I looked up that site for working for flowers-though how cool!! IT IS AT ELSAT 7 hrs. away-all the way up by the bridge!!!LOL-thanks anyway suzy-good looking out!!
Join Us! Seed Swap Seed Starting & Conversation #4
I need opinions..... I have a greenhouse kit purchased at Menards for around $20plus . My question is (considering the price) should I invest in a heat mat or just get another one of these. I am thinking the heat mats may be better as far as lasting longer. Also can they be bought at a store or do I have to order one from a seed catalog? The shipping would add several more $ on top of the $30 that they charge. What is your advice?
Veronica
Oh, darn, well, I thought it was a grand idea.
Which idea? I must have missed something... Craig's list? Sounded good to me! And congrats to your daughter on her new job! :-)
Oh-it was a good idea-wish it was closer
Suzy-did you see my post about my babies w/ a mess. 4U??
Indynannyof8, Is your gh one of those standup shelfing units with the zipper plastic enclosure? Where are you planning to set it up?
It is a little heated box that hold one tray and has a heat pad under the tray. I plan to use the pan( no holes in it) that holds the cell pack. I will use starting soil and put my seed in in small rows and prick them out as they germinate and then put them under lights.
this is the size of a 72 cell pack and one is included. I will not put my seed in the cells but in the pan the cell pack sits in. I am just wondering if I need another heating pad or if I can get them out quicky enough to get more to germinate. Our plan is to grow oour own watermelon plants this year as they are quite pricey and the melon growers only sell what they don't need. Sometimes they die and we have to go back and buy more. Our melons are sort of expensive but we get a lot. Actually they are not expensive as we would not buy nearly as many as we grow. Sometimes we have around 30.
I have several flower seed (thanks to DGers generousity) to sow. Maybe I don't have a problem.
Ok, I see. Are you planting only water melon seeds in that pan? If they are all the same seeds, then I would think they would germinate all at the same time. Since you won't have holes in it for drainage, then I assume you'll get the soil damp first, sow the seeds, put a dome over it, then prick out the seedlings? Once seeds germinate there's no need for the heat underneath anyway, just need light. So out they come and start the process all over again. Right?
If you are needing another heat source before this pan germinates, you could make a homemade heating mat from Christmas lights. I've heard of this, but haven't tried it myself yet. I plan to tho. Better check Critter's article she wrote on inexpensive heating pads though. I wouldn't want you to burn your house down on because I told you wrong about the Christmas lights.
EVERYONE IN MY CO-OP, pleasew veriify your order:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=py_QDEsA50HD-yPtPhQmHaA
This message was edited Feb 27, 2008 9:18 PM
Indynannyof8. I'm hoping this link will take you to the correct article on inexpensive heating mats.
Good luck!
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/556/
I did read that article. I would love for someone on here to tell us about their Christmas lights seed starting experiences. I love hearing aboout all the creative ways DGers are getting seed to sprout. Could I sprout the watermelon seed on papertowels? Then I could plant them under lights. They are kind of big so will take up quite a bit of my space and I have no clue how long it will take them to sprout.
Help! With all this combined seed-starting knowledge surely some one has the "cure" for the dreaded fungus gnats. I've been battling them all winter, but up until now they've been more of a nuisance than a problem. However I just popped the lid off a tray of seeds and they flew out at me like a bad B movie. No joke! My first instinct was to just take the whole tray outside and fling it, but it's holding my brug seeds and I really, really wanted them. :(
Break the life cycle of the gnats some how. Either letting the soil dry out or use pest control or fly strips. By opening up your top, you released the adults, nows the time to catch as many as you can before the egg cycle starts all over again. Get some of those yellow fly trap strips and hang near your tray before they find your damp soil and lay eggs on it. They will be after your damp soil to lay their eggs.
Thanks C'dawg. I was smashing, smashing, smashing each one I saw crawling on the surface, but I'm sure there are tons more that got away. Tomorrow I get flypaper.
