2009 - What have you sown so far... #2

Okay - so only I can see them - rats! well it's a really good way to keep track of what I winter sow ('cause it links with the plant files) but apparently I cannot generate links that you can view what I have sowed.

Aconitum (monkshood)
Adenophora bulleyana (Ladybells,)
Alchemilla mollis (Lady's Mantle)
Aquilegia vulgaris var. flore-pleno (Columbine - pleated)
Asclepias syriaca (butterfly weed - Cinderella)
Asclepias syriaca (Golden Allysum)
Bergenia cordifolia
Buddleja davidii (Butterfly Bush)
Campanula takesimana
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
Coreopsis "Jethro Tull"

To be continued . . . . DH is going to read more of "Hornblower"

Re - Seandor's Journal ....
Main Journal Page http://davesgarden.com/community/journals/hp/Seandor/
this one looks like 2007/2008 http://davesgarden.com/community/journals/sj/Seandor/3301/
Wintersowing 2009 http://davesgarden.com/community/journals/vbc/Seandor/72302/

when i clicked her link... it took me to blank Perennial page too... but then i did a search for hers ... not easy to search - since there really is no search for a particular person's, though luckily she was on page 2.

Proc.- I don't recall there being any criteria for the SASE group, from Wintersown.org, is that the site you went to or another?

Hi all~Thus far, I've wintersowed: papaver'Lauren grape', aquilegia' nora Barlow', buddleia davidii-red blooms, gaillardia 'Indian blanket', digitalis purpurea, rudbeckia, echinacea purpurea, coreopsis grandifloria, eupatorium maculatum, salvia'Brenthurst', mealy cup salvia, red salvia, heliopsis helianthoides, consolida delphinium, rose campion, liatris and alcea rosea- pink blooms. It's fun to review everyone's lists and imagine the various blooms soon to come in the gardens!

Thanks tcs1366! I am not sure why it worked for you . . .

Nice lists Seandor!

The problem is - I have to restrain myself from doing to much. I did have a little "garden party" last Sunday where I shared some of my seeds and introduced neighbours and friends to wintersowing.

They were amazed when I said to put the containers outside - in the snow - and let 'em freeze! One fellow thought he would have to attend to the seeds all winter long.

Gee . . . I sure hope the seed germinate! Won't they be amazed? I remember the first time I did this . . . I couldn't believe it!

I went to the site that is seeds for newbies. I didn't go to the wintersown site. Duh.

Boy. I missed a lot after shutting down early last nite. I am going to continue to watch and learn here. You are so amazing! I mention WS to people that know that one of my first loves is gardening and they think I am talking about sewing. LOL. Wish there was someone around here that thought the same way I do. I have to give them a pass though, since I do sew or what I call "create."

Thanks for being there everyone.Sure makes my life easier.

Will bbl.

Smiles and Hugs

Elaine and Otis

I mentioned it to a few people too - and had say S-O-W, not S-E-W.

Yup - I had to do the same and then get the, "Are you playin with a full deck?" look.

It seems like a well-kept secret and I am hoping, after this year, that I am a true believer.

Hugs Elaine and Otis

Do any of you use plastic bags like Ziploc 1 gallon size and corral the bags in containers with drainage? I thought this sounded fascinating and more do-able since we buy our milk in three bags. We don't have milk jugs because they are too heavy for me. You open them up once the seeds have started to germinate. Of course you put slits in the plastic bags for drainage as well. You can label them with a marker placed in plastic and set label side out at the bottom of the bag.

Does this make sense or did someone already mention this approach on this thread and I missed it?

Any thoughts would be very appreciated.

Hugs Elaine and Otis

Elaine,

yes, some folks have used bags. Grampapa used this nifty system last year with pleated bags, about the size of paper lunch pages. [if you go to the top of this thread, and click the "we came from here" ... i do believe she has images in that thread]

but i do recall seeing image of gallon sized ziploc.s -- i'm just not sure where they are. [though i could find them ... may do that and add the link]

as for labeling.... sharpie markers will fade, especially if in the sun. Many of us use "paint pens"
some find you can mark on the bottom of said container with marker, and they are OK... but many of us mark in at least 2 ways, incase 1 wears off... you know what's in the jug.

