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Sun, May 27, 12 at 22:40
| I have a lot of zinnia, sunflower and cosmos seeds and want to create a cutting garden. Last year I had put down cardboard and mulch in an area that I hoped to make a new bed.
The soil is clay so to amend I am trying a 'quick' lasagna bed. I raked away some of the previous mulch, placed compost and leaves, then added a couple of inches of garden soil on the top. Do you think it will be successful to sow the seeds this year, or do you think I should wait? What will happen to the roots when they reach the leaves and compost? I don't want to waste these seeds. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Mon, May 28, 12 at 8:13
| i doubt your seedlings would be big enough to take the heat of july/aug .. you should have started the seed about 2 months ago ... if you have a lot of seed.. give it a try ... whats to lose ... maybe the guy up in MI is wrong.. lol ken |
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- Posted by purpleinopp 8b AL (My Page) on Mon, May 28, 12 at 10:52
| Without human intervention, nature puts organic matter on top of the soil, not under it. If you rake a bit, the soil will probably settle under the leaves, where it should be. Zinnias and sunflowers grow easily and quickly. I would be pretty confident about those doing well. Sunflowers take a bit longer, but zinnias can go from seed to bloom in about 6 weeks. I don't have that much experience with cosmos seeds, so no comment on that. Nobody can predict with certainty how seeds will do anywhere. All depends on whether or not you want to do it now. |
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| I don't know about the Cosmos, but zinnias and sunflowers are rapid growers. I think it is worth a try. Just sprinkle the bed every day to keep it from drying out until the seedlings get their tap roots down deep enough so that they aren't dependent on daily waterings. |
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| It is so hot today, I'm not sure I will try it or not. Thank you for your advice. taterbug |
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