I heard the fly paper was the best, too, although there have been all kinds of concoctions mentioned.
Fairy, I checked all the old messages and I couldn't see anything that sounded like a mess or anything for me. (4U)
The babies sound good -- that gypsophila is really cool as a filler -- ber sure to have it poking out from between things because on its own, it doesn't have much of a plant habit. I just transplanted hunks of seedlings into the garden last year. I have no idea if they lived or died as individuals, but I had bloom coming up between blue Salvias and well, more blue salvias (different kind). I also think they were peeking out from behind the dahilas...and aslo infront of the Asters. I heard they are only good for 8 weeks, but they must be like Emilia (Tassel Flower) and reseed right away because I had them blooming all summer last year.
fungus gnats? oh my...never even heard of them...saw a little gnat the other day near my seedlings and figured it was a lost fruit fly.
Good luck with the fly paper Lala
La, I read that you can lay a slice of raw potato on the surface of the soil and it will attract the grubs to the surface. it's worth a try. I've had a battle with the blankety-blank gnats, too. I had some mini roses in the house last winter that they killed. The grubs eat the roots.
Good news! I know I planted my burgundy geraniums way late (like this past Monday), but I already have 2 babies! I may not have blooms until August, but the leaves are pretty, too LOL
Congratulations, Grampa!
BTW, what are those gnats? Do they look like litle black fruit flies?
The gnats are a yearly problem for me too. In years past I've spread a layer of crushed granite (chick grit) on the soil surface (you can use Diatomaceous earth, but chick grit is cheaper). I read that it tears up the soft bodies of the larvae as they emerge from the soil. Whatever it does, it works.
Aren't they the same as fruit flies? Seems like they infest any kind of organic matter.
Suzy, I think this is the post/mess. Fairy was talking about:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/817047/
Gram, congratulations! I do not think you're too late at all (hindsight is 20/20) My geraniums (3 started 12/24, 8 started 1/24-ish) are set out size now. Seriously, I would be happy with their size if it were April 28th instead of Feb 28th, and could put them in their pots or urns or whatever the heck I'm going to do with them, today.
I am not sure I like Stoke's seed starting information for me -- a home gardener in Indiana. They are down in a cold drafty basement room, and haven't had the best life, certainly not a greenhouse and fertilizer, and I think those directions and start dates are to have nursery-size plants by May 1 (which I don't need).
LeBug, Your link just brings me back to this thread.
Oh, yeah, the potato -- forgot about that one, but somebody said that really works, too (In additoin to the flypaper)
My basement is very cold today-- I have a set of walk up steps which is pretty rare in Indiana, it's more of a East Coast thing, and although we have a big piece of foam insulation board in the walk up part, the cold air actually pours into the basement room. The seedlings are shivering, and my feet and ankles are cold when I go down there. The forecast for the next 10 days shws above freezing temps during the day, not much sun, and below freezing temps during the night. Not quite time to put up my little plastic greenhouse. YET!
Suzy
yay gram on your geranium babies! mine are getting a deeper burgundy in their stems, I just love it!!!
really getting 'spring fever' here, and it's COLD here too Suzy...also, that was good news on your daughters' job status, all the best to her :)
annnnnnd (drumroll please)....for those in the PA area, the Philadelphia Flower Show begins this weekend! I'll be going during the week...yahooo....can't wait. It is always wonderful, and to me, it means spring is just around the corner!
LOL sorry, it's Fairy's fourth post up above.
My basement is cold too and it has an entrance from the kitchen, I have my plant stands partitioned off with tarps so the lights makes it warmer of course I don't have that many lights going yet so the seedlings are growing pretty slow but by the time I'm half way planting everything and more lights get turned on it's like a sauna in there lol
It's nice outside today only 22 but the sun is shinning and a lot warmer than yesterday, I had to go move my jugs from the back porch to have a stove delivered this morning and figured I'd freeze but this would be a good day to work in the garden if the ground wasn't frozen.
