When, when, when???

I finally am taking the plunge, this is my first year starting seeds, I'm excited :).

I am in zone 5a. I have a big lots mini greenhouse and a couple of those covered 72 cell starting trays and the soil and some perennial flower seeds too. I think I am going back today to get a second greenhouse.

I do not want to start the seeds indoors due to lack of light space. I will be securing the mini houses along the back (south side) of my house. The area is also protected from both sides, it should be a pretty warm spot, considering.

When do I start the seeds? I'm thinking some time in March, would this work? When are the seedings normally transplanted into bigger pots? I can hardly wait!

Branka - what are you starting for seeds? Some seeds want warm to temps to germinate.... & Others don't mind the cooler temps.

Hi poppysue, I have Blue Tibetan Poppies (meconopsis betonicifolia). I purchsed these seeds and there are special instructions on the back. It says: "Place pot in a polythene bag and place in warmth 65*-70* for two weeks. Then transfer to the main compartment of a refigerator, where germination should begin after two weeks. Remove seedlings as they emerge planting them in small pots. Give them cool and light, but out of direct sun."

When I have them in warmth for the first two weeks, does it matter if they get light? When I move the potted seedlings outdoors, I can put them in an area out of sunlight.

It also states to remove all of the buds the first year, not to let them flower to build up strength.

The others are apache sunset agastache, lavender, and lupines from Newfoundland (not the hybrids that are common here). The lupine seeds are 3 or 4 years old.

I have tithonia seeds. I know they are annual, but will they self sow year after year in my area?

I have a couple of annuals too. Amaranthus caudatus, I've always wanted to try this one. Are they as pretty as they look in pictures?

I have Datura metel, I think it's called. The double purple datura. Is it to cold for this one to self sow year after year?

And, a convolvulus mix. I saw these planted in the ground last year and they were gorgeous. I've recently read that they do great in hanging baskets. I wonder if that's true?

That's all for now, but I'm sure I'll run across some more that I have to have.

bumping this back up in hopes that poppysue or someone else that can help sees this.

Branka, I haven't had much success trying to grow the meconopsis seeds. I'd go by what the directions say. The lavender and lupines - I would plant them now and put them outside for cold sratifying. Lavender needs it and I think it will help the lupines too.

The others you listed all look like they'd be fine to start in the mini greenhouse in March. I think they'll germinate when temps warm up enough for them. You may want to hold off on the amaranth until April or May. They're warm germinators... and they don't take long to grow into big plants. I start them just a couple of weeks early and set them out when the plants are tiny.

I've never had the double daturas re-seed ... but then again, I never had the pods ripen early enough. Tithonia and convolvulus might if the birds don't get all the seeds first.

Thanks poppysue, I'm going to get those seeds out within the next few days. I also have some native red lobelia that's been in the frigde all winter. Hopefull I'll get them to germinate!