Terrene,

Today, I found,

Peppers-Kaleidoscope Mix
Hollyhocks-Chamois
Tiger Lillies-excited when I saw this.
Bee Balm Monarda Mix
Columbines: Clementine Mix
Amaranthus-Oeschberg

Stock
Flax
Blue Bonnet
Baby Blue eyes
Clarkia/calendula/salvia
Larkspur
Gloriiosa daisy
Ice Plant
Petunia
Turnip
Cauliflower

{{gwi:367042}}

I don't have much progress to report but at least a couple more have sprouted--Phlox paniculata/tall garden phlox 'David' is packed with healthy-looking green sprouts as is Rudbeckia hirta/gloriosa daisy 'Autumn Colors.' So the green wave is finally, slowly rolling in my direction. S'okay--I'm in no hurry to have thousands of sprouts to worry about!

I thought I had some Asclepius sprouts but they seem to have hunkered down and gone back to sleep.

Anyway, here's what I got...

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My 1st time WSing:

4o'clocks
Broccoli Rabb
Lupins
Borage

I got scared because the weatherman said we were going to have freezing temps tonight, so I brought everything in. Did I mess up?

Also have another question- We still may have frosts possible until around Mother's Day, so when do I plant the flowers out into the garden?

I'm so excited!

Betty

I am also a first time winter sower and I have sprouts!

Zinnia
Echinacea
Arugula
Lettuce (without the slugs attacking!)
Stevia

I am waiting for the rest of the containers but I am very, very happy with the results so far.

Congradulations to all the successful 1st time WS'ers.

Betty,
Broccoli Rabb I'm sure is frost-proof and can go into the garden.
I don't know about the others.
I ususally sow 4 o'clock later cuz it is an annual.

It is better to not bring them inside once they've been out, cuz that is a big change in temp, environment, altho I doubt that you have done any damage.
In the future, if you worry about frost, I would throw a sheet or row cover over them.

btw Are you sure your last frost date is May 15? Cuz I am one zone north of you, and I have the same frost date.

Hi Ellen,

I just looked on a site that gave an approx last frost date of 4-27/28 for my area. I know we've had frost later than that before.

DH grew up in a farming family who went by experience for planting and he always says that you have to wait until after Dogwood Winter and Blackberry Winter.

There is always a cold spell when the Dogwood blooms are opening and a last good possibility of frost just when the blackberries start to bloom. After those 2 dates there will be no more frost until the first fall frost.

We've been married for 15 years and he has always been right so far. (Don't you hate when your Hubby is ALWAYS right!! What are the odds of that?!?!)

I guess I will have to keep a journal so I will have a ballpark figure for frost dates next year.

BTW, I just checked each container as I was putting them back out on the deck and every container has sprouted except the seed I harvested from DH's aunt's Hibiscus. I really wanted more of those plants. The blooms are dinner plate size.

Even the Bronze Fennel has jumped up. Is that frost hardy?

Thanks for answering a newbie's questions. I really want this to be successful. The possibilities are endless if this works!!!! And I can afford packs of seed!!

Thanks for the pictures. Love those.

Betty

Betty, Lupines are very hardy, and if I recall correctly the Bronze fennel is pretty hardy too (mine reseeds in the garden now).

And I totally agree, although many of the cultivars you can buy at the nurseries are very nice, starting stuff from seed opens all kinds of possibilities. It's a wonderful (and cheap) way to garden!

Betty,
I'm with yr hubby.
I take traditional wisdom over the "experts" any day!

ellen

Since my last post on this thread, I have LOTS of more containers sprouting! I've been checking mine everyday too. Being a newbie to WSing, it's very exciting! I'm getting fantastic results! Here is what I have so far besides from above:

Butterfly Weed (3 containers of it! I know I have at least 1 or 2 more containers)
Blanket Flower "Oranges N Lemons"
Canterbury Bells
Phlox "Beauty Dwarf Mixed Colors"
Hollyhock (pink)
Verbena bonariensis (only one of my containers so far)
Blue Flax
Coreopsis "Tinctoria"
Liatris (two containers so far)
Amaranthus "Love Lies Bleeding"
False Indigo
Delphinium "Pacific Giants Mixed Colors"
Blanket Flower
Scabiosa "Mixed Colors"
Balloon Flower (purple, blue and white, and I have a couple more that haven't sprouted)
Swamp Milkweed (only two containers so far)
Love In A Mist (only two containers so far, I have one more pack of seeds to plant)
Rue
Small's Penstemon
Yellow Scabiosa
Soapwort
Dahlia "Rainbow Mixed Colors"
Eastern Penstemon

There's more to come because I have more seeds to plant! I'm seeing more and more seedlings pop up in my containers everyday!!

