Has anyone WSed in Central Texas?

Hi Bonnie! I agree that it's a bit confusing to know when to start, here. I started 5 containers last week, thinking that these seeds would have already been in the ground if they were naturally wild sewn, so it'll be a learning experience to see if our off and on really warm weather - then frigid cold will be a problem. I may stagger some more jugs (as I filch more gallon jugs from my neighbor's recycling bins...) and it will be a work in project. I might try some black cherry tomato seeds that way as an experiment - with a backup of traditionally started ones. They've been really cold tolerant plants for me. Keep me posted as well - it'll be fun to compare notes on different Texas areas.
Nancy

Well I have A. tuberosa, speciosa, currasavica, and one other (?). It won't be the end of the world because I've got several plastic baggies with seeds getting their cold/moist stratification in the fridge. Always have a backup plan. So maybe some will make it outdoors, but if not we'll be ok because I'll just pop these other guys in the ground in March.

Thanks for the generous offer Bookworm, but I have been collecting milkweed seed for awhile so that I could almost cover the planet in milkweed!

I'll probably still try the ws experiment with tomatoes - just wondering how it will turn out.

Glad to see so much WSing in this neck of the woods. I sowed 20 containers of a variety of flowers this past weekend. I think if I have any sprouts during a freeze I will toss a sheet over them and hope that works. Someone in another thread said they had good results with that and another said they didn't (or was that this thread? I'm reading/participating in so many I get confused.) I'll be doing at least 40 more over the next few weeks, including some veggies. This is fun!

It really will be interesting to hear how and what works for everyone in this area of Texas.

Tonya

Wow - Tonya! That's thinking big. You'll keep us posted, I hope. You're a bit colder there, I'd imagine. What's your zone there? You may need to start a garden store over there if they all make it ;)

Aardvark - I too have enough milkweed seed to do the same. It pops up here all over my back yard (saw some next door, too - ooops... my bad) with no special care. Doesn't transplant very well, so you could go throw some seeds in the location you want them just in case. While I watch it blow away, I wonder how many of my neighbors will be learning about monarchs as a surprise!

Spread the wealth! :)

BW- Yep DH is wondering if I am being a bit too adventurous! I was thinking about hitting the NB farmer's market with some of my extra plants if I have too many. Make some money for more seeds! ha ha

Tonya

Forgot to answer your question. I am in zone 8b.

Selling the extras at the farmer's market is a great idea. Ok - 8b. Not too far off Houston's climate at 9a.

Hopefully the neighbors will not be weed pulling too soon to know how much fun watching the bf's really is!

OK this a question I have wanted to ask. Why not just sow milkweed and all the other wildflowers directly. Why put them in containers? I think up north they do that because the ground can't be worked but if you are planting natives here what is the advantage?
I sell extra plants at our FM but before you do that you may want to check if there are booth fees and taxes ect... you will have pay. If so you maybe able to sell them from your house.
Lisa

Lisa - Here's my thought - I have sown seeds and had them not come up - don't know if the birds get to them or what. At least in the jugs, no varmit can get to them while they percolate and decide when to germinate. Also, I always forget where I throw seeds in the fall, and then don't know whether it's weeds or my seedlings that are coming up, lol.

I'll probably give the extras away, but I have LOTs of bed space. My goal is to plant so many flowers that the weeds won't have a chance!

Thanks, Lisa. I had wondered about booth fees as well, but didn't think about taxes. Will certainly check into that. I had considered selling them from my house, too, just thought I might get more traffic at the fm.

Tonya

Wintersowing the milkweed was really an experiment in my case. I certainly could have just sown into the places I want it, but I heard about this new (to me) method of sowing things in containers in the winter that will free up my Southern windows for some other stuff and I just wanted to give it a whirl and see what would happen. I chose milkweed because, well, I have alot of it now and if I did manage to mess up the ws method (which apparently I did) I would still have my milkweed this year. I mentioned earlier that I'm a little old school with the gardening, but just wanted to give this a try and see if it really would free up some window space for some of my more tender veggies (tomatoes, peppers primarily) that I typically start indoors. Now I have seen that some are even sowing these items outside in winter, hence the ws vs 'old school' veggie experiment. :)

Aardvark - I think milkweed is a great way to try WS, so similar wildflowers is what I've decided to plant. Again - it's my first year trying this method, but wintersowing native wildflowers like milkweed (black eyed Susan's, cleome, penstemon) that thrive in the cold/warm/cold environment is a great idea. I'm starting with TX natives like that, and hope for success. We have gotten below 32 several nights so far, and the established milkweed in the garden is completely unphased and blooming up a storm, attracting BF's on warm days.

I didn't mean for the question to "come out the wrong way". It has been my understanding that this form of WS is leaving all the containers outside and only protecting them if it gets really bad. Please keep me posted because it is very interesting to me maybe I will find out what I was doing wrong. Thats why I use seedballs so the seeds don't get eaten but I'm affraid I still pull up things that I think are weeds. Our biggest problem now is lack of water, nothing will germinate with out water!
Lisa

I think your question is a valid one - and since I'm really forgetful about where I throw my seeds, and I currently have LOTS of weeds, this method should be right up my alley!

