I have some of those lily seeds - haven't started them yet - but here are two sites to help out. Apparently, Asiatic and Oriental lilies have different germination patterns:
http://lilyseed.com/growing_asiatics.html
This next link discusses how to grow Oriental lilies
http://lilyseed.com/growing_martagon.html
Join Us! Seed Swap Seed Starting & Conversation #8
tcs1366, sssssssssshh! I was cheating....using the Brug Recipe!
LOL.ahhhhhh, gotcha.
Tiger, I'm ready to take you up on having you send me some of those Southern Magnolias :) I did the same thing you did (soaking, etc.), and got absolutely nothing. At 4 weeks I sorta gave up on them - I wanted to grow a few for my sis's yard. She's Z6a, and with some of her micro-climates (brick house) I was thinking I could stick a couple on the south side to take the place of the pears that are starting to die from fire-blight.
Neal - I hear ya on the transplanting! I'm dividing my time between taking breaks on DG, transplanting, and doing taxes. One other task I've got to do today (before it rains) is dig up some peonies that are in entirely the wrong place (I'm not a huge fan of them anyway) and get those tubers shipped off to someone who is anxiously awaiting them. They have just sprouted to about 5", so if I can get them up and shipped they should do OK in their new home. (That's where those mimulus seeds are going to go...)
Lilies! I KNEW I was forgetting something! Suzy, sorry, I've not started those lilies yet you gave me, will add those to my list :)
Well, it's supposed to be breezy (gusts in the 20's) overcast and rain here today and tomorrow, with a high in the 50's. I'm going to put the violas out in the little protected greenhouse to give myself some room to rearrange and set up some more lights, dagnabit - I've got too many things and just not enough space....
Well I was looking for my columbine seeds and I just want to say I have sown 130 different varieties of seeds and I swear there are four times that, that I still need to sow yet!!! And I want every one of them LOL It's soo hard to decide which to wait on and which to sow! HELP LOL
Hello my name is LeBug and I am a seed aholic!!!
Hello my name is Meredith and I am a seed aholic as well. lol! I just realized that I have used all 19 of my flats. Just go out and buy more you say? Yes that was my first thought, but then I remembered I only have enough room for 18 flats under lights! Those 9 pks of seeds eventually might need to be put in 3" pots, then I am in a world of.. well you know. I think I've only started 1/3 of my seeds! Boo hoo.
Oh, My! I wish I had room for 18 flats!!!!
Hi everybody! I'm home!
Mr. Clean only killed 2 things....my beloved Fairy Snapdragons that took forever just to get to be the wee things they were (so no second sowing will be possible :((
And some Torenia or something that I have more of in a flat. Not too bad! I had some germination from flats that weren't under lights and the seedlings are hair-like, but about 1 1/2" tall. Waaaaay too tall, but they might make it if I don't water them to bend them over.
My luggage/baggage back from Florida was quite an interesting story (to you guys, no one else would care). I took a large suitcase and a small suitcase and a sort of black beach bag (for lack of a better term). BUT I bought all those plants, then I found a clothing sale at a place called Beals where stuff was 70% off. The whole store, but I only had time to hit the clothes. 4 hours!!
The stuff is all stuff I can wear right now in Indiana and was 70% off (did I say that?) because it is lightweight winter stuff, and Florida appears to be gearing up for a coral and hospital-scrubs green colored summer. LOL! I mgiht have gone overboard on the clothing, and it weighed a ton and barely fit in the suitcase...okay, it fit, but then the clothes I took didn't all fit. That plants, well, I think my friend peed her pants when she saw just one plant in the little suitcase, much less the other 6 or 7. (not really, but her legs were crossed, and she was doubled over and she told every single person she worked with about it.)
Well, it was a mess...I had too much weight in one, and too many plants (bulk wise) for the little suitcase. Box(es) would work, but the plants were all damp and the box got sort of soggy before I got too far in the packing, so my friend gave me a trunk! It was a lovely shade of Avocado Green circa 1975 when she went off to college. Both leatherette handles were broken, but she had the key for it still. Oh, wait, after an hour of her being SURE she had the key, she never found it (who is laughing now, you might ask!) So I put a strip of lovely silver ducttape over the place where the lock goes in (hard to explain) and just the clamps kept it closed. But then the guy at the curbside check in looked at it and put airline tape all around it.
