I think it's a great idea to get seed and seedling pics for Dave's- most things have enough 'portraits' of full bloom. I had intentions of doing some of that, but my kid dropped the camera, then my husband decided to try to disassemble it 'just enough to free up the stuck lens'.......................................turned into an educational experience about the guts of digital cams.......................
my valuseeds arrived. I neeed to go thru them and my pinetree order, and see what needs planting now, and how. sounds like we may get stuck at home a day this week.........
Spring seed starting (indoors)
Quote...sounds like we may get stuck at home a day this week.........Sally what's up! Bad weather?
I had to back down in the basement... Planted my coleus seeds too.
Sorry to hear about your camera, I'd be right out buying a new one. I use it a lot.
Know what you mean about "fixing" things. Disect, save parts just incase you might need them some day, then months down the road, "now what is this from? " 5 years later in the trash.
Calling for a few inches of frozen stuff, you know, what you folks would call a dusting- might close our schools a day.
I would go out and get another, and hubby already shopping. I asked that we please get another Canon so hopefullty, even if it isn't the same model, I won't have to learn too much new. We were just scratching the surface on this one. But I don't mind making the kids wait a little and remind them there are other things to do around here, like homework!!
Yeah, we are dissectors/saver too! My dad the mech engineer, could make anything useful, or think of a potential use!! now he's been shedding his stuff on us. Hard enough to throw out my own trash!
Out of the blue, cuz they were cheap, I got armeria and carnation seeds. Ever grown those?
Not from seed, but did grow the plants. Let me know how they do for you.
Sally- I bought several species of Dianthus seeds including carnations also china pinks, sweet william and 'Arctic Fire' (Dianthus deltoides). Everything I have read about them says easy to grow from seed. I hope so!
did sweet williams with the kids couple yrs ago, had good results.
I just don't know where these things will end up if they do grow- accidentally got about 6-8 new flowers to grow, LOL I have no design sense, just 'oh that looks pretty and different' sense. will probably have a very flowery vegetable garden area. just realized that we plan to get new siding on the house, I will probably try not to put anything in the front or side bed to get trampled.
Sally I need to stain the front of my house this year I was thinking how to go about that without mangling my plants. I knew that I needed to re-stain but it wasn't until I took a couple of pictures of the beds in front of the house that I realized how really bad it looks. Plus the part that is vinyl sided needs to be pressure washed this year. I have green algae on the siding. That will make a mess, too. I use the edge of my garden to put excess or very small plants or trees until I'm ready to move them into the yard.
My sympathies- every bit of garden is precious land, right? ! Even with best intentions, it's hard to work and remember where to step.
coleus seeds are starting to sprout !! (happy Dance) Just sowed them last Sunday. Will wait a day or 2 before I take baby pictures.
Chris- Congrats on your babies! Are they boys or girls? (Chuckle, chuckle.) Would like to see photos.
I have seeds to sow indoors but have been procrastinating. Is it too late to start impatiens, begonias and pansies inside?
Most seeds only need to be started about 6 weeks before planting out - before the last frost dates for most things. It's not too late to start seeds.
Thanks, Hart!
Greenkat, Me too. I haven't started my seeds either. But expect to get them started next week. I was going to start them a couple of weeks ago then I waited to change my seed order, my seed table wasn't quite done, and I was afraid if I started them too early I would have a lot of leggy plants laying around. So I waited. The only thing I did was some winter sowing and I dug out one of my sweet potatoes to start. I had great luck with them last year but can't remember when I started them, or how long it took to get them to the right size. I don't put any plants out until after Mothers Day. So I thought that March 1st would be about right for most of them. Holly
Sand Hill Preservation has every kind of sweet potato you could think of and great prices. As low as $3 something for sets and $1 per start for individual plants. $5 shipping. They also have a great selection of seeds for great prices and free shipping on seeds.
