Suzy do you ever sleep lol How do you do your snaps when you germinate them in the house then put them outside do you plant them when they germinate? Or do you just stick them outside in protection? I don’t know if I can do this lol Our ground is so wet too!
Tunik, I click on that link and I get the photobucket but no show :(
Hi t, I ordered 3 packets of my butterfly weed :) When the seedlings start to germinate I take the trays out from under the dome and put them under the lights real close until the rest of them germinate and they get at least a set of true leaves on them before I pot them up, usually you only need to pot them up once before you take them outside, some go in 2”, 3” pots and 6 and 4 packs, just depends on what the plant is.
Join Us! Seed Swap Seed Starting & Conversation #6
Hi Tabasco,
Mundane and redundant questions don't excist! Here you can see how I sow them: http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb270/AnkeFreese/Kraamkamer/kraamkamer2008.swf
That will answer most of your questions. It's the prequel to the slides you just saw. After pricking them out I grow them on on the windowsill. Here some pictures of last year. Not the best of quality bit it gives you an idea: http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb270/AnkeFreese/Kraamkamer/kraamkamer2007.swf
Hi Lebug,
Try again please, it works for others......
This message was edited Mar 11, 2008 2:53 PM
LeBug, snaps are very tiny at first, so I keep them under lights till they get 3 sets of true leaves before I transplant. I keep them inside under lights after that for a week or 2, then test by putting a few pots out in the frame and watch how they do for a few days. I'm aiming for having them ready to go in the ground in mid April.
I've got about a bazillion snaps started. I was bugging everybody for seeds and they ALL sent some :0) so I sowed 7 different kinds. no true leaves yet.. they look like green straight pins lol I don't really have a light setup so they are under one of my under-cabinet flourescents on top of a stack of mixing bowls to get them close. it's the best I can do.
I did a stupid thing this morning. I was admiring a little flat of verbena bonariensis seedlings (tiny little ones) and dumped the whole thing on the kitchen counter. I dug thru it carefully and was able to salvage 14 of them and transplanted them by 2's and 3's into 6 2" pots. I think they'll be ok. Just glad it wasn't one of the bigger APS thinggies with a bunch of different varieties or we would have definitely had a mixed garden :(
Gemini, I just don't want those suckers to get too tall with the lights Suzy's idea sounded good to me, I tried growing them underlights a few years ago and they got all tangled for when I went to plant them if I do them under lights I'll start them a little later so they won't be so far along, I messed up big time last time and started them too early so now I'm gun shy with them lol I may put a cover on one of my little big lots greenhouses and put them in there until I can plant them out, but not now cause the weather is too iffy yet. I just know we are going to get freezing temps. still :) One year I tried to grow them and they didn't come up, the next year I had the trouble I'm talking about earlier now I'm wondering what they will do this year lol
I gave up on all of the links Tunik, they just won't come up for me for some reason they did before when you put them up must have something to do with my virus protector but I haven't changed it..sigh...
No true leaves on my snaps either, even though they germinated some weeks ago.....
Talking about stupid: the first year I had a mini-greenhouse, I forgot to tie it to the fence. One gust of wind and a greenhouse full of seedlings toppled over. I was down with the flue but just ran out in pyama's to rescue as many as I could. Nearly got myself pneumonia that way, but what can you do when you're baby are blowing in the wind!
AW! I'm so sorry about your little spill grampapa, I worry about that every time I'm trying to get a seed tray out from under the lights to water it, hope you found most of them :)
Mine (snapdragons) got tangly and grew slowly last year, but this year the fan blowing on them has fixed that. They're also growing faster, and like you, I don't want them to get too tall, but so far they're not growing fast compared to other things. Mine are all tall cutting varieties, but I'll pinch them if they do start getting too tall. Once they're big enough, snaps will tolerate light frost. They're kind of like Pansies how they enjoy cool spring weather (but they seem to tolerate heat better than Pansies).
Last year I had one pot (that also had the poorest germination rate of 3 varieties) that were so tangled, I lost all of them when I tried to transplant! There were so few I should have just plopped the whole pot full in the garden as one plant...oh, well..live and learn, LOL.
Tunik, my yard looks like something from outer space has come when I get 19 little big lots greenhouses out and set them all over the yard trying to get them in the sun and each one has a pole they are attached to and string tied around them so they don't do the same thing and the way the wind is here I still worry about them lol
gram, I feel your pain; I did the same thing yesterday with a pot of just germinating seedlings. I just plopped it back in the pot and walked away from the plant room for the night, LOL. I'd been trying to fit 10 gallons in a 5 gallon bucket, so to speak, so I was already frustrated.
Sometimes I ask myself why I bother with the snaps: they either grow to slow or to fast. If I'm luck that is. I had one year that none of them even germinated.....
I'm glad to hear its not just me that they've been hit or miss with! Same with poppies, but in both cases, I'm determined, LOL!
Seems like the more difficult they are, the more we want to grow them.....
