as well, but they still dried up completely in 2 days. My house *is* very dry, but I was shocked at how quickly it happened.
I only had the plastic covers and heat mats on until they germinated. I think I read somewhere that both were to be removed after germination, so that is what I attempted. I'll experiment with putting the plastic covers back on and see if that helps, but stay on the lookout for the algae and mold that ssg experienced. Trowel and Error ha ha ha...
I have never had algae or mold when using new seed starting mix and new (or disinfected) pots. I always leave the lid on for at about a week and then gradually opening, day by day, a few centimeters each day till the seeds are acclimated to the harsh world in which we live. :)
Damping Off is my biggest concern, and I've never had that happen before opening the lids.
But if you are using fresh materials, and keeping things sanitary, even that *shouldn't* be a problem. I don't use a fan and therefore don't have especially good circulation in my basement, but haven't had Damping Off since switching to new soil for seeds every year, no exception.
Doing this for 4 years (not very long compared to some of you, I'm sure) and I'm still learning from my own trowel and error too! :)
I wasn't too concerned about the algae but the white mold freaked me out! I got out the cinnamon and sprinkled it everywhere. It hasn't come back, but I've also since removed the self-watering wicking pad. I'd be so so so so sad if I got damping off.
This is only my first year doing seeds indoors! I only have experience with a couple of years of winter sowing, which is sooo much easier!
I am not done seeding yet---but did a good amount last weekend.
What I have left are the many Zinnia seeds to plant--but they germinate so fast--
I am not worried about being late.
I do my seeds in plastic cell-packs and I used new seed starting mix as well.
Then--I put all the trays on the very bottom shelf of my light set-up (in my BR)--
because--right under the bottom shelf is my heat vent. I think it has enough
warmth to help the seeds germinate.
Once they do--I have to move them under the lights on higher shelves, which are
still occupied by all kinds of other plants. BIG rearranging coming up--again!
Don't have room (yet) bu the LR window for all the Brug cuttings and the Braz. Plumes.
They are big plants by now--but they still need light.
I may move the just sprouted seedlings to my bakers Rack in the kitchen. Two shelves there
have 2' lights above them. Pretty low wattage--but it works.
This also has a heat vent right under it...
I'll fuss for a while--and then--everything will work out. It always does......:o)
When I get things situated a bit--I will take some pictures to show you.
Here is my little set-up from about 10 years ago--just so you can see what it looks like.
It is in my bedroom by a S. facing window. The lights are on chains with "s" hooks
and can be moved up or down as needed. As the seedlings grow--the lights are moved up.
1--This is still pretty empty (2007) but you get the idea....
2--This is the wicker baker's Rack" by my unused kitchen side door. Tight quarters here...
3--These trays I bought at IKEA long ago. I put the cell packs on these.
Can bottom water-if i want. Need to get more trays--now they have different ones....
4--A full tray with cell packs and an empty one.
This is dark--but just took this to show you hoe much stuff is on there
that will have to find a new home.
--The very top shelf is rooted Brugs--Rooted/growinf brazilian Plumes,
and the funky, red, Satin Coleus.
--The middle shelf is all kinds of Coleus. I have re-pinched them, and they are
in dufferent states of re-growing.
--#3&4 are the IKEA trays I bought years ago to set mu seedlings on.
I need more--but they don't have these any more. Probably, something similar?
Dahhh--Forgot the [pictures!!!
1--The whole rack--the very bottom shelf has my newly planted seer trays--
covered in plastic. Heat vent is just below that.
The middle shelf is asst. Coleus
2--Top shelf--which gets very good light on sunny days--holds all my Brug cuttings
and 5 Brazilian Plumes--and some funky, red, satin Coleus on the left.
Texas bluebonnets emerging (just) in nine days, have several showing today
For the seeds that need stratification, are they supposed to go in the refridgerator or the freezer, and for how long?
I'm glad to hear that the bluebonnets are coming up. My packets are still sitting on my kitchen counter. I think I'll direct sow them soon and see how they do. Even Texas gets cold !
Okay, funny but true story. Until the 1970's, the Dallas area didn't see prolonged freezing temps, so the zoo relied solely on moats to contain some of the animals...until the moats froze one winter that is.
Seeds should be stratified in the fridge for 30-60 days depending on the plants (if they require stratification at all). I'm new at this myself, but here's a good article on it: http://www.alchemy-works.com/fall_planting.html
Tonight I was putting out the Recycling for pickup and had to clean up a bit of my neighbor's trash that had fallen over. Serendipity! There was a cardboard thing in their trash that looked like it would be perfect for starting seeds. 12 compartments, each one fairly deep.So I was motivated... I sowed Zinnia 'Orange King', Zinnia 'Giant Wine', and Zinnia 'Dahlia Flower Mix', two or 3 seeds each compartment. Regular potting mix because I don't feel like transferring them later. They might get a little leggy but who cares, we're talking about zinnias, they're gonna get all flippy floppy anyway when they grow up.
