WS#4

Here's another - the owner is a DG'er as well http://www.dianeseeds.com/Index.html

I have quite a few, but here's another - http://www.selectseeds.com/cgi-bin/start.cgi/2009/catalog.htm

Swallowtail also offers bulk seed....

i love Swallowtails site... i dont go there often, as it is all too tempting.

Swallowtail sure does have some nice stuff, and reasonable prices. I guess they don't ship overseas, though! Do they have a Spring sale? Maybe I can find someone who'll do an order with me.

Angie, "Sob!' "Sob!' I don't KNOW what daylily that is!!! I lost the tag!

Ok, I just popped into this forum to see what it was all about and haven't had time to read much yet...but I'm curious if it's too late for me to get started winter sowing? I live in North TX (8a/7b). I don't have many containers, but could build up a small collection over the next couple weeks. Would it be worth still trying for this season?

I plan to come back to re-read all as much of these threads as I can, but I thought asking here would be a good way to get a quick answer on whether it's possible or too late.

jenepat, what are your temps like now? If its still cool, its fine to go ahead and wintersow.

jenepat... i think the Texas thread would be helpful for you.... http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/930241/

jenepat,

I'm south of you in New Braunfels and I've WSown a bunch or containers this month and have a few (20 or 30 LOL) to go. I'd say go for it. I'm a newbie at WSing so we'll see how it does in this area and with my lack of expertise. I've read a lot on DG's about it and it seems to be such an easy way to start seeds and a relatively cheap way, too, if you get the seeds in swaps! About the only seeds I would question would be those that need stratification, but, I'm guessing you still have some freezing weather coming. If you're like us, Jan and Feb are the coldest.
Tonya

Thanks for the quick feedback. Our temps are still pretty chilly (for the most part). This week will be in the 40's-50's with chance of freezing rain & wintery mix. But some days it does get up into the 70's.

Tonya - it sounds like if you're still sowing some, I should be able to also. Will give it a try & see what happens!

Thanks!

Sounds good jenepat, I've actually already had 6 jugs sprout (from seeds sown 1/10), so will probably cover those with a sheet if/when we get another freeze. Someone recommended that and I think another person said it didn't work for them, so will see how it works in NB.

NB, what do you have sprouted so far?

So glad you asked Neal!

Geranium 'Bill Wallis'
Heliotrope (sowed indoors in tp rolls)
Container sweet peas
Gulf Winds allysum
Malva moschata (musk mallow)
a yellow hibiscus

I go out and check every day to find something new sprouting. We have had temps in the 70's and even low 80's one day, so they think it's spring I'm sure.

When they sprout early like this, and then we get a freeze (or frost), doesn't that kill them off? I just think of how tender seedlings are when they first sprout and it seems they would become victims to the cold snaps and volatile temps, no?

I am wondering that, too, jenepat. When I asked this before, some have said the sheet prevents that, others have said they lost their seedlings. So I will see! I may move them out of any direct wind, too, but I know better than to bring them in the house. The temp change would be a bit much, I think.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes! And for the beautiful flower, Jim! I did have a great day, thanks!

Hi jenepat! I think you might be the one I send a dmail about edging material? You and I are "regional neighbors" as I am on the Northwest side of Dallas. I think you still have plenty of time.

Since this is my first year WSing, I am taking almost all of my timing cues from the WS Database http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/ws/ from DGers who are in similar zones. I get all excited when DGer Cordeledawg has a post, since their info is so complete and seems to be in similar conditions. From all this info I have decided to put out my first batch on Feb 1 (including rudbeckia, dahlia, impatient, gazania, daisy, gaillardia, marigolds and others) my second batch early-mid March (including cosmos, petunia, hosta, digitalis, coleus and daylily) and then the last batch in early April (veggies). This season we'll found out how that schedule works!! I'm starting everything later than most since it takes our weather a while to get and stay cold (82 last thursday, ice storm tomorrow) and I'd like to try to avoid early germination. As long as a weird warm snap doesn't trick the seeds into germ early, they are happy to stay out in the cold/ice/freeze. I hope you give it a try!