Brad AKA Moonwolf

Sprouts up for: delphiniums, pyrethrum, godetia, peony poppy, shirley poppy, hollyhock, calendula, broccoli, spinach, lettuce. Nothing so far for: cosmos, larkspur, peas, columbines.

So far I have mixed red/green lettuce, broccoli, thyme, spinach. These have been up for awhile now.

New sprouts as of yesterday/today:

Mallow
Painted daisy (pyrethrum)
Peony Poppy (lots and lots of sprouts)
Lupin
Sunflower (1 sprout)

Lupine (only 1 sprout)

Woot! As of today, I have my first sprouts!

Bachelor buttons are the first again. They were my first WS sprouts last year too. This year's BBs are "Black Ball" for my goth-flower-loving boyfriend.
Arugula is sprouting.

Everything else is waiting for spring to arrive for real. I haven't even sowed tomatoes yet.

Edie

Adding penstemon/beardtongue and knautia macedonica/crimson scabious to my short list of sprouts.

Sprouted as of 4/7 :
Lupine - seeds from Acadia Nat'l Park
Lupine - Russell hybrids
Lupine - Minarette
Linum perenne lewisii/blue flax
Lettuce - heirloom French Romaine Cos Rouge de Hiver
Penstemon/beardtongue
Phlox paniculata/tall garden phlox 'David'
Rudbeckia hirta/gloriosa daisy 'Autumn Colors'
Salvia nemerosa 'Merleau Blue'

All the plants I grew via WS last year and set in gallon pots inside my garage for the winter have poked up new growth so I moved them all outside to a sunny spot where they can green up and get some size to them.

My new sprout of the day: Dalea.
Grow, sprouts grow!

Just WSed some seeds on my lunch hour and also checked my cups. New things sprouting are aster, blue sage, BES vine (yay!), other things I can't remember.

Ones I can remember:

Agastache - many different ones
Lunaria annua
Heuchera - many different ones
Hibiscus
Hesperis matronalis
Milkweed
Lily mix
Tricyrtis (toad lilies)
Daylilies - many different ones
Lilium pumilum
Hydrangea - Pinky Winky
Joe Pye Weed

This is what has sprouted for me

Coreopsis-Mahogany midget
Milkweed-Soulmate
Columbine-McKana Giants
Angelica Gigas-Purple
Penstemon-Red Rock
Penstemon-Huskers Red
Pink Columbine
New England Aster
Nicotania-Fragrant Cloud
Nicotania-Purple Sensation
Cardinal Flower
Purple Lupine
Purple Prairie Clover
Yellow Tanacetum Vulgarie
Echinacea
Turtle head-I think or may be weed
Agastache-Golden Jubilee
Agastache-Honey Bee White

That's all I can remember right now.

Oh, I have tons of sprouts today after the sudden onset of a "heatwave".

Spinach
Lettuce (two types)
Thyme (YAY!)
Dill
Parsley
Russian Tarragon
Cilantro
Snap pea
Pea
Beans

Alyssum
Bachelors Button
Lupine
Rosemallow
Calendula
Marigold
Shasta Daisy

And a few others that I am forgetting right now. No tomatoes, chives, columbine and others.

So far, I have:

Digitalis purpurea "alba"
Lychnis coronaria "Rose Campion"
Japanese Beauty Bush...just starting to peak through
American Beauty Bush..." " " " "
Campanula latifolia "Brantwood"
Malva sylvestris "Zebrina"

That's it so far, I believe I'll see sprouts in
my Agastache "Sunset Hyssop" container any day now.

What a lovely time of year, it's a beautiful day in MA today (so far) and it's so nice to sit out on the deck and hear the birds and see the new growth just beginning to sprout.

Happy Spring!
Linda

I FINALLY have sprouts!!!!!

I noticed a few days ago, and by God, I swear I felt light-headed. I was extremely happy and excited. Anyways, so far I have a huge amount of Mexican Hats (excited for those), a good amount of Frost Aster, some lupine, gallardia, blazing star, and some other stuff I can't remember!

Almost nothing (except lupine) has sprouted from the milk jugs/juice containers. The clear plastic take-out containers are doing much better. So far so good!!

Zinnia, Borage, and Cardinal Climber. I'm hoping Thunbergia will pop soon as I wanted to plant it in the same hanging pot with the CC. I used up a lot of old seed this year(Thunbergia being a couple years old), so whatever else sprouts will be a surprise. The ones that sprouted are recent purchases and were sown a few weeks ago. Everything else was put out in Feb. At least it's a start!