Suzy, I was just thinking about those tobacco worms, I have them on my tobacco plants and Inoxia datura too :) I don't see how any of them make it to a moth stage lol Maybe that why I don't have so many moths on my tatula at night by the house, I let one grow by the back door last year just so I could watch the moths but only saw one or two of them.
I'm gonna cry a little :) I've got at least 50 tomato plants to transplant and have to sterlize the soil less than three quarts at a time this should be fun I have 16oz. cups to fill it'll take me two days to get these all transplanted, now I feel better lol I hope my neighbor appreciates those tomatoes, both neighbors lol
LeBug,
Do you really have to sterilize your soil? I never do and seedlings seem to do just fine....
Tuink, that was going to be my question. I've never sterilized my soil. I did have damp-off with 1 or 2 things last year, so I'm using H2O2 to water.
Chamomille tea works well too! I water my seedlings only once a week, that may make a difference......
Tunik, Yes I've had to sterlize it this year I've been having too much trouble with the white mold this seems to put an end to it, I've been planting down stairs for a few years now and this is the first time I've had to deal with it guess the soiless mix that I have this time was too damp while it was stored at the nursery :( I could do it in the oven but it takes so much longer that way so I just do it in the microwave per Critter :)
Tuink,
When you use the chamomile tea, how do you mix it-is it straight tea, or diluted?
I cook the water and leave the tea-bags in (four per liter) for 10 minutes. When the tea has become cold, you can use it.
I only water my babies once a week. If you have to do this more often you don't have to use the tea all the time. Most important is that you water from below, and not on top of the soil surface. This makes all the difference!
This message was edited Mar 11, 2008 5:36 PM
I use a either H2O2 or chamomile tea - sort of depends on if I have time to brew up the tea :) If I use tea, I put 1 cup of tea to about 1 gallon of water, sometimes a little bit more tea.
Tuink - I love the slide show! I try to remember to take pictures so I'll remember what I did, but those are splendid!
This message was edited Mar 11, 2008 1:00 PM
I can't keep up with everything, but Lea, I had 2 snaps out of 48 germinate today, so I set them outside with an upside down plastic cover over them. I will leave them there unless it gets down to 19 degrees, in which case they will come in.
Normally, I would leave them out and uncovered, but I only had one or two seeds per cell and am afraid a gusher rain will wash them away.
Oh, and Lea, are you SURE you have to sterilize? If you are transplanting them, then they won't be covered with plastic or anything -- what would happen if you didn't sterilize the soil on the bottom part, the part where the roots are, and just used the sterilized soilless mix on top around and near the plant? Or if you used a 2% Clorox solution to water?
Tuink, Your pics look just like my flats, except I am using pots instead of cups,,,otherwise just the same!
I'm sure there is more to comment on, but I am trying to get sees sown and under plastic bags so Mr. Clean doesn't have to water anything, and yet I still have seedlings to come home to.
Suzy
thanks, Tuink, for the seed picture shows. You have quite an operation going. I noticed all of your vines in the window in one pic---were those morning glories?
Your windows get a lot of use in your seed starting operation. Are they south facing windows or can I use north facing window light for seedlings? I thought window light was too dull, but it seems like your seedlings do fine (except for the one pic with all the reading lamps aimed at the seedlings--a little surrealistic, that one!)
I am planting snapdragons (because of Gem's interest and mentions on the various forums) but mine have not germinated (one week). I didn't put the seeds into the freezer for a couple of days before sowing--did any of you? Somewhere it said to do that... Also the seed site said 'germination in three weeks' which seems like a long time!
My morning glories are doing well-- Soon I'll need a window like Tuinks, though!
Hmmm...I didn't freeze my new snapdragon seed, but I did freeze what I had left over last year and those all germinated well, old and new. I sowed this latest batch (3 varieties) on 3-4, and today am seeing good germination from all 3. They're tiny when they start, so you have to look closely. And they often arise with the seed stuck to the cotyledons, making them look like little stick pins. Sometimes they look like the seed coat is stuck, but I learned to leave it be and don't try to help- the result is terminal, LOL.
What kind did you sow?
I am jealous of you all w/ your huge seedlings...all mine are little w/ just the coty whatever leaves on them...I did find 3 more today when I came home though!!!YEAH!!! These ones are the jiffy thingy...
Tuink-love your pics!!
I did snaps alst year in the jiffy thingy and did absolutley nothing to them and they did just fine...had whole little plants to put out in May!!
gemini-I have that same thing happening right now w/ mu lupines and my hollyhocks..they kinda look like little aliens to me-hehehe
Fairy, for your zone, your babies are probably at just the right stage.
Oh, they do look like little aliens! LOL
LeBug, I was going to say the same thing, that it shouldn't be necessary to sterilize the soil for your transplants... I sterilize soil for seed starting trays, but by they time they're big enough to pot up I don't take that precaution any more... I do water with hydrogen peroxide or chamomile tea the first couple of times, though.
But if you're having that much trouble with mold, sterilizing might be worth while. Also, be sure to water from the bottom so the top of the potting mix doesn't get so wet -- that should help prevent mold also. Good luck!
