Seed starting 2008

Ok, everyone chime in if you started some seeds, don't care if indoors, outdoor, or if you bought seeds or swapped.

Today I sowed:
Salvia Artemis, did these last year, liked the plants, had seeds left over.
Datura- Yellow, From 2-23 Swap, thanks Gita!
Datura-Purple, From 2-23 Swap, Thanks Holly!
Pansy- Butterfly, had seeds left over from 1998, will they gerninate?????

Oh my, I'll have to come back later with my list.

I have been at it (finally!!) all day! I won't make a list, but there are some seed-growing related pictures I took that i want to show you all.

Tomorrow! Gita

Talk about a Tease!

Here's what I've got so far. These are started in my cellar, but there is more planned. Seeds Started in 2008

1) Adenophora, Ladybells – lavender-blue
2) Agapanthus – deep blue
3) Agrostemma githago, Corncockle ‘milas’
4) Allium purple sensation
5) Allium tuberosum, Garlic Chives ‘Shade Brightener’
6) Asclepias incarnata – pink
7) Astragalus
8) Beet ‘red cloud’
9) Borage (no joy)
10) Brussels Sprouts - red
11) Bloodroot (no joy)
12) Burdock
13) Capsicum annuum, Pretty Purple Pepper
14) Capsicum Thai hot chile
15) Centaurea cyanus, Cornflower – blues, pinks
16) Clematis: pink, violet, blue, purple
17) Cupid’s Dart
18) Dahlia – hot pink
19) Dahlia - coral
20) Dianthus – fringed rainbow loveliness
21) Dianthus ‘Russian Skies’
22) Digitalis purpurea, Foxglove – purple-lavender, cream, white
23) Elecampane
24) Eryngium planum, Sea Holly – blue
25) Flax
26) Foxglove – pink mix
27) Helenium ‘ruby dwarf’ – dark red (no joy)
28) Impatiens wallerana – white
29) Iris setosa, Wild Alaskan Flag
30) Iris siberica – blue Siberian
31) Ironweed – purple (no joy)
32) Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate
33) Larkspur – shades of blue
34) Lavandula angustifolia
35) Lemon Balm
36) Licorice
37) Love in a Puff vine
38) Marigold ‘cottage red’
39) Meconopsis Himalayan blue and violet poppies
40) Mirabilis Jalapa Marvel of Peru, Four O’Clock – Hot Pink
41) Morning Glory ‘grandpa ott’
42) Murraya paniculata - Orange Jasmine
43) Nicotiana, Woodland Tobacco – white
44) Nigelia – blue
45) Ocimum basilicum, Basil ‘Cinnamon’
46) Ocimum basilicum, Basil ‘red rubin’
47) Ocimum basilicum, Basil Italian Genovese
48) Ocimum basilicum, Basil Sweet
49) Ocimum basilicum, Basil Bush
50) Ocimum basilicum, Basil Siam
51) Ocimum basilicum, Basil Lemon
52) pimpinella anisum Anise
53) Pink Lily of the Valley – dusty pink
54) Polemonium caeruleum, Jacobs Ladder
55) Poppy – peony red
56) Purple Bell Vine
57) Rhubarb
58) Rosemary
59) Safflower ‘bursts of gold’
60) Salvia officinalis
61) Salvia viridis – pink, blue, white
62) Sedum mixed
63) Sempervivum – hens & chicks
64) Standing Cypress
65) Stevia (no joy)
66) Stock ‘Lucinda Dark Rose’
67) Tomato: Atkinson
68) Tomato: Brandywine
69) Tomato: Red & Yellow Pear
70) Tomato: Mortgage Lifter
71) Tomato: Costoluto Genovese
72) Tomato: Roma
73) Verbena bonariensis
74) Wood Betony (no joy)
75) Yellow Fortnight Lily dietes bicolor




This message was edited Mar 7, 2008 11:14 AM

and which two acres are you going to plant all that in?? hm??
so no joy means- they haven't shown signs of life yet?
I just started daturas, Gita and Holly
purple millet,
salvia forest fire- happy
sedum hardy blend
cassia marilandica wild senna- buttoneer
a few more but---too long ago to remember- two days LOL
will update

and, oh Jill? no need to post your whole list............................just say what you DON"T have in a pot somewhere in your house......

Yep, No joy = No signs of life yet, so I will resort to Plan B with those kidZ. Plan B will probably involve 32 degrees Fahrenheit...

I didn't plant many of each type, so it's not as KooKoo as it appears. Besides, I needed to be sure to have something left over for the Spring Swap at Becky's house. lol!

It is within my practice to plant seed on the first day of March give or take a few days. Actually it all started with indoor plant cuttings last weekend. Saturday I planted one flat of seed.....onesey twosey because my little garden just has to stay that way....little.
.......About May 1st weather cooperating the early transplants will go out under plastic. Most years I can remove the protection by the 15th. of May but I don't move the covers far because I can get frost up to the 1st of June. Not often but......sure as I put the covers away I will pay the fiddler.