So I had
1 trunk @45 pounds filled with plants and dirty clothes and a bulky sweater
1 large suitcase 49 1/2 pounds filled with clean clothes and new clothes
1 small suitcase which was downgraded to a carry on and filled with plants
1 large black beach bag filled with so much stuff I thought they were going to pull me out of line.
And it all barely fit!!! (When it was time to pick up the luggage in Indianapolis, I waied until everybody else had gotten theirs and then got mine. LOL! Mr. Clean laughted when he saw it, but I bet it's out for the trash on MOnday unless I hide it from him in the attic.
But all the plants made it with flying colors...Impatiens are a little wilty, but I'll let them perk up and start chopping at them soon, so it doesn't matter.
I sprayed everything, new plants and advanced seedlings, both, with Messenger to get some branching going. Lala_Jane asked about pinching the geraniums, but I think I am going to see if the Messanger works -- the branching starts in a week, so I'll know by this time next week.
It's good to be home & on my own computer!!! No, I am not tan...I froze to death most of the time I was there. Last night was 36 degrees or colder. The wind never stopped. I went the 3rd week in March, which was good for the seedlings here at home -- not too much switching tray out under the lights and easy for Mr. Clean because not a whole lot has been pricked out into flats. The 4th week in March, the weather in Florida is generally a lot better, and there are more things at the garden centers, but I might have missed the 70% off sale. Not sure what I'll do next year.
Suzy
Hi Suzy,
What a story! Not sure what you'll do next year? Right the same I think, you've just had a swell time! Good for you!
Suzy-LOL-you sound like me when I go somewhere to visit friends!! I always pack my stuff in my small suitcase & put inside my big one because I know when I go with 1 I will ALWAYS come back with 2-LOL!!! I am glad you had fun and that Mr. Clean didn't kill to many things!! You have to give us pics of the neat plants you brought back!!
I want to thank Tuink for sharing all her photos of her seed starting because if it were not for her I would never have thought to start seeds in cups then put in baggies! This and ws containers is how I plan on finishing up my most wanted seeds. I am just going to have to plan it just right so they don not need lights! I may need you alls help on this! :)
Oh Suzy I wanted to say that your story was very amuzing! If I ever did that my DH would want to kill me!
This message was edited Mar 26, 2008 7:24 AM
oh Meredith, I have to second that - I would never have figured out the "cup and baggie" method were it not for Tuink's great photo collection and slide shows.
I've decided not to panic about the fact that I have very little more room and lots more seeds - and keep my fingers crossed that I can start setting more things outside for longer so that I get more room inside. And I have to remember Suzy's advice about getting some seedlings outside as soon as they start to think about peeking out, so that they are outside plants and not inside plants that need acclimating.
Is it me, or was it just January a couple days ago???
Suzy - I forgot to mention that whenever I travel I always pack two collapsible suitcases/bags inside my main bag - I NEVER have enough room when I come home! Welcome home! Hopefully you brought a bit more warmth with you, but it sounds like you may have shared our cool with Florida instead :)
From now on when I travel I am going to use you guys suitcase trick! I love it! Next year maybe we will set up a seed aholics anonymous meeting in sunny Florida! lol!
This is my light rack that I made (with help from DH) last year http://davesgarden.com/community/journals/si/155864/ The only problem with it is when all the lights are running, sometimes the lights trip when the timer tries to turn them on all at once. Changing the time the two timers turn them on by a couple minutes different helps but I did find that I'd have to check the fuse box and turn them on manually sometimes. There are 3 more shelves of lights in a cabinet I set up when I had first started seeds, I use that one early on (like now) when my garage is still staying in 40's at night and 50's to 60's during day. If I could turn the downstairs thermo up it would stay warmer but my DH is always turning it down to 60! And with the cost of fuel I am feeling guilty turning it up just to get my seedlings growing better. They do pretty good with the cool temps though. In my mind I figure they will be hardier because of it. It makes me feel better anyway. :)
I just looked at that link and I did add 6-24" lights down the right side. If you were wondering how I get room for 18! Silly me I forgot that photo was at the beginning of last years seed starting endeavors!