Here are more for you! I'll go over how many containers have sprouted for me at the end of this post.

Since my last post I now have:
Butterfly Weed (one more sprouted!)
Datura wrightii AKA Sacred Datura (one container)
Verbena "Florist Mixed Colors" (one container)
Orange French Marigolds (one container)
Marigold "Golden Gate Yellow" (one container)
Eastern Penstemon (two containers)
Balloon Flower (unknown color)

The last two I just found today. Now the moment you've been waiting for. The total amount of containers I have sprouting are: 53!!!! More to plant and more to sprout!

Brad AKA Moonwolf

Today, I got:
Sugar snaps
Yellow Pear Tomotoes (3-days ago)
Roma Tomatoes
5 sweet peas
4 Morning glories. (I planted this particular cup, before I asked when to WS). If I loose these, I got plenty more.

They're taking their sweet time sprouting but here are a few more that just showed up the past day or two:

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I'm sure the rest will sprout when/if it ever warms up. I cranked up the woodstove today--don't want to buy heating oil at today's price and it's still cold enough some form of heat isn't optional.

weed- I like your tags, and your penmanship :)

Doing limited WSing this year...only about 40 containers started since 4/3:

I've got a few sprouts in the last week:
Siberian Wallflower
Dill
Scarlet Flax
Peas
Zinnia- Dreamland Red (I couldn't remember when to start them, and now I'm wondering if too early, but I'll just baby them, I guess.)
And the DSd spinach in the garden.

My 1st year WS'ing is amazing me over and over again! We have had freezing temps and lots of snow and still, I am getting sprouts!! So far, this is whats sprouted:

Lupine
Purple Coneflower
Mixed Coneflower
Pansy
Snapdragons
Columbine
Gaillardia
Irish Eye Rudbeckia
an unknown (my sharpie faded - I know to use a paint pen next year)

It has been so exciting, i check my containers so many times a day now as every time I go out, I see a new baby! If you want to see any of my garden pics, wintersowing pics, or my bird poics add me on facebook...

Here is a link that might be useful: My FB profile

Congrats to the newbies!! Lots of sprouts in your containers Gardenweed. This is my 4th year winter-sowing and seeing those sprouts appear is still exciting.

Plenty of new sprouts since my last post 2 weeks ago:

Hibiscus moscheutos - Swamp mallow
Digitalis Excelsior Hybrids
Digitalis 'Apricot Beauty'
Digitalis Camelot
Echinacea purpurea 'Primadonna White'
Monarda citriodoro
Petunias - Peppermint Daddy & Aladdin White
Liatris spicata
Snapdragon 'Black Prince'
Aster ericoides - Heath Aster
Dianthus barbatus - Sweet williams
More Cosmos!! 'Summer Dreams' and 'Sensation Mixed'

Also I have to make a correction - the very first post I said my Foxglove Camelot seeds had sprouted, but they didn't! I think that was the pellets from the pelletized seeds I was seeing?? They've actually started sprouting in the past week.

well finally all the containers are out from under the snow, it is finally gone as of last week.

So far germination is the following

dianthus firewitch
malva zebrina
poppy california
poppy danbrog lace
bachelor buttons blue boy
bachelor buttons polka dot.
monkey flower, yellow

Now that the wave has started the rest will quickly follow and still have about 100 more containers to get out. things like zinnia, marigolds, portulaca, alyssum, sunflowers and all my various types of japanese morning glory. these always go out the last 2 weeks in April and I do have all my dwarf dahlia tubers, and 4 oclock tubers to pot up and get outside, but I don't do those until the beginning of may.

Fran

We've been snow free for a couple of weeks and now another 6-8 inches of snow today. The jugs are covered again, but I consider it insulation. :)

So far, I have seen and can remember

mixed lettuces
Red Kale
Blue Kale
Black Kale
Cupid's Dart-Alba
Sweet William
Hollyhock--Chatter's Double White
Scallions
Tarragon
Oregano
Oriental Poppies
California Poppies
Rudbeckia Irish Eyes
Rudbeckia Cherry Brandy
Kohlrabi
Lauren's Grape Poppy
Chamomile
Larkspur
Lavender Hyssop

Now if the snow would just stop and let spring have its turn. :)

cheers,
Norabelle

Every day I have been meaning to get my camera out and start snapping and recording. Off the top of my head, here goes:

Drama Queen Poppy
Blue Himalayan Poppy
Fancy Mix poppy
Iceland mix poppy
Red Poppy
Red with pink ruffled edge poppy
Venus poppy
Aremisia Maritima
Night Scented stock
Virginia Stock
Phlox drumonddi
Lupine
Candytuft
Mountan Garland
Dianthus Pinks
Batchelor buttons, mix and Magic Black
Hollyhocks
Lemon and Velvet Queen Sunflower
Strawberry Blonde Sunflower
Society Garlic
White spanish onion
Turnip Greens
Blue Flax
White Baby's breath
False Indigo
Yellow Evening Primrose
Pink sweet pea
Catmint
Hibiscus
Broccoli
Swiss Chard
Detroit Beets
Rudebeckia
Cupid's Dart

That is all I can remember. I will post a link with pics as soon as I can get there.

