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Cottage Garden Seed Swap & Chat #26
carrying over incase ya didnt see it.
Thanks Tcs! : )
Danita. yes they do. They have to be dead headed as soon as done blooming. I keep mine fertilized all season too exept for like now. When small i feed with miracle grow and also off to the side put abotu a half of teaspoon of slow release fertilizer.
Now if i keep them deadheaded and the temps get way over in the hudnreds. Sometiems they wil slow down for a bit and just grow leave s but then wil be blooming again when temps stays back in the 80's and low 90's in the sun shade
carrying over too...
Thanks Star! My mom loves the flowers so I know she'd like a longer bloom period.
OK Star, so I don't need to WS the columbine? That will work - fewer jugs to try to keep track of. I don't have the multiple tiny cell trays, but I do have some trays that have long lines rather than individual cells - I'll dedicate one to the columbines and we'll see what happens.
Edited to add: thanks for the new thread Terese!
This message was edited Jan 21, 2009 6:08 PM
Forgot to say.. Seandor and KL.. mailed yoru seeds off today.
Dryad. It be abotu a week before I get to po again, but if ya want a coupel of tiny cuz I got mien already cut into 72 for gallon size baggy and 24 plug sections for half gallon size when i don't do alot of seed of oen kind, can mail ya a coupel of trays. They will fit into a bubbler easily.
I've read that Columbine germination greatly improves with some cold stratification so I would WS or do the baggie method personally.
Star if you don't mind sending me one or two I would be SO happy! I wonder if I should put the seeds in the fridge for a few weeks to get their temps down lower (they're being kept in the 50's right now) before I sow them?
I keep mine in the fridge til I sow. Keep everythign in there but food. No room for food. Even have containers of dirt in there with seeds chilling. LOL
Dryad. Just dmail yoru addy again so , I don't have to go back through all these slips again.
if anybody else wants a couple of seed sowign trays let me know. These are the trays that give ya the like the half inch wide to one inch deep plugs that youc an keep yoru seed in for sevral months as logn as ya fertilize em.
Dryad - I wanted to ask you about germinating the pineapple sage seeds, I got some from lea and if they need anything special I want to give it to them because I really want to see some blooms!! : ) I started them yesterday, I have a heat mat that I got last year. (i meant to ask if it would help with them?)
tcs you made me remember - I have to start the A. curasavica earlier this year than last. I only got 2 with blooms before the monarchs gobbled them up. I have seeds left over from the year before when I had a billion so I have a bunch to start. I wish I didn't lose my records from last year! I can't be sure what worked.
I found somewhere that they take about 14 weeks to flower, and I remember them germinating slowly and eraticly, so I figure they need to be sown now or within the next couple weeks, I think a heat mat helps with these but I'm going to try both ways and see what works better.
This message was edited Jan 21, 2009 9:06 PM
I don't think I explained the lost records right - it was actually two years ago that I don't have the records from. And that was thyear that I started them soon enough and had lots of flowers and seeds for sharing! This is my info from last year and a pic - you can see in the pic how somw are so much bigger than others, it shows how eraticly they germinated. If anyone doesn't know about it the milestone tool in the journal is awesomw for keeping track of seed starting - you should check it out!
Sow @ 65 to 70ºF , 30-120d
Milestones
On Mar 30, 2008, "Started Indoors" occurred. (Delete)
79 days later, on Jun 17, 2008, "Planted" occured. (Delete)
Oops I missed some of the info -
5 seeds per cell. Seed was collected from my garden and was stored in the fridge. Started on a heat mat; As seed germinated it was removed from heat, and cover was taken off and the flat was put under lights. Some seeds continued to germinate while under lights.
Now if I could just remember to add when they germinate with them all instead of just a couple. ; )
This message was edited Jan 21, 2009 9:17 PM
I gotta admit - I got actual plants from Lea after Suzy went to see her last spring. I'm heading down to see my sis this weekend and am going to swing by and see Lea, I'll ask her for the lowdown on the Pineapple sage - can't hurt as I got some to start this year too.
Who was asking me about the pineapple sage seeds? I found when I sowed them last year :)
pineapple sage ~ started soaking 3-4
picked 19 out of the peroxide soak that had sprouted and planted ~ 3-6
planted downstairs under lights in 2 1/2" pots, had to transfer to 3" pot before they went outside.
I sowed my columbine in seed trays around the first of April last year and put them in my little unheated big lots greenhouse kept them in for three weeks then took them out and put them under lights and they all germinated by the end of April, I can see starting these early because they take so long to get some size on them.