If you need some milk jugs fast, Starbucks are happy to give up their empty jugs if they're not too busy.

I hope that helps!

-GB

Don't you have an unheated garage? Should keep them from freezing but not too warm. Probably no basements, though, huh?

Wow - thanks for the great info nbgard & GreenerBeaner! Sounds like I'm just in time to pull some WS ideas together & get started - assuming I can get it done!

And yes, you're right GB - we chatted about the stone edging. :)

Yep, I have an unheated garage, but it is pretty full of DH's stuff. May consider setting some containers on top of that stuff, though!. Unfortunately, no basement, much to my chagrin.

I guess I was thinking a little differently about timing. I was thinking that since we can start planting in the ground earlier than other parts of the country, we should WS earlier, too. But that is probably just an old indoor seed propogation line of reasoning that doesn't necessarily apply to WSing. If I can keep my new babies happy, though, it will be worth the extra growth at transplant time. I have WSown some tomato seeds already too, because we have to get our tomatoes as early as possible before the heat really sets in, or so I'm told. First year for me on those too.

I have put tender sprouts in my unheated garage for overnight deep freeze or frost, and it worked well. Covering with sheets has worked for light frost. Notice I said tender sprouts- I don't bother with perennials or hardy annuals. They can take it outside.

Karen

Thanks for chiming in Karen, it was probably you that I remembered commenting on the sheet method before. Hmmmm, tender, perennial, hardy annuals. So many of these plants are new to me and I know I don't have anything but perennial or annual on my spreadsheet so will have to do a little more research soon. I think the lowest we are expecting this week is 38, but I shoul dprobably look those up soon. Don't want to get surprised and not have time to look 'em up! Another one that confuses me is when DG Plantfiles only puts vine or herb. I know that not all vines are perennial, but some reseed and some come back from roots, just not sure which ones. Now herbs are another thing. I'm trying these this year: oregano, basil, borage, lemon balm, lemon mint (lemon bee balm), catnip, creeping thyme. Are all of these annuals?

Basil, borage and Lemon Bee Balm (Monarda citriodora) are annuals (but borage self-seeds so easily it's an honorary perennial!).
Oregano is an herbaceous perennial in Zones 5a to 9b, meaning it comes back each year from the roots.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) is an herbaceous perennial in Zones 3-9
"Creeping Thyme" (Thymus serpyllum) is basically a woody perennial (it stays more or less evergreen all year and comes back each year from the surviving aboveground branches) in Zones 5-9 (and colder; and probably hotter)
"Catnip" could be any of the "Nepeta" species and so, could be an annual or an herbaceous perennial, depending on which you have planted.

Thanks Jim! I am going to copy all of that down so I can remember it! The catnip is nepeta cataria.

Don't overthink it, worry yourself, and feel stressed. You can try things whenever you want and find what works for you. What's a hardy perennial in Texas might well be a tender perennial for me in Ohio.

This is supposed to be fun. There isn't a horticulture textbook to follow verbatim. In Texas you will have a lot less frost to deal with than I have in Ohio. This is all about experimenting and finding what works for you. Have fun., have faith. Play in the dirt in winter and hope for the best.

Karen

NB, I think all your wintersown things will be fine left outside (your Heliotrope needs to stay inside for a while yet though). The only other one on your list I would question is the yellow hibiscus, since its yellow I'm thinking it may be tropical and need protection. We had temps in the 20s when I had sprouts the last couple of years, and although I lost a few seedlings right at the edge of a couple of containers (where wind got in), the majority were fine. That's part of the beauty of wintersowing, it produces transplants that have been toughened to the conditions outside. They transplant into the garden with relative ease too.

Nah, all those perennials on nb's list will be hardy for you, too, Karen!
Including Nepeta cataria, an herbaceous perennial in Zones 3-9
Jim

Thanks for that update, Neal! Hearing that your seedlings mostly survived another temperature plunge into the 20s makes me feel MUCH more secure as our temps start their late winter yoyo-ing!