I tend to just number my containers, and i carry my spreadsheet with me on a clip board.... and that has all my data - plus lines for additional remarks. [which will then get entered into Excel ... and now i'm using that google docs thing]

if you go to the top of the WS forum. in the sticky... there are categories that are broken down... Last year Jan [grampapa] and I condensed many many threads into a few .. to consolidate much of the good info on this forum

there is one for ways to label your containers, a container thread, soil thread... you get the picture.
A LOT of great info.

if you are ever bored, it's a good place to browse.

Hope this helps,

Terese

Thanks Terese!

My middle name is Therese and I very rarely see your name spelled the way it is. I love the spelling.

There are so many great places to look here as you have been so good to lead me to. I really appreciate that. I have suffered the heartache of having all my labeling wear off when I used vinyl blinds, cut to size. Sharpies don't work and Permanent Markers, I have discovered are not permanent at all. I am going to the big city (Peterborough - about 45 to 60 minutes away) for an appointment so I am going to a craft store and see if they have a paint pen. I couldn't find one at Walmart and I sure looked.

I know that I pulled up plants that I mistook for weeds since the labeling came off and the pup liked to steal things out of the garden.

If all else fails I will pull out my craft paints and see if I can use a fine brush and paint the markers with enamel paint. I like your system of using a clip board and then inputting in the computer. I could keep track of planting dates, germination dates,etc.

Thanks again for all your very generous help. I did see the bag system in "let's talk containers." I think that is what it is called.

I am having information overload so I am going to incubate this info and plan for what to buy in the "big city'. Not much here in Hickville. :( A dollar store is about the most exciting place to go.

I know I sound like a broken record but a big thanks to you and everyone else who has responded to all my "newbie" questions. I am close to the point of just doing it and stop overthinking the WSing process. It just scares me some but I've been known to jump into things once I get double dog dared.

Smiles and Hugs

Elaine and Otis

i found mine at Walmart in the craft dept. though i'm sure a craft store would be a better place.

i was going to comment about Otis possibly taking the large Ziplocs filled with soil if they are not in a larger container [box, ect.] Buddy for sure would have stolen mos of my milk jugs if they were not in cardboard boxes.

Good luck at your apt... i did read about that somewhere. Pet forum i'm sure.

thanks for the comment on my name... I dont see that spelling much either. usually with an A or an H or both.

Gosh Terese - I just had a big DUH moment. You are Bud and Charilie's Mom aren't you? Small world. I got so wrapped up in my WSing thinking that I never even noticed the user name. What a dope I am.

You did take that cutie-pie Charlie in, didn't you?

Hanging my head at my stupidity

Hugs Elaine and Otis

guilty as charged. He's been a lot of fun.

I use grease crayons I stole from the casino restaurant (KINO) for my labels.

I am gonna check out the craft store and see if they have either. Whichever is better for my budget is what I will get.

Thanks again

Hugs Elaine And Otis

There is a Sharpie marker that works -- "Industrial" Sharpie, resistant to heat & UV. Holds up for a year or more for me (and I have lots of sun). Paint pens get good reviews also.

Elaine, I "double dog dare you" to stop thinking so much about your poor delicate little seeds and just do it! As long as you pick varieties that might self-sow naturally, it'll work out great. And I've had some things do well with WS that I've never seen here as volunteers, so I really think the protection of the containers increases your chances of success. :-)

Thanks Critter! That is just what I needed to hear. Got 20 bags, got my earth, got some containers (need to drill some holes in the bottom) got 3 cardboard boxes and have my seeds. Will see how much I get done before I head into Peterborough for an appt. Ha, ha.

Never could resist a double dog dare!

Thanks all

Keeping fingers crossed here but just am going for it. All I need is my marker and I'm getting that when I go to the "big city" today.

Hugs Elaine and Otis

Moving right along, here are some more I sowed yesterday:
Borage
Cosmos:
Dwarf Sensation Mix
Seashells mix
Daydream
Picotee
Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’
Daylilies:
Bela Lugosi
Hint of Blue
Indian Giver
Lord Chamberlain
Lavatera thuringiaca
Tidy tips
Liatris spicata
Scarlet flax
Lobelia ‘String of Pearls’
Lemon Balm
Lemon Mint
Catnip
Love-in-a-mist
Two different candylilies
Pasque flower
Purple bell vine
Salvia sylvestris ‘Rose Queen’
Pink and purple NE asters
Creeping Thyme
Oregano
A purple mint
Siberian iris ‘Caesar’s Brother’
Chives
Garlic chives

And yes, still more to go! Fun, Fun, Fun!
Already have six containers germinated. I've lost count of how many sown, but will count in a few days when I've done some more. DH is set to do another run on the neighborhood recycle bins Thursday. He's a keeper!