I've had a mess of those gnats before so I just try and keep my seedlings on the dry side anymore to keep from getting them but I do have a few now and then and just use the H202, it seems to get rid of the rest I spray the top of the dirt and when I water I just use the H202.
Happy to hear about your daughter Suzy, good jobs are hard to get anymore!
Veronica I don't know if anyone has mentioned it but those watermelon seeds will germinate in just a few days, you probably shouldn't start them so soon unless you have a greenhouse? I would just start them when it starts warming up outside in the sunshine they probably won't grow that much until it gets warmer anyway.
Hi Suzy
The sun is shining in Brownstown.. Hope it is in Indy too.
Lea
Thanks for the watermelon tip. I can't start them yet and was planning to start in April with all my annuals. Is that about right?
Veronica
Yes!!! We have sun! I was planning on raking leaves in the flower beds tomorrow in preparation for direct sowing annuals. (I noticed birds under the table where I clean seeds on the patio, and squirrels digging though the snow for sunflower seed I put out, so the seeds I would direct sow will have to wait until I see some change in the temperatures, just raking and cleaning up so I am ready when the time comes)
I'm not Lea, but some of your annuals can be started in April, but others could use a sort of head start. What seeds do you have? I don't know about watermelon, but know it prefers the heat.
Lea, a Lantana update: I sowed 4 different batches of Lantanas, and I have one seed from one kind that germinated today. The Lantana plant I tried to save in my compost pile did NOT live, even though I thought it looked promising.
Suzy how many days was it to germination on your lantanas? just curious, I'm waiting patiently for mine to do something.
my red pentas from margaran just started to sprout yesterday!
Suzy, Which annuals need a head start? When you direct sow in your beds which flowers are you direct sowing? Also I think it was you talking about the baby's breath. Do you direct sow it or ws or under lights. That sounded so pretty the way you said it woyld peek between the others. I sowed some one year in my zinnia row but had no luck with it. I think it was free pack of seed so could have been old......
Sun still shining.........
I have some flowering tobacco,painted tongue,purple amaranth,several sages,some varieties of rudbeckia, and have ordered snapdragons,sunflowers, profusion zinnias,ornamental pepper. I'd appreciate your comments on these. I know they can be direct sown but don't want to wait until after danger of frost. That is the reason I am going to use lights but don't want to sow any too early.
lReading Wind's post reminded me that I could not get the penta seed out last year. How do you get it ? I could see the little black seed but the part it was in was still green so the seed would not come out. Then it just kind of dried up' I mean the green part.
Congrats Suzy, on your DD's job. : ) My DD just changed jobs, and everything is hunkydory, now, too. : )
Times sure have changed on the clothing. I remember going to a Drs office and the Drs had on white coats. My DD wears slacks and a nice blouse, like she is going to a party or something. I tried to buy her a white coat, but she said it kinda scares the children when you walk in with a white coat on. Maybe so......guess I'm old fashioned. Sigh...
Oh, and I have 3 out of 6 lil geranium bohemicum 'Orchid Blue' babies, now. : )
~Lucy
Need some advice here, folks. My Ken Druse book on plant propogation suggests that I should sow dahlia seeds this weekend - 10 weeks before last frost - but other sources like Tom C's germination site suggest 3 weeks before last frost . . . what's a poor girl to do???
Seandor -- use 4 weeks. They get so tall you have to pinch (not a bad thing) and raise the lights -- this means the little seedling babies you sow after the dahlias don't get enough light because they are raised so high.
Dahlias like heat....there is no rush to plant them out in cold soil and they will be one of the last to leave yor lights.
Veronica, one of the things I hate most in the world is typing, and I can't really list all the plants that should be started inside or outdoors, because that would mean typing every plant you are liektly to have seed of -- which could be in the 100s. LOL!
In the annuals forum, there is a list of seeds that need a really, really early start listed under "Which seeds do I start in jan" T&M has a list of seeds they sell and each has a designation HA or HHA. The HHA usually need a head start and the HAs can be direct sown.