The see that I plant comes from the unusual category. Things I can not find in the local greenghouses. My flower beds are pretty much planted. I use a few annuals to fill in or just to try another new item. This year I went bozo on herbs which will be in patio pots. You likely have seen the giant green pepper.....a whole hand full advertised. I sucked on this too. We shall see.

When finished around the edges of the pumpkin patch garden space will be about a hundred square feet or so of whatever I can fit in. That's it. I have the giant pumpkin disease for which I know of no cure.

Doc..... How much room do you need to grow a giant pumpkin? I would like to grow 2 for the girls but each time I try they never grow.

First off just wanted to say how pleased I am to have Doc posting regularly with us. Also glad that you were able to attend the seed swap in February. Hopefully I will be able to meet you in person as more Mid Atlantic Group has get togethers.

Secondly, thank you Chris for starting this thread. It will be good to see how how far along every one is. I am in last place so far. The only thing that I have done so far is to pot up six elephant ear bulbs. I have my seeds in a rubber tote waiting for me to find the time to organize and label them. I've already made a few of the labels.

I am in the middle of a very major downsizing and organizing project. The past few days has been spent rearranging all of my houseplants. That in itself was a major undertaking. Boy, do they take up a lot of room. Not exactly sure when I will be trying to plant some seed. I've never tried wintersowing and thought maybe I would try doing some of that this week.

Oh well, happy planting all.

Ruby

I have not started much. That is my goal for next weekend. My hubby set up my lights. :)
Right now I have:
Sweet basil
Purple Basil
leeks (which are dying)
Blue Balloon Flowers
Blue Knoll Heteropappus
Orange and Cream Gazania

I planted 6 blackberry plants
2 arctic kiwi plants to tick off my neighbor!

I did go through and pick out what I am going to start this weekend coming up!


(I am sure I will be bugging Critter and Cat here soon) :)

This year, I decided to plant my seeds directly into those black plastic cell-paks. Hopefully, that way, I can skip all the transplanting thing. Oh, there will be plenty to transplant anyway, as a lot of the itsy bitsy seeds I just sprinkled a pinch of in each cell pak.

I purchased a 3' wide, 4+' tall black wire rack with 4 adjustable shelves at Target for $25. I will keep it by my bedroom window where there is good light and a heat vent right under it.
Now I have to go and find 3' shop lights. Gonna get two and hang them from the bottom of 2 of the shelves. Will check at HD when I go in for work tonight.

What I wanted to show you were these trays that Ikea has. They are heavy duty white plastic with a good edge on them and cost $1.49 each. Look in the storage/organizing section. Each of these trays holds 11 (6cell) cell-paks. These are great for watering from the bottom! On my 3' wide shelf, I can put 2 of these trays. One long ways the other cross ways.

Here's a picture of the trays.

Here are most of the packs that I seeded yesterday. I will have to cover them with some clear plastic, as there are no "lids" for them and then keep them on the bottommost shelf only inches from the heat vent. I am hoping this will work out OK. Not gonna go too far out with all this seeding---so she says.....

Also, it will make it easier for me to pay attention to how long the lights stay on.

Am trying my Datura seeds in the baggies with wet paper towels. I want to see if it makes a difference.

I posted these before. These are some discarded seed trays last summer from Maryland Flower and Foliage that I asked if i could have as they were in the trash can. I was going to use these, but then got all those cell-packs someone brought at out seed swap.
These would have had to be cut in half to fit on the trays.

Maybe those of you that live close to a grower may want to go and see what they are getting rid of...
This is the time of year that they also doa lot of transplanting.

Gita

Jen................it takes about 20' X 30' minimum. A bit larger is better. I have all kinds of help stored in word. Send me your Email if you would like to receive some reading on giant pumpkins. Three to six hundred pounds is quite possible. The seed cost nothing. Our association has very good genetics. We share with anyone who can show us minimal common sense patch prep. You can also go to Big Pumpkins.com to meet the boys and girls that grow them all over the world.

I am glad I was invited to the seed and plant swap. I am sorry I could not be up and around quite as much as usual. You all seemed to have a great time. My pleasure came in seeing you all enjoy yourselvles too.

Hey Everyone,

SO far I have planted...

Raab Broccoli
Holy Basil
Orange Zinger Calendula
Giant sweet peas
bunching chives
Lemon Balm
Garden Sage
spinach(viroflay?)
Ambrosia melons
Peacevine cherry tomatoes
Roma Paste toms
Borage
Dianthus

Anyone have tips on growing Moonbeam morning glories, or buddleja? I got some seeds from a friend and haven't grown them before...