I remember you posting that picture once before Meredith - it made me envious and I saved it so I could have that next year - I may do the same thing in my basement. I think I've got the room, and those shelves look a lot like the basement shelving we have that was built by previous owners (full of our stuff though, so no plants on that, and a bit too shallow). I need to get the measurements from you so I can start working on that this fall/early winter.
I chose the width because of the spot I planned for it. It has 36" lights down one side and 24" lights down the other. If I had my choice I would do two seperate ones both with 36" lights, but the spot I had would only allow for what I did. I will measure it and post them about 9, I have to run out the door now. I actually think now it would have been much easier to find a 36" wide metal rack like I've seen in other peoples pics. I've seen them at home depot and by the time you buy all the wood it would probably not save much to build from scratch. So if two 3 footers would work for you it would probably be much easier. I went down and took an updated photo to share.
Suzy, thanks for the morning chuckles :-) Brought back memories of all the crazy things I bring home after trips. Even as a kid, my souvenirs always involved seeds, bulbs, dirt, cuttings, etc.
Nice set up Meredith! I've felt guilty about having to heat the plant room with energy costs too. Imagine how expensive heating greenhouses is now! The plants we see sold this spring will reflect that in price, and we're going to be soooo glad we went to all this trouble....at least, thats what I keep telling myself, lol.
I filled a flat of newspaper pots with Sonota Cosmo seedlings yesterday, and got a good start picking out Torenia seedlings. There must be a million seedlings in there, the further I got, the more I put in each pot- it seemed like I was getting nowhere, lol.
Suzy, loved your story about the trunk and your plants lol I can see me doing that, the last time I was in Fl. I just wraped plants up in my dirty clothes, the girl that I visit loves plants like I do so I didn't have to go anywhere to look at them I had plenty of starts to take off of hers LOL Sorry about your fairy snaps I know you really wanted those but the loss could have been worse like you said :)
Meredith, I like your plantstands, those are really nice and neat looking! They are nice and long too, I like that!
I have my first seedlings coming up in one of my jugs, the wormwood from Weez, this is such a cool wormwood it has silver on the underside and when the wind blows it it sort of shines in the sun I have some planted already that is two years old :) I haven't checked the jugs on the pic nick table yet just the ones on the back porch but the temps haven't been that bad here the last few days so I expect to find more seedlings when I check the table.
It's so nice out today I hope to get another compost pile done and finally get the covers on one of my greenhouses today so I can at least get my violets and parsley out there.
I was getting ready to soak some hibiscus seeds yesterday and can't find them anywhere! I know they are here I went thru all of my seed bags looking for them but they are in a seperate bag all to themselves now where did I put that, there are only so many places to look in the fridge LOL
You know when I start planting downstairs it's always cold but soon after the lights get started it starts to warm up so I never turn a heater on for them they do fine, they may not grow as fast but they make up for it when it does start to heat up.
Okay now I have time to tell about this rack. The way I have the lights hung was kind of a design flaw. There are 3 pieces of wood across which could be used to screw the hooks for the lights into, however if they are on the outside 2 there is no light in the middle, so as you can see in the picture I laid two pieces of wood across and put the lights in those so they could be centered. On the side with the 36" lights it works out fine because 4 flats fit nicely in between the pieces of wood. Now on the other side where the 24" lights are, I had to put some plywood over the wood to be able to fit the 2 flats. (I hope this is making sense) I kinda used a plan I found on the web as a guide and it used 3 so this is why I did not think of this prior to building it. Ideally there should be 3 lights rather than 2 because I notice the seedlings further away stretch toward the lights. However I already have a hard time running all the lights as it is. (without blowing a fuse) but if I had 3 it would work out perfectly! Oh and make sure you use hooks with a wide enough opening to hang the chain size you use, so you can adjust easily. I had to pry the hooks open more than how they came. And choose a good size chain, the bigger the loops are the easier it is to adjust them without accidentally hitting the tops of your seedlings. The measurements are 7' wide, 2' deep & 6' 2" tall. I put wheels on the bottom so I could roll it outside to harden off - but this was not a practical idea - this thing is a monster and what are the chances everything will need hardening off at once! Plus all the lights and wires! OMG what was I thinking there! But the wheels do come in handy for pulling the rack out to get to the plug behind it and to move it if needs be. Okay I want to add that the shelves are spaced 22" apart. Which is enough room for the seedlings to get tall and still fit. This was one thing I did plan out well. Another design flaw is the flats do not fit between the ends if there were even just a 1/2" more depth -*they would- so keep this in mind when planning your size out.
