This thread, I posted in the Greenhouse forum, tells of my latest garden failure. I fried all my seedlings. Can someone tell me if it's too late to plant more? I live about 100 miles NE of Dallas. Our days have been beautiful, but our nights are still a bit chilly, so I'm thinking it's not too late...is it?
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/499009/
Another Failure....
I would buy tomato and pepper plants as it takes so long to get them up to transplanting, but see no reason why you couldn't try others. The worst that can happen is that your plants will flower or fruit later. Late next month, you can start seeds for fall planting. I've enclosed a link to an article by tamu.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/ornamentals/seedlings/seedlings.htmlI
I was disgusted because the impatiens and petunias I planted were a complete fiasco. But I must be learning to not give up. I planted some last weekend and this time they're germinating. So don't you give up, but I would get the plants you're thinking about so you can get some reward this summer. then plant for fall as bettydee suggested.
jdee, what seeds did you plant? Some you can still start now. Don't feel badly. We all go through things like this. I have had a 10x 12 greehouse setup since the beginning of winter. I forgot that the oak tree under which it partially sits loses its leaves in the spring. I have had to run a fan and open the small window and door plus move a lot of the plants that I am trying to start from cuttings to the ground under the benches because they were getting too much sunlight. Some I have had to move under other trees which have fully leafed out. Luckily, the nights have warmed up here. The oaks are becoming fully clothed so things will be better. I hope that you have great success with the new location of the greenhouse.
I guess I don't know how to use a greenhouse, because I thought they were supposed to be located in a sunny area.
Here is what I planted so far:
hollyhock-burned up
cleome-burned up
four oclocks-some still usable
coneflower-just now sprouting
bee balm-never sprouted
bleeding heart-never sprouted
columbine-never sprouted
I started mostly shade friendly plants, because right now, I'm working with the front yard (shaded by an oak and a maple), and the side of the house (shaded by the house and neighbor's shrubs). I haven't started in the back yard, because I have a huge poison ivy problem, that my husband is still in the process of ridding. When I finally can plant in the back, I should be able to plant anything. lol I've apparantly have sun-a-plenty back there. This is my second year to garden, adn the first year to start seeds. I guess that's not entirely true. I planted coleus seeds directly into the ground last year, and they came up beautifully. I guess I should have done it that way again.
I have another question. My husband and I found half priced bulb at Lowes. It said to plant in April or May, so we got some. Later I find the same bulbs at Walmart that indicate we should have planted them in Feb. Which is correct? We have astilbe and white bleeding hearts.
Go ahead and plant them. This is supposed to be fun. I think everything you lost can be recouped in the ground. Be sure and put the 4 o'clocks where you want them, because they will comeback forever.
You tickle me and I was just like you when I started. Think I bout worried the skirt off my DGM and a gardening friend.
Hugs,
Sidney
Messin up is one of the best ways to learn, jdee! Some folks don't even try to do things. They never make mistakes. They never learn anything either! You have friends here that will help you every step of the way! We will all learn together.
LOL, my husband is out there mowing right now. I can't believe I posted a picture of my weedy unmown backyard where tons of people can see it.
Thanks, John. I do think I'm going to start some more seeds today, and I think I'm going to put them on the second shelf, so they won't be right in the sunlight. I have the two wandering jews that I left out in the frost last year. I was told repeatedly that they'd come back, but so far, nothing. I could be the first person in the world who's ever killed wandering jew. lol I'm still waiting and hoping. I watered it, and put it in the greenhouse too. I'm also using it to store plastic pots that I keep when I buy plants. I just know I'll use them for something someday. lol
Sidney, I didn't know that about four oclocks. The PlantFiles called them an annual...at least I think they did.
Aren't they a reseeding annual? I need to go look but I'm pretty sure they are.
JDee, don't worry about your backyard. There's not a single person who hasn't either had overgrown grass or weeds or lived next to someone with overgrown grass or weeds at some point in their life. At least you're mowing yours. I wish your DH would come chat with my neighbors. lol
Four O'Clocks are perennials in areas where the tuber does not freeze. In other areas, it is a reseeding annual. Some consider it rather invasive. I have a few I started from seed that I need to plant out and see how they weather the winter around here.
Jdee your colombine may well sprout much later. They will germinate as late as the fall to make good plants that bloom next year. You can plant the seed in the open ground now then you don't need to transplant. They probably won't flower this year but next year you'll have a great show.
We bought one plant last spring and allowed it to set seed which it then scattered all around itself. The babies germinated in the fall and are now making good plants. They can take two years to get to flowereing size sometimes.
If you just empty your tray of dirt and seeds where you would like them to be I bet several will show up in a few weeks from now!!
Carol
In my area, Zone 8b, 4 o'clocks have been a perennial. The tubers haven't frozen in years, but then we have had very mild winters.
Four o'clocks here can easily be a pest in the yard, but in the pastures I guess they're OK. We were digging some up once to start a new flower bed, and discovered the tubors. No wonder they are so hardy!
jdee, years ago before we had time to do yard work, our yard was a disaster. We had neighbors though that took very good care of their yard. One of them had a guy that came and mowed and weeded and kept the yard immaculate. I was out checking the mail one day when he was working, and he asked me "Do you mind if I cut your grass?" I said "No, but I can't pay you." He didn't bother me anymore.