Help: ? Planting Seasons for Columbia SC ?

Hi, all
I have lived in Columbia for 20 odd years, but this is the first year that I want to try my hand at seeds.

I am both new to planting seeds and new to doing so in the South. - any tips on when to start planting so that I can start to make up a 'tickler' calendar?

I am originally from the Pacific NW, and while that is the same zone the season are quite different -

* Ex: I used to pick strawberries the week after school was out (mid June) and I still have to remind myself that Strawberry season here in the April - by the time that my 'tummy clock' is hankering for strawberries, they are all gone here.

Bulbs I am good for, and I can certainly spend money on plants that are started (LOL)

But I have seeds from some flowers (am researching Cold Stratify, and am totally confused) and will try my hand at summer veggies (cukes, tomatoes, etc). Am trading for some nice heirloom seeds that I remember from my grandmother's garden (I am quite pumped about it!)

So any help that you could give me would be great. I have mostly containers, but am putting in beds, too.

I need help on when to plant or start:

* Perennial Seeds (like Rudbeckia, Gaillardia, etc) (I also have some seedlings coming up from my ones that I planted this summer - should I cover them?

* Other perennial seeds like Milkweed (I have several var. of those and want to have more monarchs next year - that was such fun!)

* Annual Flower seeds like marigolds, zinnias, astrolomerias, etc.

* Summer veggies - carrots, tomatoes, green peppers, cukes

* possibly spinach? I love it and eat a ton of it - and it is expensive!

*Herbs like Basil - I have some that I grew and it was so easy from plants - is it easy from seeds, too? I harvested seeds from the plants, not sure if I can grow them inside- I would love to have fresh basil in the winter.

* Winter veggies like spinach (I missed that window, I think, but there is always next year)

Also, how do I take cuttings from Mondevilla ? I have 2, one in the ground and one in a pot - I will try to keep the potted one in my garage over the winter, and ulch the other one heavily, but I heard that you can start them from cuttings. Is it too late for that?

I know that it is all a learning curve, and what works for you may not work for me but if any of you could jump start me, that would be great!!!

I do have an attached garage where I can keep a rack of plants and some larger pots

I live in Columbia in Whitehall and have a very large yard.

I bet someone has the answers to all your questions, but I can say that I plant Rudbeckia in fall and Zinnias both in fall and spring, all straight into the dirt.
My Mandevilla's all overwinter in pots in the garage, and I've no idea how to do cuttings from them.
I do alot of annuals seeds by "winter sowing", so easy.

I 'm sure others will have truly useful answers, and maybe I can get some ideas, too. :)
Deb

Love your pink mandevilla! I just take 6 inch cuttings from my mandevilla, cut just below a leaf node, strip off the leaves on the bottom and stick them in some dirt to a depth of about an half inch to inch below the next set of leaves and add a cloche made out of a 2ltr. soda bottle. I stick it in a shady place. Takes a month or so for roots to appear. Sometimes I use rooting hormone and other times I don't. There is no difference time wise or health wise between the two that I can see.

When I want to do a lot of cuttings at once I use a window box.

You'd also be a good candidate for winter sowing.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/coldsow/all/

It's so easy it's dangerous. Somehow those seeds KNOW when it's safe to crack and solves your stratification problem

X

Hi Pyro, I used to live in Columbia; there are a lot of great gardeners up there. I would not worry about those perennials that have already sprouted, they should be fine. Like X mentioned, you might want to try winter sowing - at least part of your seeds - and see how it works there. Why don't you try a couple of basil seeds in a pot and see what happens. If your window sills are sunny enough they should do well. Good luck.

Many thanks to all who have helped me
I am trying to get the rest of my new shrubs in the ground in these all-to-brief above freezing days.

I found a book called Month By Month Carolina Gardening. By Bob Polomoski. Seems to be a pretty good guide, have any of you had experience with it?

The Midlands Master Gardeners Calendar is another excellent resource. You can call your county Clemson Extension office for information on getting one. They are around $10 but worth every penny. If you have trouble finding one Dmail me and I can put you in touch with a Midlands Master Gardener.

Pyro: You're not too far south of me (Kannapolis, NC) and I'm planning to try some winter sowing of seeds this year. Check out the thread and articles on this subject here. Ordinarily, we don't have enough of a winter in my area to even worry about, but I'm thinking this year may be different, so I'm starting some seeds by the WS method.

I started winter sowing 2 winter ago and have had very good luck with it. Most will tell you to start around the winter solstice, but in 8a, it makes sense to start just a tad bit later. I'm impatient by then, though, so I usually don't make it past New Years day before I start. :)

Debin: Since your garden photos were so lovely, I think that is high endorsement, indeed, for WS! I'm anxious to try this new technique, as I haven't had much luck trying to start plants inside.

I have had bad luck starting seeds indoors, too. They "start " fine, but I lose alot of the little suckers before they're big enough for outdoors. I think I just over or under water, or get the amount of light wrong - whatever. With WS, that's not a problem for me. Almost no water/moisture management required. Light seems to work out.

Deb