I am so happy you all got some beautiful sprouts. I can't get my beds ready soon enough for HOS.

Today I found one tiny tiny canna sprout, which seems a tad early. However some of my tubers have sprouts, but they're a little hardier than seedlings, no?

I also found one pennisetum sprout, and one guara sprout in each of 2 containers.

I've stopped sowing, because when I look at the sprouted jugs and really think about it, I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE I'M GOING TO GO WITH ALL THESE BABIES! I planted out lupine and dianthus and alyssum today, 6 of 185 I think. Yikes.

Today I saw my first sprouts, lettuce 'Butterhead'. I didn't ws any other early germinators. This is the week that lots of seeds have germinated in the past but it has been cold so think they will be late.

more and more germinating now. should be quite a lot next week with much warmer temps coming. Last night temps dropped to 28 degrees where I live. "Babies" did just fine in their containers.

New sprouts as of today

Lupin russell hybrid
gaillardia Arizona Sun
Dianthus arctic fire
dianthus siberian blues
balsam impatiens dark pink
scabiosa dark red
sow pea

Fran

I love hearing about and seeing everyone's sprouts!!! I have 26 containers sprouting so far, despite the fact that we've had 30-40s and snow this past week. I was hoping to start planting stuff out this weekend, but it's going to be rainy so I don't think that's going to happen. Hopefully the weather will start to cooperate soon!!

Amy

Here is a link that might be useful: Here's my latest list of sprouts

Here are some more of mine (I have lots of them sprouting but here are just a few of what I have):

Bunny Tails Ornamental Grass
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Swamp Milkweed
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Amaranthus "Love Lies Bleeding" (I love the color of the sprouts!!!!)
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Yellow Scabiosa
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Liatris
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Love In A Mist
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Brad AKA Moonwolf

Way to go Brad!!! Those are some mighty fine sprouts you got there! I have quite a few more too:

100% germination on heirloom apple seeds: 4 seeds = 4 sprouts
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Blue mist shrub
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Cupid's dart
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Hollyhock
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Ladybells
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Pear
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Rudbeckia 'Cherry Brandy'
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I also have spirea sprouts but they're so tiny, even the zoom lens didn't pick them up.

Found a few more germinated seeds this afternoon.

Dill
Alyssum basket of gold
hardy ice plant cooperi
chines forget me nots
salpiglosis mix
coreopsis lanceleaf

Should be quite a bit of germination this coming week with all the warm temps finally arriving.

Fran

Just came in for a break,I've been out side all day, it feels SOOOOOOOO good,boy, am I ever getting a lot done.
Every ones sprouts look so nice, congratulations to all,mine are doing good as well, I am going to move them in a few, to a sunnyer location, they are still in the shade.Break time is over, I just wantes to say HI.
cAROL

Hi, back at yah, cAROL. Still only lettuce sprouts for me. I am enjoying a bit of sunshine and moving a few nursery bought plants in and out of the sun to harden them up before planting a container.

I've actually got a MG' sprout that I sowed on Dec 15, 2010. I can't believe it!

{{gwi:367073}}

Moonwolf, your Love-in-Mist sprouts look like a little forest! Gardenweed, that's cool you are growing Apple & Pear trees from seed. From what I understand, you can get quite a variation in genetics of the fruit trees from seed (usually they are grafted?).

Some new sprouts in the past few days! I just love finding new sprouts! :)

Echinacea Pow Wow Wild Berry - Yes - 2 sprouts so far!
Echinacea 'Bravado'
Physostegia virginia 'Crystal Peak' (white Obedient plant)
Asclepias incarnata - swamp milkweed
Rudbeckia 'Black Cherry'
Heuchera sanguinea 'Firefly'
Lavatera trimestris

Terrene - I'm growing the apple & pear tree seeds for my neighbor who brought me 500 milk jugs last year. He brought me the apple seeds from the tree up in Vermont that he used to steal apples from when he was a kid (he's 80) and the pear tree seeds from Vermont also. They're very old trees so I have no idea if they're grafted or not. We're both excited about them sprouting. They're a couple of inches tall already too.