LOL speak of the devil :) And I had my instructions for the PS too :)
Oh good ask her! she popped in to say hi the other day but that was it - I'm sure she is super busy with her dad so lmk. : ) At least I have a pack started just at room temps. but the room is about 80 all day and a good part of the night! My dh Loooves his woodstove. : )
OH MY cross poted with you Lea it's great to hear from ya! How is your Dad??
He looked good today and seems like he is getting back to his old self now thank goodness, this has been so hard on him moving and he was so out of sorts but he looked good today first time in almost a month, I was really getting worried about him, thanks for asking :) Now I just need to get that darn nursing home straightened out! I still haven't talked to a doctor there! I'm soo mad!
Oh I'm so glad he seems to be getting better! That must be so hard on you - so much stress! I hate stress!! What's up with that darn nursing home!?
Was that you that was asking about the pineapple sage Meredith? I thought I made a note of it but if I did I couldn't find it :)
I've been trying to get dad back on the meds. he was on at home and the nursing home has taken the names down a few times, they had the names at the hospital and they didn't give them to him either they won't give dad the ones that I have at the nursing home because they aren't packaged in their package? Stupid people! I don't know when I'm going to get that straightened out.
Ugh that ios such a pain! You think they would want to make things easier on you two - not harder!!
Thanks for looking for that info - I will just have to try some on the heat mat and some not and see what happens. : )
*Adding an extra special thank you for sending those to me - much appreciated ; )
This message was edited Jan 21, 2009 9:45 PM
Your welcome :) Hope they all germinate for you, I soaked mine in H202 last year and they sprouted in the soak in two days :) This is really early to start them though I would think unless you have enough light and space for them.
Oh that's good to know, if they don't germinate within the week I'll soak some. Yup I have a big light set up - I might set up one small rack in a warmer room than usual for the stuff I'm starting now. How much H2O2 should be used?
Oh gosh, they were talking about how much to use back in #24 I think, I just poor a little of this and that most of the time :) I don't think you can use too much, seems like I used about two tbls. in a quart bottle last year, I I was glad toknow it doesn't keep over night, I didn't know before :)
Okay sounds good - I remembered them saying not really an exact science to the amount. I'll probably just use a regular small drinking glass so I'll just a dd about a tablespoon by eye. Sound pretty good?
Oh Yeah, it's the little things.
I'm always on the look-out for seed starting containers. Summer, fall winter....doesn't matter I can spot 'em a mile away. I even have some of my friends trained on what qualities to look for in a take out container. Bob Evans has always been my favorite with it's deep bottom and nice high-domed lid... ....up until now that is. It's so simple, so obvious and so readily available - how did I miss it all this time? Yesterday one of my buddies brought me a container that once held his Wendy's baked potato. OMG it's perfect! If you only want to start a few seeds it's ideal. So ideal in fact that I went to Wendy's tonight, ordered my baked potato, then asked if I could purchase another dozen containers. LOL!
And now for the advice portion of my post. At what point do you feel that you can safely remove trays from your heat mat without jeopardizing any stragglers? I know most people are probably going to say, "I move them when I need more room on the mat," which is where I'm at now. But seriously, do you think you lose many seedlings by moving them too early? Or do you think that once over 1/2 have germinated, and none have come up for a few days that the fat lady is about ready for her encore? I suppose it depends on the seed too, but I'm kind of curious what you all have to say. Or maybe I just want someone's permission to move the rudbeckia and get the angelonia going.
LOL @ me.
(Good to see you Lea!)
If it were me I'd move them. I usually always end up getting late germinaters in the trays. Sometimes it's not until the start of summer, but they do eventually germinate without the heat mat if they ever will. : )
You made me remeber I wanted to ask if I am the only one that still has a bunch of seed trays full of non germinaters from last year? I have like 6 trays of stuff I'm hoping will come out of dormancy this spring. I need the space though - so I'm planning that I can dump them out in a spot they could still germinate and have like an instant garden like they sell in the cans lol. I'll just make sure I sprinkle some of the stuf I have an overabundance of with them in case they are no gos.
Oh my Meredith, from last year? Where have you kept them all this time? Do you keep them watered? I'm afraid I'd never remember to take care of them.
(And thanks for the permission to move the rudbeckia. The angelonia thanks you too!)
It's actually funny because I didn't intend for it to happen! I just kept condensing things that weren't germinating into the same trays. They were in a zip up patio greenhouse and I watered them everytime I watered the seedlings that were still in there. I kept it outside until it froze then brought it into my garage which doesn't get colder than 40 degrees and din't water much at all. Some stuff might still germinate because I always end up sowing something way too late! I was checking it out and it looks like the rose of sharon seedlings are going to leaf out soon. I have a bunch of lily seedlings from last year and a tray of liatris seedlings - no signs of life but hoping for the best. I also brought in about 20 texas star hibiscus because they wouldn't have survived the winter here otherwise because I wouldn't have been able to plant them until fall. They might not evewn survive if planted in spring.
