6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed
Gardenweed, I just went out and took a look at my own - and was surprised to see flowering stems forming already :) It's been in the 20's every night for a week, cold for us and second time this season.
Seeds should ripen about the same time as rhododendron in your area, anywhere between Aug-Oct depending on how early it bloomed. I deadheaded, but not precisely, there are still a few very brown clusters of pods here and there. Most of those have opened or at least partially opened and contain few seed.
I suppose there is a chance weather played a part in the one you were watching and time from bloom to hard frost possibly wasn't long enough for ripe seed to form. Summer drought will sometimes delay seed set too.
Yes, my goal is two crops of cool season vegetables a year--spring and fall. I'm also trying to succession plant broccoli and peas to see how far I can stretch the season.
I've been working with this vegetable planting calendar from the Sonoma County Master Gardener's website: http://ucanr.org/sites/scmg/files/30787.pdf
There is also a good book titled "Golden Gate Gardening" by Pam Peirce which has several planting and seed starting calendars specific to the Bay Area.
I'm gathering as I get more experience, I'll continue to adjust my planting times, and maybe even abandon attempting certain vegetables at certain times of year. For instance, I tried planting peas and broccoli late (November) for a winter garden and I'm just not sure it's worth it since they seem to be sitting there doing almost nothing. It's one of the best things about starting from seed, in my opinion. You can play around with different planting times and varieties with minimal investment.
Not sure where you are in Northern California, but those two publications may give you a good place to start.
just a thought, but depending on your locality, especially in the eastern states, overpopulation of deer has led to states and municipalities adopting year long bow seasons. If this is private property you are having problems with there are probably hunters in your area who would be more than helpful. Also, some states allow the taking of deer from private land without a tag, something to keep in mind. I am not necessarily saying it is the best option but for most deer overpopulation it can be beneficial to both your tract of land, the plants and animals on it, and whatever crops you may be thinking of putting in.
If it is public land, please disregard most of what I just said. You may want to encourage hunting in the area come deer season.
I placed my Hazzard's order yesterday and got their year-end free shipping. I ordered 12/31 last year too. I don't know how long the free shipping lasts but it's worth waiting for if you know what seeds you want ahead of time and can hold off ordering. I ordered some salvia and an heirloom Romaine lettuce Cos Rouge de Hiver (which means something like cold red). The small seed pack has 5,000 seeds/$5.35 so I'm splitting the order with some friends. Also picked out a stunning California poppy called Thai Silk Appleblossom Bush.
Hi Bob,
Thanks for that suggestion for Geoseed and the link. I'll check them out too. I love your idea about doing a search for a trial. I never thought of that. I always like to hear what someone's experiences are with something.
Hi gardenweed, I did head over to Hazzard, I was trying to think of any seed that I might need that much of and there were very few. No one to split one with either, but who knows, next year may be a different story. I really do like that Thai Silk Appleblossom Poppy!
"My questions basically revolve around growing from seed. I've never done this. If you were just starting out; how would you begin? I would like to say "money is no object", but it is. I can afford good materials, but resources are not unlimited."
The most economical method is winter sowing. There is a GardenWeb forum specific to winter sowing where you can ask all the questions you like. They're a very friendly, helpful & supportive group of folks who grow from seed--annuals, perennials, herbs & veggies, including tomatoes & peppers, with phenomenal success. There's no cost for lights, there's no damping off disease and no hardening off required. It's all completely natural and according to Mother Nature's calendar.
As long as you're just beginning, you may as well get off to a fantastic start. I hope you'll at least consider there might be something other than "the way it's always been done." Since the cost is virtually ( ), I hope you're at least curious about it.
I have overseeded my lawn with white clover several years in a row to increase its presence. The easiest way I have found to do it is to have the yard core aerated with a plugger that pulls plugs of soil out of the yard and then hand broadcoast the seed. Clover seed is very small and you can spread it too thickly very easily. I have never had to add an innoculant to the white clover seed I have sowed and it germinates just fine.
Buddleia davidii - Moist chill (stratify)of 2-4 weeks may improve germination but isn't strictly necessary. Surface sow, do not exclude light, @ approx 70F for germination in 20-30 days.
They shouldn't be difficult for you, such prolific self sowers here we can no longer plant, noxious invasive :) Same in Oregon, and a while back they were getting some attention in Massachusetts but I don't know what their status might be in Illinois or the other colder states in 2010.
I haven't started bleeding hearts from seed, but the plants I have reseed profusely by themselves--at this point I'm running out of room for more plants and have to pull the new seedlings as weeds. So you might try buying one established plant from a local nursery and letting it reseed. These are the big old fashioned ones--the fernleafs don't seem to reseed. One new seedling turned out to be an alba, even though the original plant was classic pink.
My Goodness, there is always one in every crowd isn't there? I know a quilter like that. Always ready to put people down and ready to accuse other quilters of stealing things. She had so many people convinced others talked about them not to mention accussing others of theft. Guess what? She is being investigated of breaking into someones house and taking thousands and credit card theft and now it seems that stuff always went missing only when she was around. The police said she has 9 aliases and has records a mile long. Wonder why she is not in jail. It takes time but they get found out.
It seems to me that no matter how common your plants are (and I don't believe they are), as long as they sell and the money goes to a good cause, what the heck does it matter.
I am new to gardening, the last 3 yrs now, and I find gardening to be a relaxing, rewarding and gracious task. You take a small seed or plant and pour your heart and soul into it. Everyday that plant expresses it's graditude to you by growing strong and vibrant sharing it's beauty and wonder with you and those who happen by. To take that love and care and share it with someone else is as good as a heartfelt hug in my book! The joy of a plant or flower has been known to heal many wounds and to take that joy and dampen it with such negativity is very disapointing.
Common or uncommon each plant and seed is a gift from God and each in it's own way has it's own personality. So.... even though your plants are not that common, even if they were purple cones or shasta daisies somewhere there is someone who wants to share their heart and garden with a wonderful plant! Keep donating, you do it for the joy that it brings someone! Let the negative nancy find her own joy!!!!!
$30 is not really expensive. Relatively dollars are almost toilet paper they way they print them, thats why things cost so much its just wages are not increasing with this.
But The shops lights will be good while their seedlings, but they might a get a big "Leggy" so you got to keep them close, after a certain point it won't be enough to pentrate several layers of branches/leaves.
Myself I used a Floru tube called a "Grow N Show" I bought several years ago at Wal-mart for $20. It worked somewhat well this year for my seedlings, then growth just dimsished. (not enough light)
I bought a 125 Watt CFL which is misnomer becuase there not really compact there quite huge. The 125W CFL are sold for around $60 and give off about 8,000 Lumens. From my understand LUMENs are the most important part of a growing light. If you can afford get something rated around 10,000 lumens like a High Pressue Sodium or Metal Halide Lamp, or try the the 125 or 200 Watt CFL grow lights and your plants will grow very good like they are outside.
I've had good success using simple shop lights. As lazyhat suggests, you need to be careful about "leggy" seedlings. I have a couple of pictures of the setup that I used. Basically its a pole with some chains which you can use to lower the light and mitigate the legginess of the seedlings.
Here is a link that might be useful: cheap grow light setup
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