What have you wintersowed so far #5

I noticed that i have ONE Penstemon heterophyllus 'Electric Blue'

it is not hardy to my zone... but i'm hoping for the best. It is a stunning looking bloom.
I am certainly hoping for more germination.

I have a jug of Helenium that had sprouted well, but now there are none. I believe freezing temps got them, but that really surprised me since they're perennial. Have any of you had an issue with them?

Yes, same thing happened with mine. A few seeds survived and I'm now getting a few sprouts, but the large majority of them froze after sprouting.

ah ha, sounds like that needs to be noted in the WS data base!

Most of my digitalis and columbines are up now. Woo hoo! I waited about 2 months for them to germinate. Just gotta be patient!

Oh, too bad about the helenium sprouts. I guess those need to wait till some warmer temps are in the offing.

Karen

I was discussing the Helenium with a member in another forum and she recommends waiting to see if unsprouted seeds may still germinate. I'll hold on to the containers for a while and see what happens.

Sounds like a good idea to me. Some seeds take a long time to germinate.

Karen

I still have "White Swan" echinaecea to germinate, Dill, White liatris, Bells of Ireland and I know there are a couple more but it is too cold and gloomy to run out and check them. I am getting tired of looking and not seeing anything but gee the weather has not been conducive to growing plants from seed. So maybe a little success whe n the sun shines........

I did red and gold Helenium last year, and had the same problem--the first batch to germinate froze. However, more did come up, and much later, when I dumped the extra soil in another bed, more came up. That last batch did the best of them all. I think they must like the warmer temperatures.

Thanks for the confirmation Bookerc1, good news!

Veronica... many of my White Swans have germinated. I think i have 7 tiny babies. I hope they come "true" as these are seeds from my garden. Looks like 12 seeds were sown. I haven't checked in a few days... as the weather has been garbage.

I wonder if some varieties of helenium don't produce viable seed, because mine (one of the red-maroon ones) has never seeded itself despite hundreds or thousands of blooms, many of which missed being deadheaded.

I haven't seen a thing from my Cleome or Liatris, the other one I thought would make an appearance is my purple hyacinth bean vine. But I got nothin there. In fact most of my vines are just popping up. I only have 2 Morning glories that have put up a sprout. None in my black-eyed-susan vine. I am really hoping some of the vines take off. I think I added up that I have over 800 linear feet of fencing. Now I know I cannot possibly cover it all but I do hope to add at least a little color out there.

perenniallyme, I'm glad you mentioned the red Helenium, I've had no germination in that container.

Lissa, I was about to say that sounds normal for Cleome because they wait till its good and warm, but then realized your zone. Have you been getting pretty consistent warm temps?

My White Swan Coneflower (sown 3/31) has yet to sprout - prob still too early. The Black-eyed Susan vine sown 2/3 has yet to sprout, but the Black-eyed Susan vine sown 3/2 sprouted 4/13. Go figure.

Well. we have had days in the 70s and days in the 50s. Over the last week observed, highs between 59 and 78, lows 37-47.

I do have lots of seeds left over of both the white and pink Cleome. If I don't see anything I will probably direct sow some more.

Neal, I'm glad I didn't collect those helenium seeds or I might have disappointed some at the piggy swap.

i went out and scanned my containers earlier... for my Echinacea, i have
5 out of 12 White Swan
5 out of 16 Tennesseensis
Summer Sky - did not count
Merlot has not germinated yet.

Looks like i have about 50 containers with some sort of germination -- that's out of about 125 or so containers.

Ack - We are still having some below freezing weather at night. Not as often but still happening although it is generally just a few degrees below freezing more often than a big nose dive at night.

I have been perplexed by a question about my California Poppies. I have people telling me that they won't survive once I plant them because they don't like to be moved.

I, being such a neophyte, sometimes, look at these people with a stupid look on my face and don't know how to respond. Does anyone have ideas about this?

I was hoping that since they are hardier because of the WSing, they would survive a move to their permanent home.

HELP PLEASE

With thanks

Elaine - the person who is finding out the more I know the more questions I have.

Elaine, while they typically don't like to be moved, if done when they're small they transplant just fine. Many prefer the "hunk of seedlings" method of transplanting. That way you may loose a few, but those in the center of the little hunk are relatively untouched. I was skeptical the first time I wintersowed poppies, but they did just fine.

Oh Neal - Once again you are a life-saver! I am so blessed to have you in my life.

Thanks again. BTW - I did do the HOS method in the container so that should be easier.

Hugs Elaine and Otis

Elaine -- have you planted them out already? If so, you can also take a container of sorts and cover them. I've done that before with my milk jugs ... adds a lil bit of protection, especially if it is windy.

Had some old field goldenrod germination today. The green mold kept advancing in some of the containers so I sprayed those down with a very dilute vinegar-water mix. Hopefully that won't harm the seedlings!