Pro-Elaine, just to check... you said "earth" but I'm hoping you meant "potting mix." Garden dirt or soil doesn't seem to work well; you need a soil-less mix that won't compact.

Thanks Jill. I have one bag of that but will get more today while in the big city.

So lets see - Organic soil-less potting mix, grease pencil, paint pen or industrial sharpie. I can do that. Did I forget anything? I will use the seeds that I have and am hoping that Neal can provide me with some other seeds. Sounds like we have the same cottage/english style garden. I am so excited about this.

I have figured out where I will put them and will put a barrier around them so that
Mr. Otis doesn't get them. He seems to have some strange radar that attracts him to things that I care about the most and feels the need to retrieve them and then rip it apart or play keep away. I think I have thought of everything. I will pick up more bags since 20 seems like it won't be enough.

Will keep you posted. Did I forget anything? Oh yeah. I have a set of vinyl mini blinds that I will use as markers and I have my spread sheet ready in Word.
I will dig out the clip board too.

Oh I hate to wait until tomorrow but my schedule is tight today and I don't want to see the dietitian with dirty nails. Maybe I should find my gloves. Can't you see the wheels spinning in my brain? LOL

Will keep all you great people posted. Maybe I should practice my cartwheels cause I have a feeling I am going to be doing lots of them once all those babies germinate.

With thanks

Hugs Elaine and Otis

Elaine, I'm finding more stuff for ya I forgot about. A goody package will be on the way to you this week :-)

Yippee! Yahoo! Right on! Ooh! Oh my!

Neal - Can you tell I am a wee bit excited? Zippidy do da zippidy aye!!!!!

You rock Neal!

Is my age showing?

With BIG THANKS

Hugs Elaine and Otis

Regarding sharpies and labeling. I have never had any problem labeling jugs, etc, if I simply made sure the side of the container I wrote on faced north. ^_^

Hi all.

Got my soil-less organic potting mix, my bags filled, cardboard boxes for storing, some buckets with holes in the bottom and figured out the Sharpie problem. Thanks for the note about labeling facing north. That is what I was thinking since all my labeling has faced south and west. My kitchen is a mess right now but it is "work in progress" so I can live with it for a short period of time.

I had a lovely surprise and spent the day today with my youngest daughter. My WSing is put on hold right now while we visit. That's okay though because I don't get to see her very often and we are very close. She is like a tonic. She will be visiting for a while longer today.

Just thought I should let you know why I am MIA. Don't want to give the impression that I am being rude.

Will bbl today or tomorrow and let you know my progress.

I can't thank everyone enough for all their help. Sure is great to get some guidance from knowledgeable people.

Smiles and Hugs
Elaine and Otis

I know this thread is for what have you wintersown but am just sending out prayers for Neal and everyone else in Kentucky. Sure hope everyone is okay. Looks horrific on the news that we are seeing.

Hugs Elaine and Otis

I WS"ed 12 more jugs last night. I still have to update my spreadsheet, which i now have on Google Docs... but here's what a i got done:

Catnip
Amaranthus, gangeticus
Pink MilkWeed
Tithonia Rotundifolia
Heliopsis helianthoides v. scabra
Verbena bonarensis
White Cosmos Sonata
Indian Summer, BES
Centranthrus ruber
Thymus serpyllum
Echinacea, Merlot
Echinacea, Summer Sky

i've only got 27 containers done so far...

Wow! this is an active thread! I was thinking about NOT WS this year since last year, although successful in some things, it was more hassel than it was worth. It looks like so many of you are from my home state, Texas. I'm originally from Houston and New Waverly. I sure miss zones 8 and 9. I graduated from Sam Houston with a degree in Horticulture!
I now live up here in the frozen tundra and can relate with Joannabannana! Our temps are in the -20's too!
I wonder if I know bobyrd?
Anyway, last year I started alot of seeds indoors and my house was overtaken. My DH was not impressed! Some how I missed how to use milkjugs. Could someone please tell me how to do this in my zone, or is there a link? Im not new to DG, my mom gives me a subscription. She lives in New Waverly and recently got her master gardner certification.
I have ordered a bunch of seeds already with some of my garden club buddies. I figured I would just by the six packs of tomatos and other veggies. Maybe someone out there can encourage me to 'try again'!
I am enjoying this thread!
Shirb

Oh, by the way! I noticed a number of you having trouble keeping track of your new seedlings. May I suggest this: Use a pencil since it is waterproof. Also, you can use cut-up mini blinds or you can order white plastic labels from a greenhouse supplier. On the plant marker put the name of the seed and the date you started the seed. I even put on there how many days the seeds are supposed to germinate so I dont have to go back to the package. Here is an example:

Cosmo 'Double Click'
01/29/09 (7-14g)

This way when you want to record the germination, you can do it when it is more convienient.
Hope this helps!