Of your list:
flowering tobacco - likes heat; 6-8 weeks inside
,painted tongue 4-8 weeks inside (depends on how much oom you have) I ws'd themlast year and they did fine, but it took them a long time to bloom.
,purple amaranth really likes heat, 6-8 weeks, I htink these can be direct own, but they are slower than I thought they'd be wintersown.
,several sages - these are dependent on the kind, but basically if you have room, start them all now inside. You can also wintersow them
,some varieties of rudbeckia, - rudbeckia hirta 6 weeks inside or wintersow - they grow really fast.
snapdragons - need an early start but will grow in cool weather. Start them inside on April 1 to get them germinated and put them out the day they germinate. If you don't get to them for a day it's too late and you'll have to grow them inside. Can also wintersown them, but they don't like the heat and come into bloom right when the heat sets in -- they never get to size that way until fall.
,sunflowers like heat, don't like to be transplanted, but the squirrels and birds eat the seedlings and the seed....start outside but under cover (like a milkjug),
profusion zinnias - 4-6 weeks inside or outside after frost
,ornamental pepper -ask Critter :)
Wind, the ONE seed that has germinated took only 5 days. I just found out that not all Lantana with berries has viable seed, it depends on if it was cross fertilized with another kind....I didn't know this. FrauSnow told me she had 2 kinds growing, so I went ahead and sent the MIss Huff seed out.
Some Lantana is fertile, some is not. The kind that is not, *might* be if it is cross pollinated. Most people consider this a good thing because it has so many flowers (each cluster is 45 flowers) and if they all set seed, you'd have a mess on your hands the following years, espec Z7-9.
Suzy
is your one that germinated the Miss Huff?
I planted the red hybrid from your fall swap, a pink/yellow one I had in our butterfly garden (there were no other kinds to cross with), and the Miss Huff from your most recent swap....
I planted them on 2/4/08 and the M.Huff on the 17th
Thanks Suzy
Ditto on the typing.....
Aw Suzy, that's a shame about your lantana, did you leave it there just in case or you probably brought it in the house didn't you? I heard that the MIss Huff is good seed and will produce plants don't about any of the others. My luck with lantana I bet mine won't be viable lol
Veronica I wouldn't start the watermelon seed until about three weeks before you put your annuals out to harden off, you're just wanting them to sprout to put in the ground right, I'm sure you don't want a big vine in the house it won't even take it a week to germinate probably about three or four days then give it a little time to get a few more leaves on it. You could experiment with one just to see what it's going to do so you will see what I'm talking about :) Any seeds like cukes, zukes and all of those don't take very long to start.
I start my ornamental peppers when at the same time I start my green peppers downstairs which is going to be in the next few days. I'm going to start the amarathus in a couple of weeks, just hope they won't be too tall before they are ready to set out I've never grown these before.
Seandor, I grew dahlias that only got 24" tall a couple of years ago, I'm getting a water heater and stove installed today when that's done I'll check my notes again and see if I can find when I started them. I do remember they were fighting the lights when I took them outside and my lights are pretty tall. I started them too early for here.
Lucy have you said how you started your geraniums? I'll look it up if you have if you didn't can you please tell me?
Critter, don't you start vegies? Can you shed some light on the subject? :)
Seandor, I sow those dahlias the 13th of Feb. so maybe now would be a good time to start, they will be a little slow at first then they shoot up pretty quick.
Ornamental pepper:
Sow seeds indoors 6-8 wks. before last frost. Do not cover. Keep evenly moist by bottom watering and provide maximum bright (but not direct) sunlight. After seedlings form 4 true leaves, transplant to 2-2 1/2" pots.
Suzy, my osteospermum, do you think it would hurt to go ahead and transplant those before I get another set of leaves on them I have two more coming up and don't want them to get leggy.