Spring is near...saw first butterfly, fence lizard, and wasp today!!! The crocus are blooming and my little greenhouse hit 100 degrees quickly with all the sunshine-too bad we have thunderstorms and hail forecast for tomorrow!!

Peace, everyone
Kyrina

Kyrina, I have grown buddleja before from seed, I didn't do anything special I just sowed in plactic 6 packs lightly covered with seed starting max, covered to keep moisture in till sprouted, grew under lights. When they got bigger I potted up to larger pots. They did not bloom the first year, but did turn into beautiful flowering bushed the 2nd year. Since then they have reseeded in other areas, and I have potted up many young bushes and given to friends.

Have fun!

Hi, Kyrina! thats a nice assortment of things. Any sprouted yet? Mine are only a few days in pot so I am waiting....
I spent a lot of time before swap trying to clean amaranth seed for a red/purple amaranth from critter last year. The chaff was very prickly and...well finally I got some seperated, and then decided to plant the remaining chaff and see what happened. Now I have about fifty little amaranths in the pot from the chaff !! Pleasnatly surprised.
Everybody- here is the seed germination database some other DGer linked into it. Details on just about everything from seed. One catch- you have to know Latin genus name. Plantfiles will give you that. (Gita)
http://www.backyardgardener.com/tm.html
Jenn, you could read about CricketsGardens giant pumpkin some where? vegetable gardening? from last summer. Better than a TV soap opera.

Oh yeah I also have two basils, fennel, air potatos and red hardy hibiscus. And am getting out cannas from last year. I bought them on clearance so while they stayed in pots all summer they didn't get very big roots, but they are going to make it. Now, the Black Magic/Runner EE that I got-just got that out and found it wasn't able to make a nice bulb last year, stuck in the pot. There wasn''t much there. But I have fingers crossed.

This message was edited Mar 3, 2008 8:36 PM

ladygardener...thanks for the encouragement!! That is pretty much what I have got going. I optimistically planted in 6 inch pots and have them covered with glad plasticware tops. A little more time I guess.....

Kyrina

Thank you SallyG....I am still within the rather slow germination period. I do like that database lots of good info!!

So far I have lemon balm, sage, peas, onions, spinach, and broccoli seedlings. Oh and I saw the first little bits of green in my calendula and pennyroyal, only one of each has sprouted though, funny how they come up at different times...

Peace,
Kyrina

Last year I started way too much from seed...I still have 40+ plant from seed and some from the swap still in their pots. I still had to winter sown something so I put out 8 containers. I have some annual and pepper seeds that I plan to start any day now but here are my 8 perennial containers:

Heuchera sanguinea 'Firefly'
Heuchera americana 'Hybrids'
Columbine 'William Guiness'
Dianthus deltoides 'Arctic Fire'
Leucanthemum x superbum - Shasta Daisy
Platycodon grandiflorus - Balloon Flower
Oenothera (unknown species)
Penstemon smallii

I started half the Heuchera seeds last year but the slugs had a field day and I ended up with only 4 plants. Hmmm...I have some Amsonia (Bluestar) seeds that I going to start...looks like I need to add another container.

- Brent

BRENT!!!!

We were all wondering what happened to you! Have not seen you post here since hart's Swap. Good to see your "face" again on Mid. Atl. Forum.

I harvested seeds from your blue, perennial Salvia I got from you at hart's.This plant grew really tall and I think I may need to move it to the back of the bed a bit.
Any advice on growing the seeds (I already planted them in cell packs Saturday) or on moving the now dormant plant? Do they have big root systems? I had it planted near two Rose bushes. Would this be a good time to move it or wait until some signs of new growth?

Please post again. Yu have a wealth of knowledge.

Gita

Kyrina

Where did you find your Raab Broccoli seed? I would LOVE to try that this year...

I will have 2 blueberry plants and 100 strawberry plants to add to my collections this weekend! :) Anyone want to come play in the dirt????

Good Morning Everyone.. I hope everyone has a great day!

Gita, looks like a good seed starting set up you have.

I went back to the plastic cells after trying a few of the "fancier" starting kits. I bought and reuse the solid trays and bought some domes, since I start seeds at different times I don't need as many domes. I have saved open trays from nurseries that I use when setting my seedling out side to harden off, that way if it rains they are not sitting in water. Every few years I order new 6 cell packs to replace the damaged one. Old ones I clean and dip in bleach water and let dry.

Brent, How difficult is Heuchera from seed ?

Ladygardener,
Do you have any bright ideas as to what i could use as a "dome" or cover on these trays?
Right off the bat--the one thing that comes to mind is a sheet cake cover.....but, where am I going to get that? Besides--don't all cakes come in boxes now with see through lids?
I don't think they will give/sell me one if i ask in a bakery....:o(

I know I can't keep the plastic over my cell packs forever, only for a couple of weeks..maybe... as I am sure the seeds will all sprout at different times.
Last year I uses salad bar containers and melted holes in the high lids for ventilation. They really work well but the soil part is small.

