I remember reading about using Chamomile tea to prevent damping off, but am not sure how well it works. Has anybody tried it?
Seed starting MAF April !st 2014 Part 2
Donner, I've never used it but I'm curious as well.
I have a question about hardening off seedlings. I read somewhere that it's not a good idea to do it for more than 2-3 weeks before planting them out. Is that true? I'd rather take my seedlings outside everyday since I don't have that much room indoors, but I won't be planting the peppers for another month or so.
I haven't had seedling problems since I started using Cinnamon and Chamomile tea!!
that's great Teri1
I don't know why prolonged hardening would be bad.
I don't have much coming up because I have no proper seed-starting lights (must put on wish list for Mother's Day, birthday, etc.), but I have some emerging Rudbeckia hirta 'Indian Summer', Salvia azurea, Texas bluebonnets, Monarda punctata and a NOID Rudbeckia or sunflower.
I've got some seedlings in a big fish tank under the light that used to be attached to the tank cover. It would be a better germination station if my fat cat hadn't jumped on and broken the lid when the tank still housed fish. He broke 3 fish tank lids before he realized that he was not going to get the fish.
I just came across this site- might be of interest- enter your zip code
http://www.plantmaps.com/21108
sally-- Neat link---
My zip code results were the same as yours....exactly...
Then again--we are not that far apart.....region-wise.
Sally, I think that map is out of date, although it says it's using 2010 data. DC is showing up as 6b, but it should be 7a.
Eh, just threw it in here for whatever its worth- maybe not much! Says my average last frost is April 11 or shortly...yahoo I'll take it.
Though personally I don't think 6b to 7a is enough to change any of my decisions. There's at least a full zone difference between some of my beds. And I'd think mulching or not, shade or sun, shadow of structures...all that makes zone a nebulous thing.
Oh Muddy, that darn cat...lol
Bluebonnets getting second leaves. Sungold tomatos emerging. Nicotiana never came up. Moonflowers made mini volcanos, have two up now.
Muddy, how did you sow the R. hirta? The ones I sowed indoors are not coming up.
I used seed starting soil in peat pots and put them in a covered Burpee self-watering tray. They get light from an east-facing window and a sun lamp I bought years ago when I had a dark interior office. Only a few have started to come up. I can't remember when I sowed them - maybe 2 weeks ago.
I'm getting some mold on things - how much cinnamon do I sprinkle on and when? Before the seeds sprout? Is it okay to sprinkle some around seedlings?
I think I'm going to direct sow most of the rest of my seeds. I've been saving the large plastic containers that pre-washed lettuce comes in to put over them.
I think I'm going to do direct sow also for my seeds. I haven't had good luck with starting seeds indoors. Yes, I'd also love to hear more about the cinnamon. There is mold growing on the soil that my caladiums are planted in. Ecnalg also suggested removing the bulbs and baking the soil in a 200-degree oven for an hour to kill the mold. I'd like to try this as soon as I have some time -- maybe tomorrow.
Ohh Muddy I'm so glad that the Indian Summer seeds are germinating! Phew! I was starting to worry that I had given everyone bad seeds!
Muddy, I have no idea what the right way is. I ... just sprinkled some cinnamon on top. I hope some of the experts chime in. :)
I'm going to direct some some R. hirta as well but I need to wait until everything comes up first.
I think I have Karen's :Indian Summer" Hirta WS outside. Not sure anything came up.
Here is my Double yellow Hirta seedlings. I am SO happy they came up!!
These seeds were about 3 years old....
If they survive the transplanting--I should have plenty to share.
I forgot to mention that I also cold moist stratified the 'Indian Summer' for about a month; that might have helped. I figured it wouldn't hurt it to be stratified and I wasn't ready to plant it in early March anyway.
I need to gather up all my tucked away containers outside into which
I attempted to WS a few things,,,I may have goofed, though, b/c I sowed them
late fall last year....maybe not???
One thing I remember seeing already "up' before winter ever hit was Karen's
tall Ageratum. I think I also seeded Butterfly Weed, and some Columbines .
I cannot imagine that any of those survived this winter.
I believe I attempted to sow a couple things earlier in February--but have no idea
if anything has come of those either...I looked...there are a few small green leaves
coming up of the Ageratum in one bottle...minute ones...
Ditto for the October sown Ageratum...miniscule bits of life..