Okay enough already! right! - I just wanted to share my mistakes so anyone thinking about doing this can use them to make there's even better! I put a picture so you can see more detail on the construction – I am really bad at explaining stuff like this so I do apologize if I am too confusing for you to follow! :) It just took me about a half hour to type this up!
*added
This message was edited Mar 26, 2008 10:07 AM
Meredith, when I start hardening off plants I usually have four little greenhouses full of plants at one time so that might be a good idea that you have there to pull it outside even if the seedlings are just starting to come up it wouldn't hurt to pull it outside depending on how much heat they really need but you could always put some plastic over the ones that are just small seedlings, that would work or a tupperware bowl over the top of them to give them the greenhouse effect. I wish I could pull my stands outside I have to go up 12 steps with my flats and it's a lot of trips, dad used to have a door to the basement at ground level but he closed it up because of a leak, I could really use that door now lol
Here is my early bird cabinet. This was my very first attempt at setting up lights. It is still nice for stuff I start early because it stays much warmer inside than the outside room temps.
Lebug those are some good thoughts on trying to harden off with this bad boy. I may try it this year!
Has any one ever had Balloon Flowers flower the first year from seed? I read this somewhere but am finding it hard to beleive because most info says 2nd or 3rd.
Also what should I do about my poppy seeds? I was going to sow insitu but I don't have any idea where! I think I would have to go out and make a spot for them - and we still have enough snow to get my way! Should I use container outside or will I lose them all when I transplant?
This message was edited Mar 26, 2008 10:46 AM
I had Balloon Flower 'Fairy Snow' flower the first year wintersown, but they only reach 6-8" tall. I don't believe the others will, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed (I've got some tall blue wintersown this year).
If you don't have your bed ready for your poppies, I'd go ahead and wintersow. One of the wintersowing sites uses poppies as an example, and used the hos method to transplant while the seedlings are small. Thats what I'm doing with a bunch of them. I think the transplanting issues come if the plants get too big, and if you're trying to pick out individual seedlings. The site said you'll lose a few, but those in the middle of the chunk will be fine. Also important to keep them most for the firs couple of weeks after transplanting.
I've never had any tall balloon flowers the biggest I have get 24" and I have the double white that bloomed the first year not a big show but last year it's first year from a seedling bloomed and I have pink and blue ones that bloom their first year too, I bet you'll see a couple of blooms on that taller one here's hoping for you anyway :)
I just went out and checked the rest of my jugs out and nothing, got the cover on one of my greenhouses by the house getting ready to take the violets and parsley out and anything else I can find that can take the cool temps at night, don't really think I have anything else though, want to put some columbine out there but I keep looking for this one I have and can't find it :( I'm going to put my cloumbine out there for the cooler temps. then bring them back in in about three weeks and put them under lights and after they germinate I'll put them back outside in one of the greenhouses by the house.
I haven't sown my poppy seeds yet either lol
Meredith, I like your cabinet, looks like you need to move the seedlings up closer to the lights are they in there now or was that from before?
That's great about the balloon flowers! I just sowed some tall and some dwarf so we'll see what happens, I may be a bit behind for getting flowers the first year though. I've just had so much to start they kept getting pushed of the to-do list. Is hos hunk of seedlings? lol I think I read about that method before too!
I was checking my cold containers too, I was very surprised to see a tiny little grass like sprout coming through the soil in my pk of siberian iris Ya!!!! Even just one is nice after all the effort I put into the iris seeds I'm trying! It's funny that I am checking stuff and it seems that the things I least expect are the ones popping up! I also have some blackberry lily seeds inside that have germinated, but have not come up above the soil very much yet, and the seeds are still attached. Should I take em out of the dome or leave em in and watch til they pop up a little more? What would you all do?
