6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed

I am now convinced that 95% of my problems last year were due to over watering.. In fact, it's probably a miracle that I got anything to grow at all...

Awesome!

there's a whole forum dedicated to 'growing under lights'

Well, I should have read these posts earlier! We built a group of planters for our deck, and ordered lots of live plants from Park, and the web site promised shipment of April 16 or so. Today, in following up, they claim that "the zone you are in dictates we ship on May 27th". When I brought the rep back to the info on their own website that contridicts that, she said "Well, we really ran out, and had to place more orders from our vendor". I can deal with delays, but I will not buy from a Company that "tells stories". Orders were cancelled.

I have used Park Seed for a few years and have been satisfied. This year my order has been delayed several times without any contact from them letting me know of any problems. This is poor customer service. At least if they would have informed me, I could make a decision as to whether to cancel the order or not and try to order from someone else. This may be the last year I order from them.

That's how I understood it too Flora. Look how deep that soil is in the cups too.

Dave

i gave a thorough watering once a week. I misted throughout the other days to keep the surface from becoming parched. Must have been doing it all wrong cuz I finally dug up the POB and the seeds were like pus! What do you recommend I do for my next batch? I'm brand new at this- in Costa Rica I could throw anything in the ground and it would be up in a week! I've only got 7 seeds left, I hope they aren't all duds :( or that I don't royally screw them up again!

With the annual types (breadseed, somniferum) I direct sow as above, but sometimes scattering the seeds early winter, late winter, and Spring for a longer succession of bloom (mild Z8)

Oriental poppy - Papaver orientale, Sow approx 68F, germinates in about two weeks, do not cover the small seed.

For annual poppies, rough up the soil and scatter seeds around on the soil outdoors in March. With adequate moisture, they will germinate easily outdoors.

Oh, yes, they have some bizarre beliefs. Today, in fact, I heard my mother in law rant about fertilizing. After which she switched to another belief of hers: if a dog has a good pedigree, it is therefore stupid, because the only way it could have stayed full blooded is through inbreeding. That's her usual conversation topic when she sees my German Shepherd who has three generations before it AKC registered & DNA tested as proof. To have another idea of how strange their ways are, three years ago they bought a $80,000 double wide trailer & refuse to live in it. It has never has power or water hooked up to it. It has been sitting on their property this whole time. Totally empty. The reason? They claim their 30 yr old trailer they are in now is better built than the new one. The floors are caving in on it.

Just think, one day you may inherit a great "never-used" double wide. :-)

Kill fungus gnats by killing the eggs and larvae in the soil not the gnats themselves. Those flies you see only hatch out of the soil to mate and lay eggs in the soil and die. Killing them won't get rid of them because there will always be more hatching out. The larvae hatch from eggs in the soil and live in the soil eating plant roots and debris in the soil.

Getting them is nothing you did. The eggs were probably in the soil when you bought it.

Anyway they are very easy to get rid of. Mix about 1/2 teaspoon of dish soap or insecticidal soap in a quart of water and water the soil of the plants with it. The soap won't harm the plants but it will kill the eggs and larvae. As these are seedlings I'd wait until they are a bit dry so you don't over water. You can put some in a spray bottle if you want to spray and kill the flies if you get them to sit still long enough

Fungus gnats are nothing but a nusance. They won't harm food plants except for the larvae feeding on the roots

Using a fan to increase air circulation near the plants will help deter fungus gnats. The gnats don't like the air movement. Also the fan will help dry out the top of the containers.

I second the zebrina- these little guys are easy to grow, and one of the few plants that managed to thrive in my early seed-growing noob days.

Thanks, guys. Last day of frost jhere is about April 1, so I have just been stratifying those needing 30 days of stratifying.

Averages are just that -- averages. When I winter-sow in milk jugs I just throw the seeds in and water. Then they are sealed and put outdoors to freeze/thaw/be covered with snow. I just figure that when seeds self sow, they usually are not covered except by falling leaves and animals digging them in.

My success with winter sowing is excellent. They just plain don't need to be covered since they don't need protection from birds or other varmints. But - when I start plants indoors I cover with a bit of soil just to keep the seeds from drying out before germination.

I plant seeds outside in 18 cell flats; bring flats into garage when I expect a freeze. I may plant up to 4 cycles a year.
I use a personal rule that works for me:
Soak most seeds (except ultra tiny) before planting. Plant in loose soil so roots can penetrate.
Barely cover and keep reasonably moist till germination.

Spacing? Plant far enough apart that I can lift them out of the cell with minimal disruption.
Right or wrong, it works for most of my seeds.
Certainly don't expect anyone else to follow what I do.

This post was edited by bugbite on Sun, Mar 3, 13 at 9:52

The flat is bigger than it looks in the picture.

Nice healthy looking plants.

Here is another link that is less geared for the professional grower

Here is a link that might be useful: Lisianthus

Sounds good Mandolls. I have grown them a couple of times and I too am far from an expert. They take a LONG time.

They take awhile to germinate and take forever to get any size. Watching how you water is of utmost importance...DO NOT overwater, very easy to do because of their size.

You might be too late in starting seed this season, I am not sure of your zone. I started mine a few weeks ago and will need the time to get any size on them before they go in the ground in late May.

Good luck!

Old server console racks are perfect for hanging shop lights. I didn't do anything fancy. These are T8 fluorescent shop lights I bought at Home Depot 6 or so years ago for about $8.99 each. I am using Phillips tubes (economy 20-pack). I'm not certain why anyone would spend $80+ on a shop light fixture when the cheapies from the big box stores get the job done.

I got a giant piece of Mylar sheeting when I did the Tough Mudder It was so cold the day of the event that reflective Mylar 'sheets' were all over the course. I used one on the back side of my rack to help contain all the light.

Your setup looks pretty good. As far as the expensive grow lamps are concerned they really are very nice lamps. High output T5s put out lots of lumens. When I bought one I was a bit hesitant due to the price. They are designed with the indoor grower in mind as opposed to generic shop lights that are made for garages or office space.

I have a variety of fixtures T12, T8 and the one T5. I can say with certainty that in my situation the T5HO is by far the best lamp.

Turner52--I'm in G.B. Start peppers now. I seed tomatoes in 2-3 weeks-then a second seeding 2 weeks later.

Thanks for the info