Exciting!

Woohoo!!! Since the temperature has finally gone above 50, more have sprouted the past few days:

Astilbe
Baptisia
Geum
Russian sage
Toad lily
Gaura lindheimeri
Fleece flower
Rudbeckia 'Indian Summer'
Rudbeckia Double Gold

Hold-outs include columbine, blackberry lily, iris, blanket flower, hibiscus, tall phlox and balloon flower.

So nice to have had some warm temps to "pop" those seeds and get them sprouting.

Germination from 4/25 - 4/28

snapdragon oriental lanterns
basil mammoth
basil Siam queen
parsley
more chinese forget me nots
nasturtium fordhook
nasturtium jewel
viola sorbet yesterday, today and tomorrow
viola sorbet peach frost
salpiglossis chocolate royale
balsam impatiens camelia
sweet pea streamers
sweet pea high scent
marigold disco flame
marigold scarlet starlet
marigold queen sophia
marigold bolero
zinnia zowie yellow flame
zinnia zahara starlight rose
portulacca
cosmos daydream
cosmos picotee
cosmos sunset
cosmos diablo
sunflower prado red
sunflower strawberry blonde
sunflower solar eclipse
sunflower autumn beauty.

Fran

these somehow were downloaded backwards, so the pics with the words have their sprouts ahead, not after. At some point I'll figure it out :)

My typed list is as follows:

Gaillardia � burgundy *
Black hollyhock *
Poppy- fancy mix
Hibiscus moschetuos � yellow *
Iberis umbelatta � mixed pinks
" � white *
Red poppy
Scabiosa- mourning bride *
Trailing soapwort *
Carnation � chabaud mix *
Un named red hibiscus *
Veronica speedwell � royal blue *
Dianthus � pinks
Rudebeckia � Irish Eyes
Poppy � drama queen
Malva zebrina *
Poppy � Himalayan Blue *
Poppy � breadseed � Hungarian Blue*
Verbascum � milkshake
Lupine
Poppy � pink with ruffled edge
Hosta *
Poppy Iceland mix
Aquilegia � mix *
Agastache � honey bee blue
Digitalis � apricot beauty *
Phlox drummondii � fordhook�s finest mix
Stock � giant imperial mix *
Hollyhock � peaches n dreams
Poppy � venus *
Night scented stock
Penstemon � rocky mountain blue *
Poppy � ladybird *
Sunflower surprise
Rudebeckia *
Lavatera *
Larkspur � shades of blue *
Sweet peas � pink
Blue forget me nots *
Pentsemon � huskers red
Canterbury bells mixed
Lavender � purple *
Poppy � oriental- brilliant red
Bunny tails grass
Chinese cabbage
Rudebeckia � Cherokee sunset
Rudebeckia � cappuccino
Poppy � fruit punch
Mountain garland
Snapdragon � northern lights
Cupids dart � alba
Black magic batchelor buttons
Dill
Detroit dark red beets
Cardoon
Platycodon � white balloon flower
Alaskan daisy Shasta
Creeping thyme *
Nepeta cataria � catmint
Black krim tomato � two sprouts
Hibiscus � white with red eye *
Bells of Ireland *
Turnip greens
Pyrethrum � pink and red daisy
Baptisia � false indigo
Echinacia paradoxa
Lavender � hidcote
Heuchera � bronze � coral bells *
Verbascum � shades of summer
Apricot foxglove *
Batchelor buttons mixed
Pincushion flower � lavender
Armeria maritime � sea thrift *
Strawberry blonde sunflower
Poppy � oriental mix
Wildflower blend for full sun
Velvet queen sunflower
Mexican tea � epazote
Lemon queen sunflower
Blue flax
Swamp mallow
Hollyhock � chaters double mixed
Globe thistle *
Convolvulus � blue enchantment
Swiss chard � bright lights
Onion sweet � white Spanish
Hollyhock � black
Baby�s breath � white
Switch grass
Society garlic
Mesculin greens *
Blue balloon flower

Here is a link that might be useful: WS sprouts as of Easter Sunday 2011

lettuce and Digitalis 'Candy Mountain'

Maybe there will be more after today's 67degree high.

todays germination

nasturtium peaches and cream
disco belle
snapdragon floral showers
torenia fushia and white
tomato sungold
tomato white wonder
tomato early girl
sunflower mammoth
sunflower double dandy
sunflower ring of fire
sunflower solar eclipse more of them
sunflower strawberry blonde more of them
sunflower autumn beauty more of them
alyssum tiny time
alyssum carpet of snow.

now at 45% germination rate

Fran