6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed
I start my snaps seed in January, in the greenhouse, for spring flowering before weather gets too hot for them. Most of mine I will set out as four inch pot size in October for a whole winter of blooming. Winter temps here are seldom below 25 degrees. Al
HI & welcome to Gardenweb. Pansies like cold weather, so unfortunately that may not go well at this time of year. You might want to try another batch in the fall, when you get the most "bang for your buck." They should last until it gets too hot next summer.
The seed must be fresh. You can store seed in a freezer to extend the vitality. Sow in germination medium and keep evenly moist. I wrap the container in a plastic bag until the seeds germinate. The seedlings are tiny and grow slowly at first. Sometimes my pansies over winter and so it could be worthwhile to sow them now and enjoy the flowers in a few weeks from now.
The ultimat source for growing carnations is the "Ball Red Book" but I have not seen a copy for over 20 years.....
Outdoors grow 2-6 ft apart in full sun & rich sandy,well drained soil. Keep well watered. Inndoors, grow in full sun, in cool environment and keep soil evenly moist.
What I do with my window boxes is plant/start annuals (right now dwarf sunflowers and nasturtiums but you can check a local nursery to see what does well in your climate) in a series of square nursery pots (I can fit 5 in each window box). That way I can switch out one or all of the plantings if something fails to thrive, gets played out, or the critters get to it.
I like annuals for the quick shot of color and the fact that window boxes are not really deep/big enough for perennials.
Are you looking for some place like Seed Savers Exchange? They offer some vegetable seeds through a public catalogue, but they also have hundreds or thousands of members who grow heirloom varieties of all kinds of vegetables and grains and fruits, and exchange them with other members. Hope this helps.
Martha
thanks yiorges,
zinnia thumbelina - I have them equidistant on 4 edges of pot. wud it be ok if I leave two of them in that pot and transplant the other two?
and the pinwheel zinnia - they look close now in the 8"pot. Wud it be ok if I leave one in this pot and transplant the other three into a single 10" pot - like a triangle in edges of pot?
I also wanted to ask re - nasturtium spacing in 14" hanging basket. I have 2 baskets - one with 4 seedlings and other with 6 seedlings. it is nasturtium whirlybird mix, packet says ht-12". how many seedlings wud I have to thin out?
Thanks again for any suggestions.
I have long used GardenWeb, but this is my first time posting.
My mom always starts zinnias from seed in her greenhouse, but this year we just haven't had time to get the garden ready to put them in the ground. She gave me several seedlings that are leggy from not enough sun and they desperately need to be planted! I planted several in a spot that gets about 5 hours of morning light and afternoon shade. My question is: can I put one or two of these seedlings in containers that already have herbs (basil, sage, other sun loving herbs)? Will they be OK or will they have to compete too much for sunlight/root space?
Hiya '67. A couple of questions back at you: Have you used that moo-nure from Home Depot before in your soil blocks? If so, ok, check. If not, cow manure can stunt a plant in a compressed soil block due to the excessive nitrogen still needing to be broken down and unable to do so in a less oxygenated environment like a soil block. Then, maybe you're using the fish emulsions too soon, overfertilizing them and causing nitrogen burn. Also, maybe you're compacting the block too much, leaving no chance for a tap root to break free. Inspect the seedling: are the roots stunted too? Did they ever come out of the blocks at all? Were they brown when they did? Brassicas are quite fine in soil blocks really, but you don't need to fertilize them for about 4-6 weeks. If it was me, I'd skip the cow manure, or at least use much less, and try worm compost, worm castings, home-made aged compost, or even good rich garden topsoil. Let me know if this helps: don't give up!
Here is a link that might be useful: Soil Block Makers
Geranium pratense (like Splish Splash) - Geranium pratense, 64-71F, if no germination after 4 weeks, move 39F for 4-6 weeks, then move 41-53F for germination. They may not germinate well for you in hot weather.
Penstemon grandiflorus (like Shell Leaf) - Surface sow 8 weeks @ 40F is the typical suggestion, light may be beneficial to germination. Can you provide the cool temps this time of year (approx the same as your refrigerator, but as far as I can tell, there is no light on inside with the door closed :))
For years I tried growing pansies/violas from seed, indoors. Tried everything, never very good germination. 2 years ago I Wintersowed them, and couldn't believe the germination I got. This year I did 16 containers of pansies/violas, took me a whole day to plant them out, the germination was at least 90%. To me, it only makes sense, pansies/violas are a cold weather plant. Pansies are my favorite flower and now I can have as many as I want. I'll never sow them any other way.
Shirley!
Hi thank you
I also forgot to mention.
I belong to zone 11, generally nice sunshine throughout the day, temp especially during the summer is around 80s, upper 80s.
Recently, some of my seeds started sprouting and noticed white fuzz around the stem where they emerged. I wonder if this is a cause for alarm (warning sign of damping off etc)
[IMG]http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o568/sammyyummy1/12062012194.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o568/sammyyummy1/12062012193.jpg[/IMG]
This is my first year with soil blocks. I'm using the 2 inch. I used a seed starting mix (sunshine 360 and second time Promix) combined with compost. 3 to 2 ratio. I had a pretty decent germination rate, I think. I put 3-4 seeds per block, though, so I can't be exact, but I do have lettuce growing in every block and many require thinning. Mine did best without a germination mat and in my basement.
I was coming to the board to ask about soil blocks and the brassicas. Everything else has done very well in the blocks except the brassicas. I sold my extra seedlings, and everyone seems very happy with their plants. I am really pleased with the soil blocks so far.
Mix your fertilizer into the water, then use that to water your seedlings just as you would use plain water. You don't want to flush what you've provided out and make it unavailable to the roots, you want them to 'drink' it....and I'm sure there is a better way of wording that but it's been a very long day now :)
I use an all purpose fertilizer formulated to be mixed with water when I water seed pots, but i dilute it to approx 1/4 the package directions, increasing that for more mature plants to about 1/2 strength but rarely full strength for anything. If your product states it is specifically for seed trays and flats, it may be fine used according to the package measurements - however, be aware most fertilizer products come with directions for using more than is necessary.
The grocery store has these living lettuce plants in a neat container. We eat the lettuce, punch holes in the container, and sew seed there. The lid, when closed keeps moisture in and makes a nice little greenhouse. I am currently working on 5 split leaf philodendron seeds purchased on Ebay. Two have sprouted. These are common house plants, but when grown outside in our climate, they will climb the highest tree, and produce an amazing fruit called Monstera Deliciosa. I put them outside during the day in partial shade, then bring them in to spend the night on a heating pad turned on low.
Suzi
I buy my starter plants from a local mom & pop seed and feed store for $1.89 a four pack. I purchase heirloom seeds online from Baker Creek. As I get better at starting from seeds I buy less and less starter plants. I am not militant about it but seed saving and sowing just makes better sense. A lost art being revived.
container vegetable gardening 365 days a year in zone 9b.
I guess I'll wait until late winter to start them. Thanks for the help morz8.
My golden raintree stands along (no other rain trees), grew for 14 years before the golden fronds bloomed, but it has been glorious every year since. If anyone wants pods/seeds, since it isn't contaminated by other "green" raintrees, I'd be glad to send. Just let me know.