I didn't say anything about her list. But there are many plants that are hardy in zone 8 but not to zone 6. Even tender annuals sown in winter will usually do OK. They generally won't sprout until they hit a pretty warm temp. Only problem is freak unusually warm weather early followed by return to cold- then they might bite the dust. Or... they might not.

Leap of faith.

Karen

Great info and encouragement from you all. I am thoroughly enjoying it and haven't had any comments from the neighbors yet on my interesting collection of milk jugs! They are in the back yard, but we are on regular city lots with two-story houses, so I'm sure they are wondering what that crazy gardening lady is doing now. At least I don't think I have the reputation of being a cranky gardener like one of my neighbors! (At least I don't think I have that rep!)

Oh, and I forgot to tell y'all something I lazily don't do; secure the lids...yes (collective gasp, lol) its true. Mine are all milk jugs or 2 liter bottles, so they're all hinged, but I don't duct tape them down or anything. Not that I'm recommending that, its just the first year I didn't get around to getting them all taped, then just stopped doing it altogether when I saw no difference. I think that's why I lost a few seedlings on the edges and why wind could get in. I keep most of them butted up against each other, so its not a big deal.

My tape is all coming off anyway. So I hope you're right that it makes little difference. ;-) Lazy gardening, just my style.

for my milk jugs - i use a hole punch and punch a hole, top and bottom... and secure it with a twistie tie.
I've used tape before, for my smaller containers ... i do no tape all the way around though... only enough [like tabs] to keep them closed.

I just use the tab of tape, too. The only problem I have seen with that so far is that some of the soil is drying out a bit in our drought. But that's an easy fix. I don't mind giving them a bit of a drink when necessary. Good to know Neal that you consider my seedlings safe even if some wind can get into them. I may leave some untaped and see how that goes, too.

if you have one of those small plastic kiddy pools... that is a great way to 'bottom water'

just put some water in the pool, and place your jugs in the pool and htey get watered from the bottom... that way you dont have to open them to water them. Also, ,are they in the shade? they will not dry out as fast there.

Karen: I've just used twist ties (after punching holes) and no tape at all. My babies are going to have to be tough!

Angie

Today did my last perennials for the season. I finished up with
Echinacea 'White Swan'
Maltese Cross
Gaillardia 'Dazzler'
I am not sure if the gaillardia is a perennial . I had some last year. Liked it so much just want some more.
I am not going to ws annuals until Feb because mine did not germinate last year nearly as early as I had expected. But we had a late spring last year.
Like Karen says don't make it too hard. Just have fun.
Neal what thread were we talking sowing vinca last week? I have a tough time remember what threads I am on. Anyway you said you had sown yours and now I have sown mine. This is off topic for ws as I sowed these in the house. Hope no one minds me straying just wanted to touch bases with Neal.

Indynanny, yes it was in the Cottage Gardening forum Piggy thread. Here's what Starlight had to say about starting vinca, which worked very well:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=6035539

Angie: I was unable to punch holes, at least with my hole puncher. I hate messing with twist ties anyway, (for anything) so didn't bother buying a new one (hole punch). My duct tape works well for me, and I have a couple of rolls of it anyway. Will continue with it. I just use one or two short strips vertically on a milk jug and it works well.

Karen

Neal I just put mine on heat with a little soil on top. Do I need to put a towel over the cover of my seed starter box? Fortunately the window that I put them in had no sun shining through yesterday as we were preparing for the big snow. We got it last night. Looks like about 8 inches. Did I read that yours are germinated? If so what are doing for them now and where are the located. The only choice I have now is my S exposure windows as it is way too cold in my garage for vinca.

As I posted on another Thread I took the WS plunge (again) about a week ago and I have sprouts! These are seeds that I would normally put in seedsballs but not sell this late in the season in my area. I started BUTTERFLY/HUMMER MIX, TEXAS OKLAHOMA BLEND, CA, SHIRLEY, FLANDERS POPPIES in strawberry containers. These seeds are normally started in the fall-winter so they should survive the Winter Weather Advisory that my area is now under. I guess we will see. I was the one who said that putting a sheet over the containers didn't help but I think I was sowing the wrong seeds. I'm really happy that these seeds germiated so quickly even though they were sown so late.