No way did I plant them out yet. Too fragile. I noticed some mossy looking growth in one of my containers. Is vinegar/water the way to go with that or can I use damp off treatment (specifically for my seedlings)? See. So many questions. Sorry but it is the only way I'm going to learn and hopefully help others by the knowledge I have acquired.

Elaine and Otis

I've heard chamomile tea for that green moldy stuff.

as for the container of poppies... you can make sure that container is in teh middle of all the others, if they are clustered... that is what i do.

and i havent planted out any of my poppies either. though they are probably big enough. I think it's my 8th Wonder Poppies that are the biggest. I also have Peony Poppies too. i think those are the only 2... though i should check my seed basket for more.

I meant to mention earlier, I've had the green mossy growth on containers before, but didn't worry with doing anything about it. It didn't seem to hurt anything. I think once the tops are removed from the containers, the increased light and air circulation will take care of it.

I direct sowed my California Poppies and annual Papaver varieties, and they're up and growing, ignoring any cold weather. Its been down to 27 since they've had true leaves.

Can't remember where I read the vinegar-water thing, but someone definitely advised it recently for WS containers with that greenish stuff. Who knows whether it was good advice?

Hey Everyone!
I have sprouts! Its my Cal poppies! I just hope I can transplant after what I have been reading! I think I will just plant the whole jug in the ground-minus the top of course! JK! Anyway! I am just excited that I have sprouts!

Helene

Congratulations!!!!

Sprouts are such a small thing and yet few things give so much joy. Seeing these sprouts that set outside thru snow and cold just makes a person want to get all philosophical and emotional and other stupid stuff. LOL

I've never had a problem with Cal poppies. They sow nicely and transplant nicely. As a matter of fact. The weather will allow me to get out and transplant a few containers this weekend.

Kathy - I completely agree with your feelings regarding seeing those sprouts make it through the tough times. I find it inspirational!

Shirb - That is what I was going to do as well. Just plop them in with the existing soil in the container and hope they don't get too stressed about their new home.

Sorry I haven't been around but I have been busier than a one-armed wallpaper hanger these days. Seems I don't even have time to tie my shoes. Why all my appointments and commitments have to come all together, I will never know. Guess I am my own worst enemy sometimes.

Take care all and thanks for being such a wonderful, supportive group. I have learned so much from all of you and continue to do so.

Hugs Elaine and Otis

I think one of the keys to transplanting certain seedlings is to do it on a cool day. Less stress on the poor things. I have found when digging and potting up columbines that they do well if I do it in the early spring and on a cool day or they really droop bad.

Karen

As is so often the case, we went from winter to summer in about a day, skipping spring. It has been so hot and windy the past few days that I'm reluctant to transplant very much. I had a flat of cups of 8 to 10 inch indoor-started Yvonne's salvia outside for a while the other day. The were bent over in half from the wind and one snapped at the soil line. I had to bring them back inside. They are screaming to be released to the ground. And the temp is supposed to be in the upper 80s with the same 30 mph winds today and tomorrow.

I might just spend some time today weeding out volunteer flowers and composting today.I have volunteer rudbeckia and verbena bonariensis coming up everywhere. I also need to add some more soil to my indoor tomatoes and unsprouted WSown castor beans- they have heaved up to the soil surface.

We spent most of yesterday at the Cincinnati flower show and running some errands- no garden time.

Karen

Karen -- your WS'ed Yvonne's germinated already? mine have not... I was really hoping for a bunch this year... so far, all i have is indoor sown ones. Two are a good sized... the biggest even sent out a single bloom that has been there at least 2 weeks now. I've been keeping them outside, and they have withstood the high winds... and even the hail we got yesterday... but then - after the hail, i put them on the front porch where they would be more protected, in case we got more hail... and it dipped into the 30's again last night. I no longer worry about those two.

I have [i think] 7 more lil seedling - they have second set of leaves already - if i recall correctly .. though they are only about an inch high. and i have to say... either very poor germination rate... or i am just doing something wrong.
58 seeds for 9 seedlings.

I'm still holding out hope for my WS container.

My bigger Yvonne's salvia were started inside, under lights. They were the ones screaming to get out of those cups. I planted them out today and will likely regret it. But they were totally rootbound and needing water twice a day. Tomorrow 85 degrees and 30 mph winds, and I will be at work. Fingers crossed on those. If they can hold on through tomorrow, the weather's supposed to improve.

The WSown ones are tiny- just showing signs of first true leaves starting. The volunteers are about the same size.

Karen

gotcha... and i'm probably a few weeks behind you.

Swamp milkweed has now germinated & is really taking off fast! Partridge pea (Cassia fasciculata) and roundheaded bush clover (Lespedeza capitata) have also germinated now. Still waiting on Canada columbine, the gentians, the blazing stars, and the sedges. Lewis' blue flax now has true leaves & will be planted out soon.

Just checked again, and the gentians have started. That's a relief, because I've heard they're a bit tricky. Coreopsis & Echinacea are also showing sprouts.

We had rain overnight to give the jugs a good watering...hope that helps some that aren't showing anything yet!