What has germinated so far?

some days I look at the empty containers and feel disappointed. then Iook at the ones filled with seedlings and think what a success it is! the good far outweighs the failures. and except in cases where I had only a few seeds, I will try again to see if I can something going before fall.

"I am definitely going to do it again, but I will be much more selective. This year I just sowed everything I got seeds for."

Yes, Clementine. I did exactly the same thing. Wintersowed everything that wasn't nailed down. I had very good germination, but things are still pretty small. So I have some burgeoning jugs, mostly with short leafy annuals 'cause I wasn't aware of how long they might take to flower in the slooooow Cape Cod spring. . . though I haven't given up that they might burst forth IF it every gets warm after this cold rainy snap. I feel as if the votes are still out, though the tomato plants I purchased are tall (collegiate) the ones I grew under lights are in junior high, and the seeds I wintersowed are still pretty much in kindergarten.
It's all such a learning experience. But I'm so attached to those little seedlings that bravely made it through February's gales and freezes. I want them to succeed!

My tomatoes are at least 12" tall already. This is my second year ws'ing and I'll do it again next year. What it saves me in annual flats alone!

Oh, Anita, I am so jealous of your tall tomato plants. When did you WS them? I waited a while 'cause I thought they needd slightly warmer temps.

I sowed them March 11th.

Just about every container germinated so now the wait for them to get big enough for transplant is on. I've already transplanted a good half and can't wait to do the rest.

What does more experience have to do with it? I mean, experienced wintersowers seem to be more pleased than not. I guess the unpleased ones fade away and don't do it again. Maybe the experienced ones take the leap of faith to plant tomatoes in the beginning of March, for example. I think a lot of the novices waited until actual Spring to sow our annuals.

????

I'm really tired.

xxx, Carrie

Carrie, I think you are working to hard. time for a break.

Oh, Carrie, I am so sorry you feel so bummed out. Are there other wintersowers in your area/zone with whom you could compare notes? There is a list of plants on the wintersowing site that lists plants that have been ws in your zone:
http://www.wintersown.org/wseo1/WS_Database_Z6.html

Check out the tomatoes list.

Perhaps if the weather is really capricious it is more difficult in your and in colder zones to have a lot of germination and survival?

If it is any consolation to you, my tomatoes did not do well either, I still have some that are perhaps a quarter of an inch tall, and I will probably toss them, it is getting late in the season (comparatively speaking).

Hope you feel better soon.

I've also noticed that ws plants might be slow to the punch, but man do they step it up! I guess it's what you are willing to sacrifice - if you want color now and not wait, then ws'ing is not for you. I like it because it saves me quite a bit of money, I have a better choice of plants and it keeps my fingers dirty all year long. I guess if I had a big green house, I might not ws as I would have the room to grow things like the nurseries do and then I wouldn't have to give up the early color in my yard.

I'm with you Anitabryk2. I have - get this - about 80 plus larkspur - that I can plant as a drift in the semi-circular garden. Now, I might not be able to use them all - but I simply couldn't afford to buy all the plants that I have. Delphiniums are $8 each at the local nursery. I bet I have 50 (at least - haven't started to pot them up yet!).
I have 160 impatient plants (admit I started these inside - but they are on the veranda now).

And if the petunias ever get going, I have about 90 plus of those.

I have soooo many little plants . . . my gardens are going to be a riot of colour - sometime in mid-July :-)

Here is a pic of my tomatoes

Carrie, I had very mixed results too. I had many containers that never germinated or had seedlings that sprouted and then stopped growing. But when I look at the containers that did do well, then I am happy that I tried WS. I will do it again next winter, but I won't bother with the things that didn't do well for me. For those, I will buy one of the plant and then propagate it by division or cuttings if possible. Tamara

I'm not completely bummed; I was just supertired that night (from a day of transplanting and potting up things I had no idea about.

Oh, I just realized, I have Agastache 'Apricot sprite' and hollyhock "autumn something' and some MORE noids. (Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. Like ME!)

I agree with those of us who say WS is a great way to get rare or expensive or LOTS of perennials in the garden. I'm still not sure about the riot of color in July. But it's only May! Last May I was squeezing as many blue lobelia as possible into every single pot. This year I'm looking for extra plastic tiny pots to transplant my noids into. And squeezing all the purchased lobelia in everywhere, but I'm also potting up worthy-looking noids, or tucking them into container plantings. I didn't plant any sunflowers, so I think I'm safe!

xxx, Carrie

Anita, are those Gardener's Supply tomato boxes? that's what I grow my veggies in, too. this year I got 2 of the carts to raise them up so they'll be easier to fill the water tank.

Carrie, I think if you had sunflowers, you'd recognize them, lol

I had one very nice looking plant in my buddleia container, but now I think I've probably planted out a weed, because the same plant is in several containers. I should know pretty soon.

I'm counting my first year as an experiment. I'm tracking everything and will definitely do it again. I will scale back and be more selective. I wanted a LOT of perennials this year because I have a huge new bed to fill and no money left for plants. I used my plant budget on shrubs and larger things. I have an awful lot of planting to do. It's slow going for me because I'm only good for short spurts and have to rest in between. But every plant I get out there that makes it to next is a success!

I AM SO HAPPY! One of my datura seeds - blackcurrant swirl - has finally germinated! Now all I have to do is keep it alive! :-)

Yaaaaaay Michaela!
xx, C

That's exactly what they are grams. I love them.

I'm still getting some germination. I noticed a new hibiscus moscheutos yesterday.

Thanks, Carrie - there are now four germinated!

gram,

Yes, I've noticed one of my beautiful wintersown hanging planters has nastursium, morning glories and something else... which is something I've been weeding out of everywhere else! Well, one person's weed is another person's heirloom uh, er, weed!

xx, Carrie