Winter Sowing - Part 2

Dahlia is doing well..
I was told that once it has 3 sets of leaves you can snip the top off to make it bush out. Has anyone tried it or know if it's true??

I tried this last year.... I really don't think the blooms were any bigger though... not going to do it again

http://www.dahlias.net/dahwebpg/disbudding/disbud1.htm

Thanks Allison, I was thinking just a bigger,stronger plant...not so much in terms of more buds. I just want it to be strong enough to hold up the flowers it does get! LOL

Hi,

Anyone have pictures of their WINTER SOWN sprouts yet. We would love to see them even though there is not much happening here. I should go out and check again to see if I have anything happening.

Hi - new to this! Foolish question, but when you say winter sowing, do you mean now, or in November? Laura

As far as I've been told, winter sowing is when you put out your seeds in winter (in covered containers that have been vented on top and bottom) and just let nature take its course. I was skeptical about this when I saw frost on the containers that had some growth in them, but right now, everything looks fine.

Laura, now is nit too late, however. LOL, it's not too late either! See critterologist's article late last week - I think she tries for Thursdays - on winter sowing method. Here, I'll go find it for you. xx, Carrie

http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/959/

ta da!!!

This message was edited Apr 7, 2008 9:51 PM

That's what i'm going to do with the only 2 juice bottles we had around tomorrow. i thnk cosmos in one and i dunno in the other.
We don't get milk in plastic cartons, we used to get water that way but now we have a purifier, so i don't have many possibles...

I used some soda bottles.... and a covered flat that I taped the lid on ... loose fitting one might have blown off

did you make holes in the flat?

yes top, bottom and the sides of the cover.... i have hundreds of snapdragon seedlings in there... pretty impressed so far.. beside the fact it is 2 year old seed... can't wait to see when they bloom though... the ones started in the house were started way earlier and huge compared to the little babies... but i figure they bloom into fall so how bad can it be?

So, do you mean like the little peat pellet "greenhouses" that i bought for inside?

I used a full size flat and cover http://www.novoselenterprises.com/products/single.asp?ID=1310

but you can use your pellet one.... make sure you put enough drainage holes and holes for the rain to get in... but I stopped using those peat pellets last year... lost too many with those

but so far I do like these as a replacement I did cuttings and small seeds in them... so far so good

http://gurneys.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_68085

So would i use it with the pellets, or with the growing mix?
Sorry to have so many questions... i SO don't know what i am doing...

I like seed starting mix better... i tend to over water and the pellets grew nothing but mold ... never used them outside before .... if you do use them puff them up a day or two before you put seeds in them... they are very soggy and hold too much water

GOOD idea, Allison. I used those last year, too. My famous NO IDea year, so I can't say what sprouted fast enough not to mold and what molded. But puffing up those thingies with water before you try to plant seeds, that's a super idea. xx, Carrie

Edited to add - I useed anything that would hold 4" of potting soil at this point in the year, not just milk jugs. Even terra cotta pots with Saran wrap.

This message was edited Apr 8, 2008 11:37 AM

I tried puffing them up and let them go completely dry before seeding... misted them a bit at go time and they still molded

but seeds that start fast are fine... less than a week was good... more than two forget it

This is amazing - thanks for the tip on watersorb. So, does anyone wintersow shade or part shade annuals?

plastic food containers with the lids work in a pinch

Well, one of my juice bottles now has Summer Dreams cosmos, the other has strawflowers. i'll see what else i can dig up. Maybe i'll ask the neighbors...

Amy, was it you who had strawflowers at the Round Up in October or was it June? And might I have some cosmos? (if you're coming in June, that is.) Somehow I forgot to buy any seeds (although I have every other seed known to man or God, ask Michaela). xxx, Carrie

Would you like me to send you seeds? i can send seeds to you this week for cosmos and strawflowers...
Yes, i had strawflowers coming out my... ears last year. i think everyone i know who might garden got at least one seedling...

If you sent me seeds for cosmos I could send you seeds for something, what would you like? Give me a while - a few hours - to check what I have lots and way too much of; I'll be more than happy to send you some of those. Russian sage? Annuals? Perennials? Winter sowable? (I mean start outside about now, or soon, vs. inside) xx, Carrie

i think i have too many seeds, and nowhere to put them as it is, but thanks!
D-mail me your address - i'm not in the exchange, and i'll get them in the mail to you probably tomorrow.

(Edited to say: always looking for anything black, foliage or flower, or with white/silver/grey foliage. But i have very little seed space.)

This message was edited Apr 9, 2008 11:58 AM

woo hoo 6 out of 9 are starting

http://davesgarden.com/community/journals/vbc/onewish1/59029/

Here's my latest http://lakehousecreations.com/wintersown_2008.htm . I have a few containers that can be planted out too. My California poppy and Phacelia.

Amy, I AM in the exchange, thanks so much. I have 18/30 sprouts! (Today was the first day that I insisted on being allowed to go outside and check for myself.) I think DH's is making his holes too small and I'm not complaining enough. Lots of empty, damp containers. I'm sad about the alyssum saxatile .... why no sprout there? xx, Carrie

nice Anita

Anita, I always feel so inadequate. I shouldn't have looked. AMAZING. xx, Carrie

you are too kind. The fact is, it was here that I was inspired. Remember, it's only my third year w/s'ing

pansy

snapdragons... cover is kind of blurry ...sorry

When did you sow them?

late... march 5th

Oh heck, I just planted some on the 25th & 28th and they are up...never too late!!

My snaps got planted TODAY - you've heard of spring vented container sowing, right? Lavender is up, and ice plant - delosperma. Hip hip hooray! xx , Carrie

I have nothing with my winter sowing as of yet - I am starting to wonder if anything will come up :(

yeah Carrie!

bit by bit i've been spring/winter sowing. Guess i'll do more today since i am home earlier than expected...