THANK-YOU THANK-YOU, THANK-YOU TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR THE GREAT SURPISE THAT I RECIEVED!!!!!
I got a whole lot of seeds from a great group of people! I know you will NEVER know the excitment I had as I openned the package and the seeds just kept coming! Things have really been hard the last couple of days, having to make lists of everything we had for taxes, and you know what really upsets me the most was my flowers!!! and no one seems to understand that like you guys do....and I am soooooooo grateful...and believe me I will pay it foward, as I have a brother who lost everything too, and is rebuilding, so he too will get some help from me (and you) to plant some seeds!
and again I can not tell you thank-you enough!!!!
thanks again, cindy
If that didn't just warm the old cockles I don't know what would.
Cindy you are very, very welcome.
well that just put a great big :-) on my face! I'm glad you'll have something pretty growing again soon. Andrea
Just want to add my "good to see you Lea" You are sounding now like the Lea I met last year on DG
It is heartwarming how you all on this thread and all the others I have visited are so willing to help. want2bee you have come to a good group.
I'm going to start my vinca tomorrow and see what happens. Since I've found out how long it takes I understand my local nursery always having them ready last way after the other plants are big and lucious. I always wondered about that. Anyone have any experience with growing vinca LMK.
Veronica
Thanks for the Columbine info Ella as I too had 0 germination last year when I WS them:( I hope to start seeds in a couple weeks-have to get myself organized-I have a crap load of trays and pots I got from that co-op a coupld mos back....
Lala, you mentioning Angelonia reminded me. Do any of them set seed, or are they all purchased? I'd love to grow some, but trying to buy things that will give me seed in the future :)
Veronica I just said to myself "I gotta start the vinca today!" This will be my first time growing them at home. Years ago I grew them in the campus greenhouse while in college. I just remember them being very slow- seems like they stay tiny forever, then suddenly decide to grow. Probably when it gets warm enough (although it seems that GH was kept pretty warm). Seems I recall they didn't like being kept too moist- Ella, you grow them don't you? What say you, oh wise one, LOL.
here ya go: posted this for Kl on the seed germination forum
Vincas like to have a rest period. They come up and will liek sit and sit and sit for months, then all of sudden when the daylight is long enough and the temps high enough then they will kick in.
Last year I had Vinca plants that got up to 4' tall and as wide and bloomed all the way until january when a real hard killing frost took em out.
Vinca is kinda tough to get started, but once it does and gets established it very drought tolerant.
Actually, vinca germinate sbetter when you have older seed . If you using freshly harvested seed, best to wait 4 to 6 months before sowing it. It needs a period of dormancy rest inside the seed.
You want to cover the seed, place in total darkness and start germination temps at 80 F. Most seed will germinate in 6 to nien days. Once you have emregence then you want to brign into the light and drop temps down to about 75F no lower.
It takes about 14 to 15 weeks to get the seedlings to a 6 pack size and 16 to 18 weeks to get to a 4" to size .
The big thing to rememebr with Vinca is it doesn't like cold anythign lower than 65F at night and you get stuntd and leaf diseases on yoru seedlings.
They take a bit of work, but once ya get the hang of them they really a beautiful plant that will survive in alot of areas where other plants won't.
Thanks Ella! Makes sense in the Vinca, its day length and warmth together that makes 'em crank. I used to plant them at the cemetary, they took the sun, heat, drought, and poor soil like it was nothing! Glad to know that sitting still they do is normal.
Do any of you wintersow Calendula? I'm thinking some have said they reseed for them. If WS is a good option for them, is it ok to do it now?
Trying to catch up...
THANK YOU for all the fabulous seeds in my piggy trough! WOW! I've just begun to sort through them, and so far I have them separated into "start inside," "direct sow in spring," "winter sow" and "look up" piles. :-)
Neal, the blooms on Salvia lyrata 'Purple Knock Out' are just little white flowers on short stalks... that's one that I grow for the foliage.
I've got to get busy with some seed starting as well as planning my sowing & planting...
Lea,
Sending you a D-mail on some tips for nursing home!!
Gald to see you chatting here.
Blessing's
Carolyn
LOl Critter. Y aneed somethign else to look at and think abotu besides ppepper seeds. Work fast girl cuz when them pepper seeds arrive ya gonan be goign crazy. LOL