Also sowed Larkspur 'Giant Imperial Mix' which was the one I was talking about that seemed like it was fussy: Sow onto moist soil. Store in fridge for 2 weeks. Keep at 50° in the dark. Hmm... We'll see what happens. I put the container in the back of the fridge, hoping my husband won't find it within the next two weeks. Also hoping that I don't forget about it between now and April 3.
Dahlias are growing up really nicely since they were sown on the 15th. Ageratum too, teensy little things which take forever to take off but they will eventually. Tobaccos... still no sign of life. But they need time.
1. So here's my embarrassingly crude warming shelf. Just an upturned shade with an ikea pendant bulb an inch or so from the bottom of the metal shelf. There's the neat container I pulled out of my neighbors trash with the zinnia seeds hanging out under saran wrap for humidity. The small tubs are the tobaccos, still waiting.
2. Hi Dahlia babies!!!
3. Ageratum sprout in a tofu container under saran wrap. Keepin' it classy, folks!
4. Velvet Mocha Coleus cuttings, a few weeks old, hogging the lights. Gonna get bumped soon, sorry guys! :/
End of dispatch. Over and out!
All very lovely!!
Gonna be some Velvet Mocha floating around this year. I have a pot to make cuttings of also. And my fall cuttings are still doing well. Maybe I should just plan a patch of VelvetMocha in some bed, instead of the variety of mlliim thing I usually have everywhere.
Oh great idea to use a regular light bulb as a heat lamp!
Typ, I thought all materials had to be sterile to avoid damping off. Did you sterilize your neighbor's cardboard box, or is that not necessary?
Sally, yes my intention is to have a huge patch of velvet mocha. It's going to be a challenge to match them with other colors but I think I'm up for it.
SSG, no the box isn't sterile. :( But the cardboard looked clean and I'm crossing my fingers. I used clean soil though and these are zinnias so the seedlings are pretty big and should hopefully grow out of the risky stage quickly. I hope! Will let you know if the gamble pays off. I guess in retrospect I was just so excited to not have to cut up and juggle more red solo cups for seedlings that I didn't consider Damping Off too much this time.
" in retrospect I was just so excited" LOL know that feeling
I made a bunch of Solo cups last year but was not thrilled with how they tipped. They are fine if you fill a rigid tray with them but my trays aren't rigid (buffet foil pans!)
Karen---
I bet your seeds will all grow just fine--sterilizing or not...
While that may be "recommended'--many of us do not do that...
1--Wanted to show you how well MY R. Hirta seeds are coming up.
These are the dbl. yellow ones...Also--the seeds are about 3-4 years old..
I sprinkled pinches of them over each opening--as they were so much chaffe.
SO happy they are coming up--now to have to divide them...ugh!
Those of you who got these seeds from me--you will get plenty of plants..
Mow--if these are also biennial--you may nor get bloom till next summer.
2--Here are my Red Mocha coleus cuttings. they seem to be different than other coleus.
If they go dry--they do not wilt. They just march on--now approaching 1 1/2' tall.
I have been meaning to take cuttings of these too...
3 & 4--There is the 6" pot of same--to show you (again) how the leaves mutated.
Never figured that out....I think it was low light through the winter months.
Now--get this--out of the mutated tops--the reg. red leaves are growing again.
Bad light on this picture---it all looks washed out.
5--Karen --I have oodles of these trays. They can be used to seed larger plants into.
They are as good as 3" pots each. Just cut the sections apart with scissors.
These are the trays that 4" annuals come in. I can get an endless supply...
I will bring you some when I come over...
I might seed all my Zinnias in here...already did some in the small cell packs--bummer...
They are all up too..Time to hustle TODAY to rearrange all my plants that are
still hogging ,u light shelves.
G.
Wanted to show you also how great the Wasabi Coleus cuttings are growing.
These are already from a second pinching...
Sane observation---these are NOT your average Coleus...
Totally different growth and how they behave...science marches on!
OK I took a couple of pics, so here's how I do my seeds.