Ornamental cabbage, Let me tell you what I did, I started mine in pots in the early spring, you can even start them outside before the last frost but I'm telling you the cabbage worms will drive you nuts! You need to put row covers over them until the fall for sure! I will never again start them that early lol the only thing is they don't get as big if you don't, I bought some from the nursery and don't know when they started those but they were a lot smaller than the ones I grew, not sure of the variety maybe that was the difference but if you plant them in the spring you will have to transplant them at least twice after the first time when they are babies and you move them to a 4 or 5" pot. they get tall and you have to plant them like almost all the way up to the cabbage, I tripped out thinking I had done something wrong and didn't know I could plant them deeper everytime I transplanted them. This year I'll start mine in the basement about the middle of the summer then bring them out when they get a little size on the so they will grow faster and they won't get a lot of color until the fall when it turns cooler, if you start them in the house don't put them on a heat mat. If you sow them in the ground where they are to grow in the spring I'm not sure if they will get that long neck on them or not I may try that this year just to see. Here is T&M growing instructions:
Sowing Instructions
Sowing time: spring
Sowing depth: 1.5mm (1/16in) I didn't cover mine at all :)
Sow in a good seed compost. Germination usually takes 14-21 days at 21C (68F).
Outdoor sowings can be made in a seed bed. Sow thinly 6mm (žin) deep in rows 30cm (12in) apart and transplant when large enough to handle.
Growing Instructions
When seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant and grow cool and well ventilated. Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10-15 days before planting out 35-40cm (14-16in) apart in a sunny spot. Water in well after transplanting.
Aftercare Instructions
The leaves begin to colour when night temperatures fall below 10C (50F).
Kitchen Notes
The leaves picked while still young make an excellent and colourful addition to salads.
Lea, I'm not sure on the Osteospermum -- mine have only been up a week and don't have a second leaf yet. The are spread out in the pot and I was going to leave them there. I did transplant 2 things yesterday that weren't fully developed - one just for that reason: there were other babies due to come up and I needed to uncover the big boys, but leave the cover on for the slowpoke babies. It was Gazania 'Sunshine Hybrids' from Starlight, and they did fine.
Also fine was some Salvia coccinea 'Chinook' transplanted at the zero true-leaf stage -- I was shocked, though, by how long the root was. It was really long -- tap root? I'm not sure, but I went ahead and transplanted all of them, even the babies, becasue I was afraid of that tap root -- had never seen one that long except on a much larger hollyhock seedling.
The Chinook's are pictured at Bluestone and I think they want 3/$14.95 or so on them. I don't believe I have ever had a faster plant to germinate and grow as that one. Worth the price of a pack of seed, that's for sure! I read an article by the SF Chronical newspaper garden editor that said S. c. Chioinook was "embarrassingly easy" so I thought I'd give it a try this year to see what he meant and now I know. It is a perennial, I believe, and it germinates and grows faster than any annual I've ever had.
I should have a lot of seed of it next November, and I believe it is just a selection from the wild form, so it would come true.
All in all, I stil feel like I am waiting for it all to happen. Nothing like Tuink's chic pet farm. Oh, and I have somehting growing in my Miss Huff Lantana pot. It is a seedling, yes, but I would be surprised if it were Lantana because it looks too small to have come for that big berry. Time will tell.
Suzy
Suzy, I've had plants like that too before that had that long root but don't remember what it was then after dealing with them I was afraid I was breaking the roots off to the other little seedlings that I was transplanting lol I'll have to check that 'Chinook' out and see if I want to oink oink for some next year LOL Ok, I think I'll try one and see what happens by tomorrow, thanks!
I sure hope that's a lantana seedling coming up for you! I want one :)
Ok Suzy, what is the name I look up for 'Chinook', I tried to google and it's not in the plantfiles hmmm mystery plant lol
OMG! Bluestone just figured out it was really easy, too....it's already 1/2 price, and not even March yet. ROTF!
Hummers are supposed to love it...and the seedlings from it will hopefully be taller than 12" because that's not tall enough for where I want to put it. hmmm.
http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/STCHS.html
Suzy
This message was edited Feb 28, 2008 5:57 PM