Can it be??? (rubbing eyes and blinking) I did about a dozen pots on the 14th, and I think I see two little green dots in the armeria pot. ( But I have had false alarms due to a little chunk something that grew some green algae.) Instructions did say to soak for faster sprouting but this is unexpected. the armeria seeds were not very big and it was almost impossible to get them out of the water after soaking- they stuck to me, the label, the cup....
Hart mine are Ornamental Sweet Potatoes, last year I had Blackie, and Margarita. This year I also have some kind of Tri-color???? The tubers were given to me by a co-worker but I never saw the plants so I’m not quite sure what they will look like. If they do well and they should if last year was any indication. I will have plenty to bring to the Swap at your house.
Hart- I think you must have mis-read my question. It may be that most plants take 6 weeks indoors from seed but I was asking about impatiens, begonias and pansies. I looked up info on starting them. I can still start the impatiens because they only need 8 to 10 weeks but my info on starting begonias from seed says 15 to 20 weeks before reaching blooming size. Yikes! That is for both tuberous and fibrous types. Same book says 14 to 16 weeks for pansies. The source for my info is Annuals for Every Purpose by Larry Hodgson.
If you have had a different experience growing these plants from seed, let me know.
I've never grown begonias or pansies from seed. Too easy to find plants. So I'd go by what the book says.
Holly, I just love sweet potatoes so of course I didn't even think of ornamental ones. LOL I grew the margarita one year and even in my dry soil, it became a huge plant.
Greenkat, I did pansy seeds in 1998 I checked my notes and I sowed the seed 2-14-1998 they started to germinate 2-19, since they can take the chill early in the spring you can set them out early. I'd start them today.
Never started begonias from seed but if they take that long I would think you could start at any time why not start some now and then a few more in a few weeks, just incase the early ones get to leggy, let us know how they do. We are here to learn.
The impatients I don't start them too early for my zone around mid March I have had them start blooming under lights and it was too cold to harden them off out side.
Hope this helps.
Chris
Just came from the basement , did a quick peak under the dome and I have baby Heliotropes. I'll be taking my Delphaiums out of the frig today and I might start Stocks this weekend and maybe a few other seeds.
I got my box from Parks today. Have my heat mat, seeds and the guys finished my seed table. Guess what I'll be doing this afternoon?
Holly, what are you starting today? Have fun! Spring will be here before you know it, (at least that is what I keep telling myself) Starting your plants from seeds is very rewarding I like growing things that you can't find at your local Wal-mart even if it is an uncommon color. It's fun to be different.
I'm starting my Pansies. These came from Parks I'm planting Sentiments Series All Fired Up, Heartfelt &Serentity. Also Bolero. Packet says 8 to 10 week before planting outdoors, Also place in cool location 60f. I would think that being under the dome and lights would make it warmer than that? Not to mention I the room is probably warmer than that.
Oh Ric just got up and explained that I'm not putting them under the lights yet. He said I can put them under the bed in the corner bedroom for a couple of days and then move them to the lights. I got my Bunny Tails and the Campanula Pearl Mix (Bellflower) done too. Bunny tails will go with the Pansy and the Bellflower will go up stairs where it's warmer
This message was edited Feb 17, 2007 8:12 PM
Holly, Ric is right no heat mat for your pansys and they need dark to germinate, you can even cover the flats with newspaper if you want them on your new seed table. I have some old pansy seeds that I might give up a six cell pack to try.
Ric was a Bio/Hort major in college. Did a couple of years but didn't finish. Then he worked in a greenhouse for awhile and some part-time for a florist. He told me I'm asking him to remember things he hasn't done for 30 years. I just have to wait till he has time to help me. He works 2nd shift and I work days so weekends are the only time we get together.
I hope to be able to report at some point that I sown something. At the moment all my supplies are sitting exactly where they have been sitting for months. I had such grand plans too. ha-ha Sometimes life gets in the way of gardening, I must remember that. I do know that it was one day last week that I gave myself persmission to NOT wintersow. I am going to compromise and start some indoors too, but not sure when. I still need to finish straightening the spare bedroom that we attacked last week and get a spot set up in there. I did okay with the ones that I started under lights in there last year.
