I am new on seed starting

I have recived all kind of seeds Flower I live in IL close to Wis. I am in zone 5a I think I wood like to know when I should start the seeds in the house is it to early I have a few containers with domes and grow lit But there is still what maybe 45 day till spring and I really don't like to plant until Mothers day what do you think I should start
Dimmer(AKA) Kim

We would need to know what you are wanting to grow.

I live in zone 5, I have ran a greenhouse for a few years, I followed my plant guide the first few years, this year I started almost all my seeds at least 2 weeks or so earlier.
Most of my seeds go in February, except for veggies and zinnia.
So I started in December with Geraniums, and petunias, and coleus.
Just put in peppers and lobelia.
What seeds are you thinking about?

I will try and grow
4 'oclocks,Columbine,clemates
lilys,poppy and others seeds
Kim

Columbines take a significant longer time to germinate, I usually start mine in January. I never think they are going to come up, then after about 30 days they do, they also like to germinate in cooler temps than others flowers, around 50 degrees rather than 70, so I think you should get in them asap. Poppys should go in now. Not sure of the four'oclocks.
February is always when I plant the majority of my seeds, zinnias I plant in April.
I learned to start planting earlier than my guide after talking with the professionals at the nursery's.
Hope I helped :)

Columbines can be tricky, some varieties are easier than others and don't require colder temps. But others really need to spend some time in colder temps. (around 36 degrees) in order to germinate. This is called stratification. I agree poppies should be started now, and 4 o'clocks at the beginning of March. With clematis, again it depends on the variety. Some will germinate in warm temps., others need cold treatment. If you know the specific type I can try and help. Karen

Columbines are great candidates for Winter Sowing, as are any clematis requiring cold treatment. See the Winter Sowing forum, and check out the article I wrote on this method, http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/585/

Many people direct sow poppy seeds in fall or winter.

I figure out timing for indoor starts by counting backwards from when I'll be planting out. Peppers go out around Memorial Day, and I give them a 10 week head start, so I start sowing them around the second week in March. Tomatoes get sowed around the same time -- they only need an 8 week head start, but I set them out 2 weeks earlier than peppers.

(ed. to fix link)

This message was edited Feb 19, 2008 1:06 PM

I direct sowed 4 o'clocks in zone 5 last summer in about the second week of June, and I had a beautiful bunch to enjoy for the last month of the season. They were simple and lovely!