Would you explain your seed ball method?

So with the water being an issue - it hasn't rained here for a while. Should I sprinkle some water into the containers?

Oh I wanted to tell you people about today.

I found these in Walmart today!

(8 packs) cauliflower "White Snow," "Pacman" broccoli, "Georgia" collard greens, Green & Red cabbage $2.00 each.

Granex, Bermuda, Texas White, & what they're calling "Flat Globe" onion starts (60) pieces to a bundle $2.00 each.

Of course I couldn't let them all stay there!!! They were out in the cold temps. 49 degrees. They needed to get in the ground to stay warm, so I took some home with me. I asked if they could be put into the ground right now; and they said, "Yesser-ree" that's why they're there.

EB's here we go!

~* Robin

This message was edited Jan 13, 2009 9:14 PM

Bookworm-you ask about the seedballs. It is an ancient method of sowing seeds. It is a mixture of compost, seeds and clay. They look like maltballs. As they get wet the clay holds the water and the seeds germinate. Since the seeds are protected by the clay they don't get eaten, they don't blow away, and they don't get washed away by heavy rain.

I really just got tired of feeding the birds. Yes, you should keep the seeds wet to germinate. Did you put holes in the bottom of the containers?
NatureWalk-you are crazy (I mean that good) how can anybody eat that much cauliflower?

Lisa,

There's me, my Mom, my Daughter, Grandson who is my Daughter's child (2 & 1/2), and the "disabled, Vet - cousin Mark."

Then there's the acrobatic squirrels, field mice, stray cats & birds!

My Daughter & Grandson run with the vegetarians. You can't keep unguarded veggies around those 2. LOL!!

~* Robin

Robin- it sounds like the stray cats might be the only ones who don't eat Caul. then.

Well Lisa, iffen' the stray cats dig in my aerated garden soil to "do their bizzniz," then it's MY business to chase them with the dog!

My 2 boy cats Matrix & Stitch just chase the other critters.

~* Robin

I LOVE cauliflower - so let me know if you have more than your loved ones can consume, Naturewalker! By the way, I hope you're in Texas right now and not New York! Brrrrrrrr......

Thanks for the description, Lisa. I'll check out the market place. Sounds like a great way to sow them!

This fall, I hand collected seeds of a great deal of native prairie plants - grasses and wildflowers - during two trips with organizations whose goal it was to save natives from areas destined for demolition. Maybe the seed ball approach would work well for them. I have WS'd several new containers, but saved some for next year if WS doesn't work.

Oh, wow, bookworm, that is so cool, collecting those seeds like that.

What plans do those orgs have for preserving those seeds? (realizing this is wending rather far off topic here......)

I made some seed balls a little while ago myself and plan to do more, but I am sure if you buy the materials in bulk they would be quite a bit cheaper, that clay was kinda pricey...... Lisa, do you make custom seed balls? LOL! I mean, if someone has a seed selection they want balled up, oh shoot I am getting silly, but you know what I mean I hope! I would also love to find more information about the history of that technology and what cultures have used it in what areas and climates, not sure how to search that out but it fascinates me!

Bookworm, if you posted elsewhere more about that seed saving expedition I would love to go read about it. ??

Kylaluaz - it was the most wonderful experience! I know it's off topic, but saving native plants is a passion of mine. I have had the priveledge of seed saving four times with the Houston Audubon Society and the Katy Prairie Conservancy, both of which are trying to save endangered prairie plants. Both organizations have nurseries to germinate rare seeds and raise the plants. They also allowed individuals to collect as many seeds/plants as they wanted for their own gardens, since the collecting sites would be demolished. I have a little "pocket prairie" in my back flower bed of saved plants. The Houston Audubon is establishing little prairie pockets all over the city as well in public easements around bayous.

Lisa is on the DG Market Place with the seed balls - sorry I don't have a link, will go there soon! Great idea, Lisa.

bookworm28,

You have dmail.

~* Robin

Bookworm, thanks, bows to you for that work, that is wonderful.

K.

Oh! I forgot to tell you Thanks, GreenerBeaner for those 2 links. I lost them a long time ago --- now I have them back thanks to you.

Trudi is a real treasure.

~* Robin

OK I took the plunge, again. I started 8 small containers with wildflowers and poppies. The weather was terrible but I needed to do something with dirt, maybe I will have better luck this go around.

This is for you, Lisa!

Frost Dates - Last Frost Dates In USA -

Scroll down till you see the State of Texas:

http://usagardener.com/breaking_ground/frost_dates_usa.php

~* Robin

Robin-Thank you for the link. Austin is the closest city to me but we are always colder, sometimes by as much as 10 degrees. There is a weather station at our Jr. high but we are 5 miles north of it. I finally broke down and got one of those thermometers that tells the temp. inside and out, it was 38 at 7:00 a.m.
Bookworm -what kind of seeds do you have? My curiosity is sparked. I would love to know about your seed saving expeditions.