I just took that picture this morning - which ones look too far? I wonder if the pic is making them appear farther away? They don't look leggy upon examination except the hollyhock - but I think this is just their nature because I stuck em about 2" under the lights the day the germinated and they still got an inch taller over night! The middle rack the seedlings are too far away but I can't help that because of that hanging light! It works really well though. The cana seem really happy with that nice warm light next to them. The cabinet is temporary for most of the others, I was planning on moving them over to my rack as they look big enough and if they start looking leggy. The hollys don't have their first set of leaves yet - or I'd move those now.
I wouldn't worry about the blackberry lilly just yet give it a little more time but they probably will grow fast you could take them outside to try and harden off once they all get up mine are already coming up from the ground but being in z5 nt really sure about this but if you had a little greenhouse they could go in there.
I have such a mess in the garage from the cats walking on my shelves and knocking all of my pots on the ground! I'm trying to get them in boxes won't do much good to put them back on the shelf they'll just knock them off again :) Gotta love cats esp. when they aren't even mine :) I say that but they kind of are lol I feed them and have litter boxes for them lol
Yes I love cats - except when they decide to use my potting mixes for kitty liter! Lol. Even though we are only a zone different I think my temeratures are a lot different than yours this time of year, I can tell by all the talk of things going outside & what everyone's starting. I just started my dahlia seeds and I won't start my zinnia seeds for another month. The night before last it was 26F and during the day it's only been in the low 40's. Today is supposed to be a bit nicer with a high of 50. :)
Suzy, sounds like a great trip! I'm sure Mr Clean is on to you by now ;0) love to see the new plants when you get a chance.
Meredith, great setup. It's cool that you can adjust all the lights separately.
We're only in the 40's today. I haven't been able to get out and check my containers because it's been cold and rainy the last few days and I was busy with Easter stuff. so I went out today and checked them all. Lo and behold - 19 with germination! I'm so excited!
5 kinds of dianthus ('Ballad Blend', cheddar pinks, maiden pinks/white and 'Arctic Fire', & mini carnations)
hardy geranium 'Splish Splash'
sea holly
speedwell 'Sunny Border Blue'
Jacob's Ladder
blue vervain
rock cress (pink)
candytuft
anchusa 'Blue angel'
blue flax
gaillardia 'Fanfare'
St John's chamomile
corncockle
wallflowers
bachelor buttons
and I already had feverfew, but there are lots more now, so ... an even 20. (out of 196, but it's a really good start).
196 containers grampapa? I'm jealous! LOL I have a few to work on for the rain the next three days then off to get some more jugs :) I really don't think I'll hit 200 this year though :( Good job!
What is blue verbain? I've been wanting some red but didn't know they had blue is it purple? One of these days I'll get some red lol
wow gram! congrats on all your seedlings
welcome home Suzy :) your luggage story was funny...it reminded me of a time when I was younger coming home from Mexico. I had soooooo much luggage and 'stuff' I had collected I actually fell over in the airport! It was funny, to this day I still have one of the heavy marble pieces I lugged home, it was a bull. Marble was cheap there, I had bought a marble chess set too...god knows where that ever ended up. I just had to buy a big bulky Mexican blanket, a huge glamorous Mexican hat etc etc!!!!!
Meredith, your plant rack set up is nice :)
I got all our asparagus planted, or I should say, my husband got it planted. We are trying three varieties: Martha Washington, Jersey Knight and Jersey Giant. More seedlings are coming up too: cat grass, Seandor's sea holly, frausnow's jobs tears, and blue ensign. No germination on bat flower.
Oh and I love the color of Critters fluorescent purple capsicum. It's right up there with red rubin basil as far as my favorite seedlings :) have a good day everyone!
Congrats grampapa on all your new babies!
Lebug if you didn't already search it - I think the blue vervain is this http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2302/ I started verbena stricta which is almost the same but better for dry sites, where the former is better for moist sites. Some people would consider it a weed, bit it is a great nectar plant and I think it may even be a possible host plant for certain butterflies - but can't remember which one.
Thank you for the compliments on my light rack everyone! There's nothing like a good pat on the back from other gardeners!
