Seed Snatchin' XVII...Making More Seeds

Now that we've snatched seeds, cleaned them and stored them, it's time to start some indoor planting! Come on, I know you've been putting it off, but some things need an early start indoors! That's especially true for those of us in the northern climes.

Our Seed Snatchin' XVI http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/556431/#new was getting a bit long, and losing steam, so here's some inspirational pictures. The first is a picture of my seed planting table. It includes sterile seed starter, a mister, a watering can, some sterilized coarse sand, sterilized flats, dome lids, and propagation trays... and of course a big ol' bag of seeds!

Here's my big old bags of potting soil. The #7 is for transplanting, and the one next to it has the finely ground starter mix. I bake the starter in turkey bags to make sure it is sterilized to avoid dampening off.

I am on board Weezin! I am winter sowing in a major way. It is my first year doing it, but I am not holding back. I am starting over 100 varieties from seed! :)

Susan

I'm finally getting underway here! I've got 25 wintersown quart container on the deck so far -- all columbines and poppies! I've got to get out back and do some direct sowing, too, especially of the poppies.

I have two little seed trays that I started just last night! Why did I sow 30 tomato seeds when I know good & well I have room for only 8 early plants??!? I'm going to plant a few out with protection (wall-o-waters) against my south foundation in early April, and I may also find room inside for a container (to be moved to the deck after frost) with a grape tomato plant and a couple of Tumbling Toms. The second seed tray (aka "salad bar container") has 3 colors of Torenia seed sowed in it. I saved seeds from each color separately, but since they were all growing in the same patch, I don't know if I'll get the colors coming true for each or if I'll get a mix.

I do have extra Torenia seeds, and I seem to remember that WZ wanted some... I'll send them along with some Cheddar Pinks and Incarvillea cheron seeds that I got too late for her to sow them last year... Hey, WZ, I'll Dmail you a list of other seeds to see if there's anything else you can use...

I've been slow about getting rolling on trades this year, so haven't really posted much about what I have, but please feel free to give me a nudge if there's anything you're hoping for from me!

Got my potting soil, gonna wintersow too.

I am so mad, I finally bought the soil, then DH left it outside, and BAM! we suddenly get temps in the teens for the first time all winter. In fact, it hasn't even been below freezing till I got this stupid bag of soil, which is impossible to bring in, because it's stuck to the driveway!

OH, well. It's supposed to be in the 40's tomorrow.

That's great, everybody! Now that you are all in plantin' mode, be sure to check out my tradelist for more seeds! Just what you need, right? LOL! Critter, are the torenia seeds easy to propagate?

I've been trying to be more careful with the seeds I'm sowing, double checking for their germination requirements. Last year, anything that didn't come up in a month went out on the porch... a rather lax method of winter sowing! LOL!

This year, I've tried to plan the plantings to match the needs. This week, I'm planting seeds that need a couple weeks of room temp, then a couple weeks or more of freeze, then warming temps. They get planted, kept indoors, then booted out on the porch in mid-March. For those that need to germinate at 40F, I'm going to sow them later this spring when the weather starts to warm. I'll just sow them and set them on the porch.

I've got two light racks going now, and in the next couple days, I'll have them both filled with domed flats of seed trays.

Oh, Ivy, that gave me a good chuckle! We store our big bales of potting soil in the garage, and bring them into the basement one at a time. It's like thawing meat for supper, but you can't stick a 3.8 cf. bundle of soil in the microwave to thaw it!

I know what you mean about not holding back, Susan. I have several little bags of 'mystery seeds', and most of them are going out on the porch in little containers to see if they will germinate by winter sowing. I've numbered them so I can label the bags later. I just can't seem to plant 'a little'.

Weez- I wish I had a big giant microwave- somebody should invent that! Think of how much soil you could sterilize!

I'm sure the government has some huge microwaves, but I don't think the Seeds Snatchers are going to have a chance to use them! I thought about buying a professional soil sterilizer a year ago, but our kitchen range gave up the ghost, so I decided it was a better investment and it can do the same job for the same money... plus cook supper!

Everything seems in a hurry for spring around here. This is one of my potted begonia tubers that started sprouting in the bag. I told the little guys it's a bit early, but it's like trying to stop labor pains!

your having a premature baby!!

Susan

Well so far I have started some columbine, mexican hat, red hot poker, some poppies, some day lilies, and probably in a couple of weeks, I will start all of my tomatos. I have about 30 varieties, and will start some of all. Last year I had over 200 tomato plants, and gave away scads more. If you need some later, come on by I will fix you up.

WZ, I've never started the Torenia from saved seeds before, only from purchased seed, so I can't say for sure about these seeds... I'll know more in a week or two, LOL!

However, the purchased Torenia seeds were easy enough to propagate. They usually sell the seeds in pelleted form because they are very, very tiny, but the pelleted seeds I bought had been crushed, so I just sprinkled the debris over the surface of a little container of potting mix and pressed down lightly with my finger. I transplanted the tiny seedlings when they had 1 or 2 pairs of true leaves, and they did great in a 48 cell tray. I can send you a mix of seeds, or I can send you seeds from separate colors, which may turn out to be mixed anyway.

Thanks, Critter. I don't mind tiny seeds at all. I just mix them with some coarse sterilized sand for even planting. I've never been very fond of those pelleted seeds. They don't seem to germinate as fast or as successfully for me. If you're going to send me seeds, you'll need to pick something from my list, as well!

Yes, Susan, there are several begonia tubers sprouting in their white plastic bags. I guess I need to pot them up and get them in some light. It's too early to start the halide, so they have to live next to the fluorescents or in the window!