Cuttings of most plants I did made it through the winter and have growth.
--A couple pots with sections of my old Gooseberry bush (which i dug out
of my "doomed bed") and some rooted stems from my dbl. French Lilac Bush are alive.
--SS--your Sweet bay is toast! Never brought it in. Sorry!
--Hoping like crazy that some potted root sections of my KK Hibiscus may sprout up...
NOT holding my breath! Need to move those pots into the sun to warm up...(mental note to self)
Not one attempt in all the years I have tried has worked to propagate this Hibiscus.
--Took some cuttings from my NE Aster and potted them up. Nothing greening
up on that plant yet--not even the Mama--so I don't know if they "took".
.--My 2 Painted Jap. Ferns dried up and died last fall. My fault--missed watering them....
My fault! They were doing so great! Need to go to Lowes and see if they have
any "near death" (like last year) that I can p/u for 50 cents. Got a tray-full last year.
Remember????
G,
I hope to get more seeds sown tomorrow! It hit 79 degrees here today. so beautiful. lots of birds. we got our hummingbird feeder hung today since it looks like the hummers are almost in NJ! Here is a list of some of the seeds we have growing now under lights: followed by the days to germination.
Nicotiana Dusty Rose: 9 days
Chianti Dianthus: 6 days
Amsterdam Seasoning Celery: 12 days
Burgundy Amaranth: 6 days
Lettuce Leaf 'Napolitano' Italian Basil: 7 days
Red Leaf Hibiscus 'Red Shield': 8 days
Turkish Eggplant (can't wait to grow these!): 9 days
Heirloom Tomato 'Cherokee Purple': 7 days
'Heavenly Blue' (4-inch blooms) Heirloom Morning Glory: 6 days
Amaranthus cruentus 'Hot Biscuits': 6 days
Compost Cherry Tomatoes: 13 days
Fenugreek herb: 3 days
Heirloom Aztec Sweet Nicotiana: 8 days
Heirloom Cherry Vanilla Quinoa: 3 days
Pride of Barbados, Caesalpinia pulcherrima: 13 days
Spanish Flag Vine: 7 days
Big Yellow Heirloom tomatoes: 7 days
Large red heirloom tomatoes: 7 days
Goldman's Italian-American heirloom tomatoes: 7 days
Chocolate cherry tomatoes: 7 days
Abelmoschus esculentus 'Burgundy' Okra: 7 days
Jalapeno peppers: 10 days
Clary Sage, Salvia viridis 'Marble Arch Rose': 4 days
Salvia coccinea 'Lady in Red': 6 days
Coral Nymph Salvia: 8 days
Ornamental Millet, Pennisetum glaucum 'Purple Majesty': 5 days
Ugh, have you ever lost an entire tray of seedlings because you forgot to water them? :(
I hope they recover. There goes my plan of having a ton of basil to share.
excellent, Diana, best of luck. I have Hot Biscuit also. 'Compost" cherry tomatos LOL!'
so far I seem to have exactly the number of tomatos I want. Lettuce doing very nicely, most pots of lettuce outside with a bit of shelter.
Gita, of those I think columbine might survive, jut give them an extra few days to see, I have lots of columbines babies coming up now.
I think my fig bush may have to come up from the ground. I see green buds at ground level but not on the branches yet.
Oh no Terri!!! so sorry! I did lose a bunch a few years ago forgetting to water, that sure chilled my interest in seeds for a while.
We'll be home by Tuesday. I'm hoping that my seedlings survived while their foster parents were taking care of them. If so, I'll be so happy to report on their progress. It'll finally be SPRING when we get home!!!
well, last night our cat(s) ate ALL the purple majesty millet!!!!! it was on the highest shelf on the plant rack too. grrrrrrr guess it tastes as good as grass. It was nibbled on the night before, but was salvageable and I meant to hang some foil as a deterrent, but forgot. it's completely all gone now. they also beheaded an okra or two... I have to have a talk with them today lol
LOL Wind that is exactly why I stopped trying to germinate seedlings indoors! I have 4 (indoor only) cats and every time I got seedlings to the point where they were growing their first tiny leaves, some furry feline would come along and eat the green heads off and I'd have nothing but a few tiny wobbly stems sticking up out of the soil! (sigh)
I definitely have to transplant my Tomatoes, Lady-in-Red Salvia, Love-in-a-Mist,
Most Zinnias, etc...etc....They are ALL too tall already to leave under lights...