Meredith-love your set up-I'm hoping Santa brings me a set up for Xmas this next year & a heat mat;) I have my hellebore germinating!!YAY!! I have 1 thing that I WS coming up-1 morning glory-I don't even know the type-I was just excited to see it!! My eastern redbud is coming up too!! DH doesn't beleive it will be a tree someday!!LOL My nephew helped me to get a bunch sown yesterday-have about 50 more things to get done this next weekend, then I should be done!!!
Grampapa-you WS your dinathus?? I am doing mine inside-I didn't know I could WS them-there is probably a lot I coul've WS and didn't know:( Oh well-what can I do now!!
fairy, I winter sowed dianthus and it worked well so far. I have cheddar pinks sprouting out there now and waiting on one more type.
I just checked on my indoor rack and noticed Weez's dragons blood sedum is starting along with critter's gomphrena, Suzy's mini red snaps and Marianna Peace tomatoes.
I'll get the snaps outside asap and check on the ws containers while I'm out there. Hopefully nothing got fried yesterday. When does everyone take the tops off their containers? Should I do it now?
I came across old seed that had belonged to my deceased friend who lived in this house before me, and wintersowed most of them. Among them were Golden Chain tree seeds, and they are germinating! It was really warm and sunny yesterday, so I can't wait to check the containers today. There's always new arrivals after a warm sunny day!
Meredith, make sure you save some seeds from that vervain for the swap :) I have some pink that is called pink spires I'm hoping will bloom this year have to plant it yet LOL I think that is vervain too looks just like it ony it's pink.
http://seeds.thompson-morgan.com/uk/en/product/4261/1
grampapa, what are you doing? LOL I got the whooper seeds yesterday and you sent more seeds for me to plant LOL I didn't need anymore seeds LOL I will try those though I like the idea of growing cukes in a bush and the tomatoes I was thinking about trying so thank you but you really SHOULDN'T HAVE LOL Thank you! 8^)
wind I'm glad to know your dianthus is sprouting I haven't WS mine yet pretty soon though. I don't think I would take your tops off of your containers yet we still have some bad weather coming yet maybe if they are in a sunny area you might want to move them to more shade right now or maybe put a few more holes in the top of the jug for venting incase of the heat and you can take your tops off on a nice day but I wouldn't throw those tops away yet :) You can also put them in the garage if we have some bad weather like freezing but really they should be alright.
gemini, that's nice you will have a tree to remember your friend by :)
It rained last night and I put some jugs out to get wet didn't think it would rain much because of all the rain we got last week and now we are getting rain for three more days so I put my containers in a tote so I knew they would get wet and there is four inches in the tote LOL
Lebug - this is the second year I tried them, and I have a buch that recently germinated and are under lights. I hope they will bloom this year so I can save you some seeds! I don't think I got any last year winter sowing, unless they are amongst the unidentified seedlings in my yard that will probably end up being weeds! lol
hi LeBug :)
thanks, I'll leave the ws lids on for now. We are getting rain now too finally. We haven't had a drop since we got the asparagus planted (figures) and I was just starting to think we were going to have to hook up the outside hose and turn on the water! I put the violas out in the rain today for their first rainfall :)
I'm going to have to start transplanting! The canna roots are coming out the bottom of 4" containers already, and the violas are a bit crammed and begging to be split up...
Gemini, that is neat you have the golden chain trees coming up. My master gardener neighbor did a big project with them...not sure of the spelling "pleaching". Basically she was training them to bend around a huge metal arbor. I thought it was really nice she had about 4-5 trees on each side and when it bloomed they cascaded down like wisteria; but she didn't like it and after several years took the trees out. Good luck with your trees, they are really nice. I also like the magnolias ~ jsxtiger had such good luck germinating them!
fairy, I was glad to hear you got germination on the eastern redbud. I have mine out in a ws container. I was hoping to give that or the crape myrtle tuskegee to my sister for her new house, but sadly she has it up for sale ~ life is not going to well for her sadly.
Yeah-I was happy to-I did 5 seeds-nicked and soaked all of them, but only 1 swelled, so I was figuring only that 1 would germinate which it did-I only need 1 tree anyway!!
Wind - I'm sorry for your sister, we are trying like crazy not to have to do that here, so I feel for her. The energy costs, fuel & necessities have been increasing in price more than most new home owners could ever have anticipated!