We will see what comes up--IF most of it comes up...NO biggie! I am sure it would be difficult to find space for all the flowers in my Garden--IF they all sprouted..

Gita

I used to use the domes, but have taken to simply placing plastic cling wrap over the trays - either directly on the soil, or elevated over their labels/tags. It works wonderfully. I pull it off when they sprout ...

Gita, I was thinking about that when I saw your picture, since you won't have to keep the seeds covered forever, wrightie's cling wrap might be your answer.
Or, go to the $ store and get a few plastic sweater boxes with clear lids, (if they will fit in your setup) just use until the babies are ready to place back on your trays, when you are done with the boxes you could use them to store your leftover seed starting supplies till next season.

Today I sowed:
Gillardia- from a '07 seed Round Robin, '06 seeds....
Delphinium Black Knight '07 seeds, had pretty good luck with these last year.
Coleus Giant Exhibition Mix- a few left over seeds from '07, I had so much fun with these seeds, I ordered more seeds for this year.
Dianthus Siberian Blue- New for me this year.

This is what I love about G. Ex Coleus all the different colors and patterns. They really made interesting combo pots for me last year, they do get big. (last years babies)

Gita- I second the 'well done' on your setup, and the cling wrap to cover. Sort of a pain but a very cheap and short term one. I am using a cut-open clear bag from potatos or something.

First outta the gate here- Salvia Forest Fire! Yippee! Tonight will move from' warm tray 'to cool, lighted tray.

Hmmm, making mental note of salvia forest fire, should it appear on a Spring Swap Haves list ...

Congrat's, Sally. I know how proud you must feel!

All I've started is a list of what I want to start :-/

wrightie- check with happy---although, if I stay lucky I could have plants to offer...

miata- you are so cute!

(since this is so active- can anybody dmail me on how to hide (vs show) format marks on my Word? my son was poking around and turned on these dots and backwards P's that are driving me nuts. I have tried everything..!!!younger son, so he has no clue what he did.)

This message was edited Mar 4, 2008 12:31 PM

Menu Bar: look for the backwards |P icon and click it; you may need to select the pulldown menu to find it.

I just discovered that Shift+F1 also toggles the Show/Hide Formatting function as well.

Ah, the things I can get you to play with while you are maybe supposed to be working? Oh, you are exploring all the functions in order to better make use of them.
I just had an answer n Computer Talk which worked. But now I can play with your tips while I am supposed to be cleaning...Thanks! Oh, saw a GD at the dog park- how stately!

Yes, I have chokked the time up to Career Development; thank you for that opportunity.

Which Dog Park(s) do you go to?

Well howdy seedsowers!

Just thought I'd check in with all - since I feel slightly better from my week ++ of pneumonia and I have cabin fever I'll be starting my seeds this afternoon! Since I have a minuscule amount of space I am going to plant most in their permanent homes (especially the Basil) - with a whole week of doing nothing but feel sorry for myself I have had time to "dream up" how I am going to do things this year - I already placed two huge orders from Bluestone and Graceful Gardens - now I NEED to get outside and get the beds ready - I know I am way behind - but with any luck I can actually venture outside sometime this week :-)

oh Bec I hope you feel better...

Lady, I started Pansies just the other day. I really think I waited too long to start them. Last year I started them a week earlier and I thought I should have started those earlier. So who knows if I will get anything.
Ric just picked up Lupines and Foxglove he wants to start. Can they be winter-sown and is it too late to do that?

Yep...I am still alive. This warmer weather is getting me excited about another growing season, but I know that I have to contain myself. I burned myself out a little last year with the several project that I had going.

Gita asks about Salvia...I think you must be talking about 'Blue Bedder'...it is one of my favorite plants. I grew some shorter Salvia last year as well. I have never harvested my own seeds but I have purchased packs twice and it was very easy to germinate and grow. Some reports say it survives winters in Minnesota and some say it is not hardy in our zone but it seems to come back okay for me. I cannot give any advice on moving your plants as I do not recall ever moving any. Here is more info on the plant (though the pictures are not all the impressive): http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2868/

About growing Heuchera from seed...I purchased 2 packs of seed mail order for two different types. Each pack said that it had 500 seeds (though they are very small). I sprinkled half of each pack in their own container so that was a total of 500 seeds. They germinated later than most of my seeds. I then had a terrible time with slugs eating my late germinating seedlings. This year I will be more proactive with the slug bait.

- Brent

Ya'll are just plain showin' off!!! Ok... I will start "something" THIS weekend...if I do nothing else. Any-who much "funner" to plant then clean...LOL