Everything is growing!
Here's my "burning question".....
We are SO close to planting out---it almost seems unnecessary to go through the
effort of potting the seedlings up in small pots---even though i know it HAS TO be done...
This year is so wacko! Mother Nature is NOT cooperating with the Calendar.....
I also fear that my carpal tunnel recovery (2 weeks) will put a serious glitch in a most
important time of year....all the bed prep and amending and planting, etc....
My daughter and her SO visiting starting on the 8th of May, Mamma Mia!
When it rains---it pours.....
G.
Oh, well! Worst
Uh oh Gita, I think the rest of your post got eaten by a squirrel! What was it you wanted to ask us? For you, the answer is "Yes!" =) (as long as that's the answer you want). ;)
Oh no! Your cat had a feast! :(
My cat has lost interest in indoor plants, but she still gobbles up grass outside every chance she gets.
yes, I'm thinking I should probably get some cat grass for them to nibble on indoors! The problem will be that it will be gone in a few days!!
Gita, I know I have been tempted to put some tender perennial pots outdoors. But looking at the 10-day forecast, they're predicting lows in the 20s and 30s next week beginning on Tuesday. Arghh!!
More frost??? I refuse to beleive it!!
Gita I would probably try to harden them off in the pots rather than move them. Your covered patio should be frost free no matter what, don' you think?
I will come up tomorrow. What time? I have to be back by three PM probably. What can I bring you? Do you have plenty of pots or bags for the divisions? Mark is busy with his mom. Just me.
OH, my Sally----
just you and me???? Ad--me with my bad arm? No macho-Man to help?
Come as reasonably early as you want---like...10AM? How's that?
I have plenty of pots--you know that...you don't have to pot the divisions up--
just bring them home as is and pot them up at your place.
I have zillons of grocery bags--if that is what you mean. They will do for transporting.
I am SO knocked out of my spring must-do's that i hate it. I still have a hard time believing
that, in just 2 weeks after surgery--I can resume everything with no issues.
I don't think my Dr. knows what all i do....
Had an insaney, busy day at work today. Never stopped running around and
"education" beginner gardeners....
Today was the last day of the BIG Bonnies sale (5/$10) and it was insane...
Also--had to deal with a lot of people that needed educating about Crab Grass
preemergents. Biggest issue? Can I seed my lawn after I put that down???
NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Why not? And so it went...
BTW--The palate of Milorganite is almost empty. YES!!!! Still leading them
by the hand to that corner and they ARE buying it after my enthusiastic sales pitch.
See you tomorrow! Gita.
Was there anything you liked form my offerings towards your Gnome land?
I'll put out a couple things...you choose...WHERE was it I posted the pictures???
see you at ten. I am stronger than I look, We will take it easy.
This is Sally "For Real", under her gentle-and-sweet Librarian exterior...
hahahaha
I have a question about the Thalictrum revolutum seeds I picked up at the seed swap. (Greenthumb?) I've been reading that they are known for having a 'strong odor'. Greenthumb and Ecnalg, what can you tell me about this 'strong odor'? Is this something I should be wary of planting in my modestly-sized home garden?
Catmint, I forgot to answer your question about the thalictrum seeds. I'm looking specifically for the really tall one, Thalictrum 'Splendide.' I wonder if all thalictrums have an odor.
hi, SSG. The T. revolutum is quite tall (48") but the flower is not as pretty as the 'Splendide'. The Splendide looks very nice!! Probably no bad odor. :-)
I have a small spinach that's already bolting. It's been in full sun, which I thought would be ok for now since it's been so cool. And it's a slow-bolting variety! : /
As far as the Thalictrum plants, I've never noticed any odor. Will try to remember to ask Greenthumb tonight. We lost a few over the winter to the power company making repairs, but have a couple of other patches.
If you find Thalictrum 'Splendide' please let me know. That's been on my wish list.
Newcomb's Wildflower Guide says...Thalictrum revolutum leaflets are "dark green, with waxy particles beneath, which give off a strong skunklike odor when touched". It sounds like as long as it's in an area where you won't be brushing against it, it should be fine.
Thanks so much, Muddy--that is very helpful! Sounds like it belongs in an out of the way corner...