Maybe I will try to do a few things today to the room that will help get me closer to my goal of having a straight room. I never know what my days will bring. Shoot, I could end up doing something else today. Good sometimes to have a day that isn't planned down to the very minute. Tomorrow is like that for me, a lot to do.
Well folks, I wish you all happy germinating. Please continue to share your progress. And have a good day ya'll.
Ruby
Ruby, you sound like me, have plans and then get sidetracked. I was hopeing to have the whole area in my basement ready to go for my seed starting, but as it is I only have 2 shelves that are ready, just enough to get things started. But if I want plants to set out I had to start somewhere.
When I was starting my few seeds playing in the dirt made me feel better! I didn't feel achy, possibly mind over matter going on here.
You also have an active family so that keeps you from doing the things you have planned.
Holly, how nice to have Ric to give you some inside info, what experience he has! I alway though it would be nice to work for a greenhouse just to learn.
Good day to you all!
Chris- Thanks for the information. It does look like I could start the pansies ASAP and they will be fine. Although I may have to put a hold on some of my summer growing seeds (tomatoes, etc.)
Yesterday my DH and I looked at several possible "new" homes. (The quotes because we are happily looking for an older house with a couple of acres.) We have been talking and even looking at possible places to move for years but yesterday we met with a really nice (not pushy at all) realtor in Frederick County, MD. 2007 looks like the year we will be getting out of Crofton!
Greenkat, How exciting! Hope you find your dream house, might want a soil test before you buy, ha ha : ) I can see your pansy's being a big invite to buy your old house.
Been down in basement again! Here are pictures of the new additions to my garden family.
Coleus
And Heliotrope
Heliotrope Is one of the things I want and somehow forgot to order.
I love heliotrope and finally got some seeds in a trade this year. I had some I planted years ago that got taller - over 3 feet - and it was such a nice plant. The foliage as well as the flowers is gorgeous and the scent is heavenly.
Greenkat, I've only seen Frederick passing through but it looks like a very nice area.
greenkat- that sounds exciting! but may put you in a gardening quandary- how much to do, and how, with mind to selling and leaving i.t ...
and now I know why my pansies totally failed last summer.
doesn't it seem like they are always born overnight?
now have jewels of opar and nicotiana only the lonely up. boy those nicotiana are incredibly tiny to match their seeds. each cotyledon is less than a mm. more of the magic of gardening to see how big they will be in a few months-
four weeeks to spring, right ?!
This message was edited Feb 20, 2007 10:21 PM
Ahhhhhh Lady - Playing in dirt is really fun, I must agree. Great going with the seeds. I suppose that gardening is so rewarding and pleasurable because in some cases you get almost instant results. How many flats will you be sowing?
I am just going to have to get my enjoyment from hearing you guys sound so happy. ha-ha.
Speaking of working in a greenhouse in order to learn things, brings to mind a thought that I have had in the past. I told someone a while back that I would possibly volunteer my time to work in a nursery if all I had to do was water the plants. I had such a great summer last year and am sure that my mental health benefitted from having so much pleasure watering and watching my plants grow.
Well everyone - I am off to start my chores. I go to breast reconstruction surgery later today. It is supposedly outpatient surgery and so I should be home before 8 o'clock tonight. Wish me to have as well a recovery as I did with the mastectomy. Thanks all. Have a good day.
Ruby
Ruby: I hope your surgery goes very well today!
I have room for 8 flats, I am stagering the sowing and have many seeds, both new ones I ordered this year and some that are older. So I really don't know what I'll end up planting. And if I keep looking at seed catalogs and every site someone links me to on Dave's I'll be growing more then I can plant. You know "Eyes bigger then garden" "Sowing more then you can Plant"
But it is fun to plan and experiment, try something new or something more challenging to grow.
Ruby, you take care and listen to doctor's orders. Your recovery should be easy. Now is a good time to remind everyone to do their Self-exams and get their mamograms if they are do. Ruby and I don't want to take new members into our "club" !!
Chris
Take care Ruby.
health wishes all around !!
have petunias today, also very tiny