Do any of you start pansies from seed this time of year for planting out in the fall/winter? I'm wondering if it'd be worth trying to get them to germinate in a dark closet inside the house (where it'll be kept 75-80 degrees). Then keeping them inside till temps drop in the fall. Just wondering if anyone's had luck with this? Or any other seeds I can start now for planting out in the fall?
Do you start Pansies from seed for fall/winter?
Since Pansies are a fall, winter, spring blooming plant we usually start plants about in October, as you probably know - or a little sooner or a little later if the weather cools off a bit. I have never personally grown my own from seed but depended on the nurseries to have the ones I want at the time I need them. But then, I don't do baby sitting of plants and seeds. When the good nurseries advertise them that's when I buy them and I believe that they do better that way. If you start them from seed, please keep up informed as to how you do w/them and how your germination rate is as the seeds are so small. Also, pansies are big feeders and I wonder what you plant them in as seeds.
Ann
I always buy plants. I love pansies. They are such a cheery flower for fall and winter. I've heard other gardeners say they had luck with them reseeding but mine have never reseeded.
Lin
I have always meant to, I have seed for several types of pansies and also for the violas...I usually miss the timing. As I understand it, the seed needs to be chilled first, before they are planted. Not sure if I could keep the plants alive in the house for very long.
Yeah, it's just something I've been considering b/c I like how much color pansies can offer in the cold season, but I hate to spend so much money on them if i can just plant from seed & get good results... If I try it, I'll definitely let you know how it turns out.
Jen what about Asters? They are a very pretty fall plant. I've never tried to grow them from seed but you might give them a try.....
Lin
Thanks for the idea Lin - I'll have to research them. Do asters bloom all the way through the winter like pansies do?
I know mums would be nice for the fall too, but it's definitely too late to get them started this year.
My Asters always die back when the weather reaches freezing but they always come back the next year.
Here is a link that may give you some ideas.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54979/
Lin
I have been thinking about starting pansies from seed too.
This is what Thompson and Morgan seed co. says about starting pansies from seed:
Sowing time: February to March or June to September.
"Sow seeds on the surface of a good, free-draining, damp seed compost, then apply a fine sprinkling of vermiculite, just covering the seed. Place container in a propagator or seal inside a polythene bag and place at a warm temperature of 15-20C (60-68F) until after germination which usually takes 10-15 days. Take care not to provide too high a temperature, as this can prevent germination. "
So, I need to think about where to keep the flats cool, I guess I won't be putting them out in the greenhouse :~)
Good info - yeah, I'm having trouble thinking of a place I can keep them at 60-68F this time of year! No way I can run our A/C that cold fulltime!!!
Normally I hate planting plants that are annuals but Pansies are long lasting annuals if planted early enough and kept fertilized well as they are hungry plants. They do not have to be planted too close together to make a show as they spread out. They take easily to planting w/ allyssum, snapdragons (especially the short ones) and seeds from other cool weather annuals. A mixed planting is really beautiful.
Ann
Ann - how long will your snapdragons and allyssum bloom for? I know the pansies I had last year were good from fall all the way till late spring. Do these guys last just as long?
Yes they do last just as long. There are several plants that I didn't name because I am suffering from early morning syndrome-"don'task me any questions cause I can't think rationally yet".. Maybe later in the day I can do better. White Sweet Allyssum sometimes blooms until the hottest days of spring and I planted seeds of dianthus - not perennials - in there too. When I plant those seeds like that - the tiny ones, I scratch the ground or throw out some potting soil then drop the sees and water gently - let the water and fluffy soil cover the seeds. Now is also a great time to plant things like nasturtiums . They are trailing so they fill up a lot of room. All the plants I have named last until very late spring if they have some shade that comes up in the spring so that they receive kind of a dappled sun.. If you have planted the seeds and plants where you have a few bulbs those bulbs will come up in there and add to the beauty of the whole thing.
Ann
Great ideas - thanks Ann!
you are so welcome!
Ann
I start violas from seed outside in fall every year--usually in 3" x 3" x 3" starter pots, good quality germination mix, no cover. Just keep them moist and in the shade--germ time about 30-50 days, depends on how the temps start cooling down. 30 days if we get an unusually cool stretch of nights in late Oct (which is rare down here).
violas are about the same as pansies--saves a lot of money over buying transplants
this girl has a lot of annuals that do really well down here over the winter--and perennials to start then too:
http://www.summerhillseeds.com/
=)
Debbie
Thanks Debbie - good to know about putting them outside in the shade in fall. How soon is too early to start, would you think? Maybe mid-late Sept? I'm a few zones cooler than you (North Texas), so I'm guessing I could get them started just a little earlier than you...
yes, you have it about right, 3 weeks earlier than me. sometimes I don't get stuff started until late Oct--depends on what I see going on around me. this year I'm seeding a little earlier as I see definite signs of fall despite the temp outside.
=)