6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed
I've flowers all year long from a package of mixed wildflower seed. Some are big, some are small. Some last a long time and some only open at sunrise and are gone by noon. However it is much easier than planning and you can be almost assured of some flowers of some sort when you want them. Oh, no sunflowers in the mix. I would think that the best chance of getting sunflowers when you need them, and the cheapest, is to use those little black sunflower seed found in bird food.
Right now, among others, I've a bright yellow something that will last as a cut flower for seven or eight days.
If you keep your plants low they will get more sunlight than if they are higher The eaves shade the top part of the window. They won't get as much sun as outside or in a greenhouse, but they should do fine. Moving them outside on nice days will help keep them from getting leggy.
I agree with keriann.
Some seeds should be direct sowed into the garden. Morning Glories, Nasturtiums and Sweet Peas are some of them. They can be planted early because a light frost won't kill them. To get them off to a good start Presoak your seeds so the outer cover softens and swells and is ready to pop open. Filling your hole with water and letting it soak into the ground before you plant, ensures that the seeds have enough moisture to grow
thanks! sorry about the late reply thought I'd give some feedback on what wound up happening. started many different kinds of morning glories most went outside but some. some of them went in a 10 gallon square pot with teepee like structure i had made out of bamboo poles so far the cardinal climbers have been the most sucessful having at least 2 flowers open any day. Picotee reds and blue have issues with their leaves and have yet to produce any flowers. MoonFlowers have great leaves but have yet to produce buds but they are only about 4 feet long by now and i understand they take a while. Have put them in front of a 10' tall south facing window with two hibiscus trees and they dont seem to be leggy at all.
I am considering doing the same sort of setup with some cypress vines any idea if that could work?
Funny you mentioned Grand Rapids... that's exactly what I bought. It was between that or the Simpson, and I went with the GR because it said it was more heat tolerant.
I actually did plant swiss chard this year (bright lights) and was suprised at my success. It is doing very well. Any suggestions on how to cook/ eat the stuff? lol. Should have thought of that before I guess.
Kim
The leaves of Chard can be substituted for Spinach in most recipes. You can boil it for 4 to 6 minutes and serve with butter or olive oil and salt and pepper or make a creamy cheese sauce to pour over it. It can be added to soups. You can just pour boiling water over them and then mix with a can of heated undiluted mushroom soup. Boil Chard stems separately until they are tender--They take longer than the leaves. and serve with holindaise sauce or I like them with Rene's Ceasar salad dressing
I have the same problem. I planted my mammoth seeds last month, and have plants about two feet tall. Something ate two of them (grr) but the rest seem to be doing well. We had a LOT of rain recently, along with strong winds. Since the soil was so wet, they kind of just leaned over at the base. Once it dried up a bit, they seemed to be okay. But I plan on staking them soon. Maybe bamboo stalks? I also purposely grew them up against a fence so I could tie them to it later on. This may be an option for you since they are in pots. Oh, and don't forget that the blooms always face the direction the sun rises. (Another consideration for placement
Hope that helps!
Kim
I guess I didn't answer what you asked--mamashakesit. If the earwigs didn't leave any leaves on your seedlings then I don't think there is any hope for them.
They chewed on my Hollyhocks--grown from this years seed-- too but left some lacy leaves. I just noticed this morning that they are sending out new shoots from the center. So that is good.
What is not good is that a squirrel has discovered my earwig traps and is pulling them out and eating the contents. I don't know how it is not making him sick. I guess I'll have to use something that has more weight to it. He removed the lid from the one margarine container I had but I guess he couldn't get the container out of the ground.
Understanding that oenothera is not the primrose being asked about above -
Albert, if you can, take squares of nylon stocking and some twist ties, bag stems on flowering plants you can find again. Seed is said to be set and dispersed rather quickly. You may have competion from mice, birds, so don't be surprised if they raid the 'bags' but you might get some viable seed that way.
I've been trying my luck at growing Adenium from seed as well, but having trouble at a different stage of thier growth. I get about 90% success of the seeds germinating and sprouting to the point were they've got three to four leaves. After that they don't seem to grow anymore, and start to fall over at the soil line and then slowly wither away. Below the soil the root/base of the caudex seems to shrivel up as if it isn't getting enough water, but I've been keeping it watered about 2-3 times a week. I live in Central Florida, so we've got the heat they like and I grow mine outdoors.