Ok, one more thing to help. I was reading through the threads one more time to make sure I didnt miss the milk jugs. Some of you are wondering about soil for germination. When I worked in the greenhouse, the best soil that worked was just two parts plain peat moss and one part vermiculite (the gold stuff). This keeps the soil fluffy and moist so all you have to do is water with a mist from a water bottle. You will need to moisten the mixture before putting it in containers. Just moist enough to form a ball in your fist and it stays together without water coming out of your hands when you squeeze. Just sharing what worked best for me.
Shirb

There's a milk jug photo and some other tips in this intro article I wrote on WS: http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/585/

That's a good description of just-right damp potting mix. I use Pro Mix, and I think its consistency is probably close to what you describe -- I think they use perlite rather than vermiculite. For stuff that I think might need better drainage, I add more perlite. Vermiculite has varied, for me, in the amount of water it holds, so I find it easier to judge watering if I use perlite.

Hi Shirb~ "frozen tundra" is a very good reason for W/Sing and you can also w/s your tomatoes and peppers...though I dwait till about 4-5 weeks before I plant them out in the garden. I would like to encourage you to try W/Sing again and to tweak your sowing if need be. Perhaps you will have more successes than hassles this year. Thanks for your suggestions, anything to make labeling and sowing easier is always welcomed!

Thanks critterologist,
You are right, perlite is better in some things. Thanks for the link and I am going to look at the database you posted. Can you believe it is snowing outside and -18 as I write this! Hard to get in the mood for WS! I dont think I can put jugs outside just yet! My DH said he is going to build me a greenhouse so I dont have so many plants in the house! (Do you think my plant invasion worked!) Anyway, do you know anything about coldframing?
Thanks for the info!
Shirb

Hi Shirb! One of the reasons I started looking into WSing is because there wasn't room to start my veggies in the house and still have room for superfluous things like chairs, beds and family members. :D If your Hub doesn't get that greenhouse built for you right away - you ought to throw a few seeds and your lovely sounding starting mix into a milk jug, put it outside, and wait to see what happens! Critter's article is great, as is the "sticky" thread at the top of the WS forum has lots of great links that will explain all the details. My favorite resources are the WSing database http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/ws/ for when and what to plant, this thread and the New to WSing thread.

Have fun getting hooked!

-GB

Also make sure to visit http://www.wintersown.org -- lots of clear instruction there.

Hey, Shirb, I am working on an article for the newsletter about cold frames right now! I love WSing, but wanted to add the cold frame option for the things I do start inside. I'll let you know when I get it done, and when it will appear! Hopefully sooner, rather than later. I still have a bunch of pictures to take before I can finish it up!

Angie

Thanks for the info on misting the soil. That was the only thing that was missing from the vast amount of knowledge gathered here.

I did get 16 containers WSed today. I found the time-consuming task was labeling and keeping records of everything on a spreadsheet with columns left for when they germinate and whether it was a success/failure and room for extra notes.

I have learned from mistakes in the past though and if things aren't properly labeled and documented then I am in the land of confusion. I couldn't help but wish that I had someone to do all the documentation and labeling and I could just go ahead and get the seeds in the bags. I followed the bag method to the letter (grandpapa's method? not sure if I spelled his name right). I set the timer in the kitchen and if I stopped for any reason, I reset the timer to time away from work.

I hope to get more done this weekend. I am not going to baby anything and just see what happens. I guess I had to be in the right mood and I was today. Inhibition be darned - Just went for it!

Got a d-mail from Neal and all is okay except they were without power until someone brought over a generator. They have a wood stove so have been using that. Going anywhere is treacherous right now so I am assuming he is staying put as much as possible. Please keep all the DGers who are struggling with this ice storm and power outages in your thoughts and prayers.

I am learning so much from this thread. Thanks to all for the info.

Hugs Elaine and Otis