|
| We just moved to a new place with no landscaping. I have 6 big beds to fill, and my budget's miniscule. I mean tiny. Hence winter sowing! I just finished the last of my seed orders, and have about $100 invested. I REALLY hope this works, otherwise that's $100 I won't have to buy plants this spring!
I would love advice about which varieties to sow now, later, or latest. All will be sown in milk jugs using Pro-Mix. Here's my list: From Diane's:
From Swallowtail:
From Seeds & More:
From Southern States:
I'm planning to park the containers along the southeastern side of the house (no eaves overhang there). Many thanks for any advice. I'm scared to death this won't work! |
Follow-Up Postings:
|
- Posted by gardenweed_z6a (My Page) on Thu, Dec 23, 10 at 14:50
| Hi lceh & welcome to the winter sowing forum!!! We're happy to have you join us for this year's fun & games. Have you read the FAQs? A lot of information & answers to your questions can be found there as well as on trudi's website wintersown.org. The rule of thumb is to winter sow perennials that need cold stratification first followed by hardy perennials that don't require cold strat. After that, half hardy and finally tender annuals. From your list I'd start now with these: I just learned a few days ago Alchemilla mollis/lady's mantle benefits from a warm-cold-warm approach. I've got my seeds tucked inside little ziploc baggies with moist vermiculite and will wait a few weeks before winter sowing them. Not knowing any better last year, I just winter sowed the seeds and got plenty of sprouts but thought I'd give the warm-cold-warm treatment a try for comparison. Any of the seeds on your list that are annual varieties rather than perennials should probably wait to be winter sown until March. Hopefully other zone 7 folks will chime in and offer you zone-specific information. Happy gardening!!! |
|
- Posted by countrycarolyn (My Page) on Thu, Dec 23, 10 at 15:11
| Gardenweed, everything I have read on the Alchemilla mollis says that there is nothing special needed for germination. That might be why you got germination last year. Here is just one site that gives 3 ways to germinate the seeds. As for seeds that need to be started now, there are several on your list I would start today if you can. Lobelia is one that some benefit from 3 months cold and some that benefit from 2 months. So that for sure needs to be started. Rosa Rugosa is another one that benefits from 2 to 3 months cold. Stock, I haven't looked up in awhile but if I am not mistaken benefits from a month and a half cold. There are several that you could start now but it isn't like they need the cold in order to germinate.
|
Here is a link that might be useful: Seed profile of Alchemilla mollis
|
| Iceh, Please try not to worry. Wintersowing is AMAZING, and I promise you will have more sprouts than you'll have time to plant. I've done this for 6 years, give or take, and I've not had anything but miraculous results every year. Enjoy! Martha |
|
- Posted by shanta_5 (fillions@cogeco.ca) on Sun, Dec 26, 10 at 18:21
| I like to know where I can find some good outdoors marker for wintersowing thank you. Happy New years 2011 Shanta |
|
- Posted by shanta_5 (fillions@cogeco.ca) on Sun, Dec 26, 10 at 18:31
| I like to know where I can find some good outdoors marker for wintersowing thank you. Happy New years 2011 Shanta |
|
- Posted by gardenweed_z6a (My Page) on Sun, Dec 26, 10 at 19:30
| Shanta - Deco paint pens are available at Michael's craft stores. Wal-Mart also carries an Elmer's paint pen. These pens will not fade or wear away.
|
|
| Thanks for all the advice and encouragement! Love those seedling pics, I hope my milk jugs looks that good this spring. I'm eager to get started now that Christmas stuff is out of the way. Now if those seed packets would just show up in my mailbox.... |
|
- Posted by gardenweed_z6a (My Page) on Mon, Dec 27, 10 at 17:21
| I know how tough it is waiting for those seeds to show up. Just think though, with all your new WS plants, you'll be able to harvest your own seeds next time and won't have to wait again! This year I tried to remember to stop what I was doing and take photos of the seeds & pods as I was harvesting. As you can see, half the time I forgot to keep the seedpod intact or else I didn't have a dime handy: Hibiscus moscheutos/hardy hibiscus Alcea rosea/hollyhock Lupine Aquilegia/Columbine Coreopsis/tickseed Dianthus/pinks |
|
- Posted by ghoghunter (My Page) on Mon, Dec 27, 10 at 17:31
| I would wait to sow the watermelon and zinnia until Spring..they need warmth to grow and mine have done better waiting. Cleome needs a cold period so that can be sown now along with all the others that were on your list. Welcome to our crzy fun winter sowing world!!! Joann |
|
- Posted by floodthelast (My Page) on Wed, Dec 29, 10 at 10:13
| The rule of thumb on planting times is usually, perennials and hardy annuals first, then when it warms up to about forty degrees at night half hardy annuals and then tenders. If you have seed packets it should be easy to tell. If it doesn't say directly then the instructions plant after all danger of frost means they are either half hardy or tender. |
|
- Posted by floodthelast (My Page) on Wed, Dec 29, 10 at 10:15
| On a side note, violas and peas like a cold start. Don't worry about them. |
|
| Hooray, my package from Diane's arrived today! Guess who's going to be poking holes in milk jugs tonight! |
|
- Posted by gardenweed_z6a 6 (My Page) on Wed, Dec 29, 10 at 17:19
| Guess who's going to be poking holes in milk jugs tonight? I would imagine, just about everyone on this forum! Glad your seeds arrived. Have fun!!! |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Winter Sowing Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.