My theory is that I'm over watering after they sprout the first leaves, and may be causing root rot.
What do yall think?
Im in zone 6....I started some moonflower seeds in doors in my kitchen window sill, after soaking them for 24 hrs. I sowed 12 seeds only 4 came up..but they are sturdy, i only got them into the groung about 7 days ago, and i see they are fine as long as i keep them watered..I heard they dont transplant well, but so far so good. I soaked the rest of the seeds over night, and just put them in the ground...also 7 days ago so far no results..i had started morning glories at the same time, and transplanted those seedlings to hopefully mix with the moonflower, got red and blue MG's with (hopefully) the white moonflower...I dont know if its too late or not for blossoms..but i will just keep my fingers crossed!! good luck!
I also started mine in a pot, but I let them get where they started to grow out of the pot before transplanting them. They never got very large but came back again this year and am in hopes they will get larger each year as we do enjoy the large white blooms. I just have to keep trying as I love all flowers and in this heat anything which will flower is a friend of mine.
Paul
Every seed has an optimum temperature for germination. With Petunias it'a 80 degrees. That does not mean that they won't germinate at varying temperatures, just that that is the optimum temperature. What your seed package is telling you is that Forget-me-nots like to be germinated cool. The temperature is just a guideline. That cool temperature is why, when they reseed themselves, they come up in the very early spring.
I wouldn't start them now. It is too hot for them to germinate properly. Wait until your weather cools
Try using skewers to plant small seed when starting your plant trays or peat pellets. much cheaper than those $15.00 to $20.00 gadgets that are sold. AND it works good. Here's how there are 2 sizes of skewers the small one works great for small seed, cut off the sharp point for eye safety then cut it in half. Now (1)get a small bowel (2)a clean cloth the size of a wash cloth and (3)a coffee cup saucer. get the cloth soppin wet and place it in the bowel set it on you potting table then sprinkle a few seeds on the saucer and move the saucer or shake very gently to put space between the seed. Next pick up your 1/2 skewer touch it to the wet cloth and flick off any excess water. next touch it to one single seed and the wetness will cause the seed to stick well enough to lift and poke it into your peat pellet or growing medium and tuck soil over it 1/8 or 1/4 inch deep. that's it simple and when you get the swing of it you will just have to tell someone else how neat it works. Edmac
Do most people go strongly by packet for weeks planted indoors before planting out? I am in Mississippi and would like to start broccoli....cauliflower...and collard seeds for fall when the time is right(late SEP or early OCT. plant out date).....THANKS
How much of a seed is buried into the soil? I "buried" about 50% to 70% of the seed and the top is showing very much and dries out quickly within minutes, yet most of the sides and the "bottom" is buried into the soil. Is this the right way to plant these seeds? Also, which "side" of the seed should face up/light? There's an "eye" of the seed - should it be buried or visible? Can someone post photos how exactly to place Dracaena Draco seeds into the soil?
The summer and winter savory will do fine - they are both pretty fast growers. My March starts are huge now. Fennel should also be ok, but you might not get seeds before frost if that's what you're after.
I don't know about caraway as I haven't had any luck with it myself.
As trudi says the seed won't produce a plant that resembles the plant it came from. In most cases this is a hybridized plant. Many heirloom varieties do come true from seed.When planting seeds like you have is a crap shoot. 1 or 2 may be like the plant, but most will not. Some will produce berries and some may be useless. You just never realy know what you are going to get.
Just curious--why are you growing strawberries from seed. I think it would take a while to get viable plants. The best way to grow them is from stringers. You buy some plants and that fall they produce stringers which you cut off and replant the next spring
Oh, thanks guys.
Oilpainter - I bought one plant from the local nursery here and hopefully it will produce tons of runners later in the fall or winter for my propagation project. I decided to get some Sequoia Strawberry seeds online because I like seeing things sprout and mature, (For me, it's like getting a puppy or a grown dog). However, I do know that strawberry plants won't flower or fruit until the second year. I'm patience so I'll just enjoy the beauty of the plant for the first year.