Suzy why o you say 19 degrees if it doesn't get any colder than that they will be alright and they are in their seed trays or did you sow them in pots? I'm still trying to figure this out lol
Thanks you guys, I guess they will be alright this mold has just gotten to me lol I don't usually do anything special for the ones I transplant but haven't delt with this white mold before I never worried about the green moss. So when I transplant my tomatoes you think they will be alright and I'll use H202 just incase when I go to water them, cool I was really dreading sterlizing all of that dirt lol Thank you lol
Oh, BTW Critter, I always water from the bottom even my plants in pots outside, thanks :)
Suzy, I wish I lived closer then I could go over there and water them for you :) I just hope everything is alright when you get back!
I just got another big ole bag of dirt to do some more jugs in, seems like I'm rushing all of the time trying to get all of this done and doesn't look like I have anything to show for it lol That's seed sowing :) Of course if I would stay off here I would get more done LOL
I had to go to town today and get some more dirt and went to the dollar tree and they had these tall screwers (sp?) that I can use for my morning glories when I get them started they were a foot long lol I haven't seen them that long before usually they are the smaller dinky ones and these were thick too, nice!
t, you got some nice MG's there!
This message was edited Mar 11, 2008 8:29 PM
Oh, I wanted to tell you all incase you need some seed trays, last year I found these little seed trays under a 12 pack cell they were $2 last year but they are $2.98 this year but last year I bough a couple every time I went back to Wally World and used my hot glue gun to put holes in the bottom, they didn't have any holes and they are a lot sturdier than the other seed trays that I bought a case of a few years ago. They have a red label wrapped around them saying 'seed starter' so it encludes two seed trays and a 12 pack seed cell thingie in it,it's a good deal if you're not looking for a lot of seed trays. It's only 5x7 and two and a half inches high so they are small if you look for them, same size as the regular seed trays though :)
I don't sterilize my soil, microorganisms are good. I try to fan the seedlings when I check on them to move the air though :) I'm afraid if I got an actual fan the little pots would dry out too quickly.
Dryad your breadseed poppies started today in my ws container!!!!!!!!!
also my martha stewart salpiglossis and my first canna indica are sprouting :)
I transplanted the rest of my geraniums today, the roots were very nice; I had two that didn't germinate.
wind--how warm is it where you are? We are in zone 6a and I can't imagine that any WS seedlings have sprouted but maybe I'd better check!
On the canna indica--will they do OK if you have cold snap?
hi tabasco :)
the other day when many of you were getting alot of snow, it was weird and warm here, but the weather is a bit cooler again; today was nice, around 50 degrees. The canna indica I'm starting inside. I did the soaking, then ended up using toe nail clippers to nip a little of the seed coat before I planted them.
I don't know what to sow next!!!
I have only 36 spots left under lights and cannot decide who to choose to go in them...what has everybody else been sowing in the last week, and whatcha got coming up?
Suzy
Hmmm.... so, who lives closest to you? Start things that they haven't and trade?
I've got Phlox Paniculata sprouting from WS now to go with my PamFlowers (Wallflowers from Pam)
I've got a lot to go yet but here is what I have going so far things that you have probably sown so far or things you wouldn't sow lol:
Atropurpurea
summer showers burgundy
begonia
begonia
firewagon
fruit loops
fruit loops
redstart
osteospermum
gazania
penny purple picotee
amber kiss
blue splash
ruby
padparadja
freelander mix
silver dust
Supercascade lilac
purple cascante
pink wave
summer romance hybrid impatiens
Kong
limelight
carefree mix
nemesia
variegated pep ornamental
filius blue ornamental
black pearl
shu pepper
parsley
lemon basil
crape myrtle supersonic mix
crape myrtle dwarf
candytuft
four daturas
pineapple sage
skullcap
spirea
yellow bells
foxglove
inula orientalis
bush violet
begonia grandis
I've got so many seeds I'm having trouble too lol
Morning All!
Just started to sow the annuals (climbers excepted). They should start germinating in a couple of days! The MG's are pictures of last year April. That's about the time of year DH starts complaining the plants have taken over the ENTIRE house! I haven't sown them yet as they can only go outside by the middle of May and will become too big!
Dyad57 - I haven't started the grey garden stuff yet - that's for Spring Break - 11 days when I can spend some time each day sowing seeds and potting other stuff up. I am going to set up my mini green houses this weekend, so I will be able to get more things started.
This is too funny! I received some lobelia seeds (probably from Weez). Anyway, the seeds were almost three years old and had been "snatched" from local street hanging baskets. So, I thought . . . old seeds - better use them all since the viability is suspect. Seeds sown - Mar 8. Well, I think I have about 500 plus sprouts downstairs! Germination in THREE days! God knows how I will ever prick these out! I presume lobelia are pricked out several at a time?
Same thing with the figaro dahlias - sown on Mar 8 - germinated Mar 11. Was there something special happening in the moon cycle? Had I known, I would have sown LOTS more on Mar 8 hahahha
On the other hand, the begonia sees I started in January never did germinate - so we will try again after the weather warms up.