Kylaluaz-Yes...my seed supplier has regional native mixes. I use Wildflower seed farms out of Fredicksberg TX. I also have CA poppies.
As for the history of seedballs I think it can be traced back to the American Indian, but I did them as a filler for our Farmer's Market and they really caught on.
Wow, stayed a way for a few days and I missed so much.
Lisa

Just to let you all know. I potted 18 starter tomato plants yesterday (it was 80 degrees) that I had left over from the fall. I knew a cold front was coming but it was only supposed to get down in the 50s when I looked at the temp this morning it was 37. This Tx weather could make a person crazy. If I have to haul all these in the house + the 25 I already have there will be no room for people. Oh, ya I have 72 peppers under grow lights and 144 tomato starters under grow lights!

Just want everybody to know that all my WS container stuff survived the winter weather advisory and the 21 degree temps last night. I think I didn't have good luck the last time I did this was because I sowed seeds that weren't hardy enough. They are on a table on my back porch. I have to keep them up so the chickens don't scratch in them!

That's great Lisa. My 5 containers that have germinated did well, also, even though we sure didn't get down to 21. I was slightly skittish, so I put my germinated containers in a box with a lid and left outside. I probably didn't need to do that, but didn't want to take a chance on loosing my babies!

Well, I'm trying to treat this as an experiment, thinking that way gets me to leave them out. I haven't had any luck with this in the so we will see.
Lisa

Glad to hear your continuing results. I know if you don't lose them where you are I should be fine, probably. You can be my guinea pig! Of course I know there are many other variables, like whether they are hardy annuals, perennials, etc., but still like to hear how it's going for you.

OK after the ice and sleet, I need to go check on my milkweed that sprouted earlier (Jan 12) and see if they are still alive or the freeze got them. I'm just leaving them alone, no going in and out for me, too much work. If they make it wonderful! If not, I may decide not to winter sow wildflowers again until mid-Jan next time. Wish me luck! :)

I sowed TX/OK blend, TX ANNUAL BLEND, HUMMER/BUTTERFLY BLEND, SHIRLEY, CA, AND FLANDER'S POPPIES. my seed supplier says to sow them in fall/winter. If they were in the ground They wouldn't have my help at all, its just kind of fun to have them in the strawberry containers where I can watch their progress.
aardvark-Please let us know how your milkweed did.

Well looks like the ones that had broken through the soil with their little cotyledons waving in the air bit the dust, but I see a few that hadn't quite made it through the soil that look like they are still green at the surface and might just push through. I think next year I will wait until January 15 to winter sow. I just hate it when they come up too soon because I don't have time to baby them. I'm lazy I guess; I just want to sow them and then forget about them until Spring. :)

Aardvark-Did all three types of your milkweed "bite the dust"? I still think this works better up north. All of my WS containers are still OK but with the mixes I could lose some of the seedlings and never know the difference. Also, as I'm sure you know, when they are sown directly in the ground the seeds are protected. What I mean is the ground holds the warmth and protects the roots which just doesn't happen in containers. I think if you sowed them any later then the heat would kill them, thats my concern with my poppies that they won't bloom before it gets too hot. A tuberosa (butterflyweed) is one form a milkweed that I have never been able to grow even from starter plants. Everything I have read about them says they do best in East Texas, I think the soil is more acidic. Anyway please let me know if all 3 types died. I'm going to go to the Ladybird Johnson wildflower link if I can find it.
Lisa

Lisa- now that you mention it, only seedlings of A. speciosa had sprouted. These were seeds that I donated money for at LiveMonarch.com. (yeah yall can get some free Asclepias seeds from them, you don't have to donate, just ask and send SASE and they send them) The A. currisavica and tuberosa did not sprout yet. Hmmmmm, very interesting. Wonder what that means.... I think you are right Lisa about the sowing them in the ground is better protection for the roots. I have all of my ws milk jugs shoved between the compost bin and the garden shed, in shade with protection from strong winds, but they are not dug in. I was wondering one day if the roots might 'like it better' it the jugs were patially dug in so that light would only come from the top and there would maybe be the benefit of additional soil warmth. Maybe just a weird thought on my part but I think it would come even closer to being planted 'in the ground'. As for transplanting, I am really curious how this si going to turn out. I know they are difficult due to the taproot so I will have to move them before they get too long. I guess I'll end up getting a percentage of them to take, hopefully higher than 50%; but haven't done the winter sowing before or transplanting Asclepias so who knows how it will turn out. I do have more seed so I won't be too upset if it doesn't turn out real well. Actually I'm thinking about doing some of that 'guerilla gardening' with them in the flood plain behind my house. I think that area could use some nice butterfly host plants. :) Maybe I could make some of those seed 'bombs' that you make and fire away at the flood plain. Oh Im just going to get myself in trouble. :)

Seedballs not bombs, thats too funny! The wildflower center's web site is www.wildflower.org