Here's my artichokes beginning to pop up in the 4 packs in the domed flat.

Hey! Artichokes? I thought we northerners couldn't do those. Are they greenhouse guys?

We can only grow the ones that set artichokes the first year, since they don't winter over. They've got to be started very early and don't produce much, but my neighbor likes to have a couple plants every year. I believe they are Globe artichokes: http://www.pioneer-net.com/psr/artichoke.html

Wow! that's so awesome!

weeze - what do artichokes taste like & how do you prepare them?

I suppose the globe are pretty much the same as the others, but the artichokes may be smaller. My DH is from California, and he likes to steam them and dip them in mayonnaise. Somebody more artichoke savvy than me should answer you!

Dyson. First you was and steam that big thing, then you ppeel each leaf off, turn it upside dowmn and scrape the soft flesh off with your bottom teeth after you've dipped it in butter. when you get to the middle you scrape the hairy stuff off and throw iy away, then eat the base it was on also dipped in butter.
I'm headed to Greensboro tonight.
Sidney

Artichokes~~ MmmMMmmmmm~~

:)
Be safe Sidney and have fun.

Susan

Thanks for a better explanation, Sidney! I was at a loss as to what to call the artichoke 'leaves'. Are they petals? Are they leaves? Are they scales? LOL! I think the mayonnaise dip is a California thing.

That was the most succinct explanation of how to eat an artichoke!

I've only heard of dipping in mayonnaise or melted butter. They sell these eeny-weeny tiny ones at the grocery store sometimes, but I have no idea how you would eat them.

Weez- Do you leave any to flower? I've always thought they looked so pretty in pictures.

Ivy, I'd be lucky to see one flower! Our season is so short that even getting artichokes can be iffy!

Well I guess I could send you some when they are plentiful. If I see them reasonable I'll keep you in mind.
Sidney

Great idea, Sidney! I'd send you back a salmon, but he'd be pretty stinky by the time he got there!

That's quite allright. You've already sent seeeds;)

Well, I'm sure I could find something Alaskan to send back your way.

More Nasty seeds, LOL
;)

How do the nasties do down your way, Sidney? Are they a winter crop for you?

Carol,

I have a quick question regarding some seeds that I have started in my house. I have these little 12 hole seed trays with domes that have their own bottom trays. I don't grow out too many seeds of one kind, because of my growing area in the house. So, I planted 3 types of seeds, in 4 of the holes. One of the seed types have sprouted fast, but don't have their true leaves yet. I keep reading that once the seeds germinate, your suposed to remove the dome.....BUT what do I do about the other 8 holes that haven't germinated yet? I can see a few that are trying to poke through, but not quite there yet.

Help please. :-))

Donna

I'd leave the dome on for now. Once the seedling gets its true leaves, it is ready to be transplanted, and the other seeds may germinate anytime. When starting different kinds of seeds in the same container, even with separate cells, you may run into problems because different seeds and seedlings often have different needs.

Here is my wintersowing area! Nicole, thanks for the huge bag of seeds!! They will be loved and well cared for!

Susan

Thanks Carol. I will just keep an eye out with all the new growth going on.

Donna

I just spent some time yesterday or the day before taking containers with seedlings out of the domed flats, into uncovered ones, and giving them a little underwatering. If the seedlings are just coming up and they are tiny, I usually wait to move them. In the case of irratic germination, I usually wait for some true leaves, and prick the seedling out, then let the rest of the container continue on under the dome.

Susan, that's quite the winter sowing operation you've got going there!

Thanks Weezin :) I have made a greenhouse cover for the ones that were sown, almost done sowing the rest and will cover them as well. I need to keep the moisture in the pots. last night I worked through dark and hung a camping lantern on a shepards hook to see what I was doing. I will post what it looks like when I get it done....

And if that weren't enough. Walgreens has seed packs at 10 for $1 after coupon (limit 20) till Saturday.... And when I asked the stock girl if my 2 year old could be a customer and buy 20, so that I could get another 20 she said don't worry about it, the coupon is taking off the $ for as many as you buy and were not going to stop you from getting as many as you want! Ahhhhhhh, an addicts dream come true... I wont say how many I left with. I can't admit it or that I might go to another Walgreens before Saturday.

Susan

Susan, Face the crowd and say "My name is Susan and I am an addict, I sow and I grow and I dive if I have to." Then all of us say "Hi susan, We love you still. we too plant and plant and always will"
Sidney

I first met Susan at the Georgia RU last Spring. She was so ready to share all she had.....Zinnia seeds. Her face fell when I declined, but she and I trapsed around to one nursery and another and by Oldndian's place. We had a great time. I have really enjoyed following her progress and bet this spring she has the biggest "share" stash at the RU.
Sidney

SUSAN!!! WOW!!! You are most certainly ADDICTED!! Just stepped in to this thread!

I remember that too Sidney!! :) Here I haven't start seed ONE still.... :( This weekend I am either going to have to do it or resign myself to buying ... Susan you're welcome for the seeds! I grow those every year and since I haven't so much as started any this year at least you're growing them!!

Alright who's coming to my house to help?????? I am a lazy gardener this year!! For shame!

Nicole

Susan all I can do is smile and think to my self I knew her when. You are the biggest addict of all time. I wish I lived next door to you. Are there any seeds you are still looking for?

Donna If you leave the dome on too long they will get too much heat and become leggy. I did the same thing. Here is the first that sprouted and then I had three more in the tray and only one of them has started coming up. I removed the ones that was getting leggy and just give them a good spraying of water on the leaves everyday. This is Cardinal Vine. I had four more things in the tray and a triple purple datura has about half of what I planted peeking out.