I usually use fresh soil mix and clean containers, once in awhile the containers are even soaked in a Clorox solution to kill any pathogens. Some things I sow in flats to transplant, but most often I sow 1-2 seeds in a cell. Cells may vary from 1/2" plugs to deep cell market packs depending on the plant characteristics and intended use. With the larger cells you get better success with plants that do not like to be disturbed such as plants that form a taproot. Open sown is good for things that can be moved easily, marigolds for instance. My set-up consist of a piece of Corian a little larger than my heat mat giving me a min. 20x20" surface (2-1020 trays). The Corian keeps the heat in and very uniform. I always use a domed tray for germination holding the moisture in. My favs are the high domed trays (#1) with vents so you can reduce moisture gradually after germination. The other one I use is a clear dome for 1020s.(#2) I also use this heat system to jump start cuttings in soil or oasis under a dome. I found oasis cut to 1" squares, is an excellent medium for some plants that tend to damp-off or are slow to root (Persian shield).
I just love this idea for watering that I got from Rick Corey on ATP Ric and I are going to give it a try. We have been a bit worried since we will be getting a couple of thousand tiny plant plugs and then a week later leaving for 2 weeks. We have someone that should do a good job with them but when they are that small there is no room for just a small lapse.
I copied this from his post.
"Drop a cotton flannel pad in a tray, put the seedling tray on top of the 1020 tray, and add about a half-cup of water.
The grooves in the 1020 tray were like some genius had engineered them to be a micro-reservoir, and simplicity won the day. Despite my gadgety inclinations.
What was really cool about it was serendipitous. The flannel not only carries water TO each cell uniformly. It also draws water back OUT of a cell if you over-water it from the top (which I just HAVE to do periodically, as if it were some Gardener's Curse that I can't escape). But now it draws the excess water OUT, even including perched water, as long as I keep the water level in the tray below the top of the fuzzy mat. Translation: I water until the mat is pretty damp, but I don't see any water.
Then, double-serendipitously, I tried over-watering only SOME of the rows in my tray. The mat pulled the excess water out of those rows, and shared it with the thirsty rows!
The mat insists on being uniformly damp or dry everywhere, which makes the bottom layer of each cell uniformly damp. The third serendipitous thing is that I don't have to guess whether the deeper parts of each cell are dry or moist. The bottom layer of each cell is about as wet as the mat! So I don't need to worry about keeping the soil from drying all the way out. I only need to keep the mat from drying all the way out!
I can't take credit for figuring most of that out. Some brain-fluke just made me try dropping a pad between the water tray and the seedling tray, then watering lightly instead of flooding it. So easy that even I could do it. And maybe a spouse or neighbor could follow directions if you were away for a week.
It just turned out to solve multiple problems all at once.
Gita, that coleus is a mystery. I love it! Your coleus are so much happier than mine. How often do you give them fertilizer? Also as mine are relegated to the basement, they are probably mad about the cool temps (50s).They are alive, but not putting out much new growth.
Ric, wow very nice.
You all have setups that are so much more professional-looking than mine! Thanks for the idea about the corian. I could probably scavenge a piece on craigslist or something.
One of these days I'll get a heating mat, probably not till they stop selling incandescent bulbs and the one I have burns out :) but one of these days I'm also going to build a greenhouse....
One of these days: my mantra!
LOL typwc, One of these days, Ric and I have and still are saying that. We have done and gotten many of those things, but there are still more of them that we would like to get or do. We are still saying one of these days I will.........
One of these days...I'll get that " round tuit" I've always wanted!
Lolol
I guess my mantra is "When I retire...". I think it all the time, but I find myself saying it out loud in conversation probably a lot more than I should...
On my home made light shelf, the flourescent fixtures are hung with S hooks and chain. While the seedlings are in this initial phase of growing, I'm finding it about an every other day task to raise them up another notch. It is a little awkward and cumbersome, but I didn't think too much about it. However, I just happened to see this in a catalog yesterday and thought how much easier it would be, and ordered one to try out:
http://www.gardeners.com/Adjustable-Grow-Light-Hangers%2C-Set-of-2/8587918,default,pd.html
Terri, Ric and I really did a lot of what we have after we retired. The big stuff was in and there were some flower beds, a veggie garden that we had been abandoned for years. But after we retired we did a whole lot, most of the beds were doubled in size, and a lot of new beds added, the stepping stone path went to a full stone walkway, the second stone wall was installed, the Veggie garden reclaimed, arbor, walkway and GH installed and the pergola in the backyard added. We are 7 years out from retirement now and still more to do and the bodies are starting to lag.
Here is an article with pic's written by Rick Corey about the process I just mentioned.
http://allthingsplants.com/ideas/view/RickCorey/646/Bottom-Watering-Seedling-Trays-with-Cotton-Flannel-Prevents-Water-Logging/
Before we get too old, I want to take a year off from our gardens. Sow the garden with annual rye and take a six week camping trip to visit the other three corners. Holly's been to Key West, but never Maine, Oregon, or Baja. I'd love to do it while we can still camp. Can I spell lifetime senior pass, yes I can...
Oh, the senior pass has been a HUGE savings for us.
Love seeing all the new growth everyone!!