6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed
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Here is a link that might be useful: gardening by the seat of my pants
That may be difficult Sophia. You might try posting over on the Gardening in Metro New York forum and ask them. Should get some good tips there for sources.
Good luck!
Dave
Here is a link that might be useful: Metro NY Gardening forum
"if this doesn't exist, where would you go to buy vegetable seeds in general?"
I'm assuming you mean the not-so-unusual veggies. Around here most garden centers at Lowe's, Home Depot, Menards, Walmart, Kmart, etc. carry veggie seeds. They are just beginning to put them out for the season here...still too early at several of the places. Many nurseries/florists also sell seeds in Feb.-May. I've seen more heirloom varieties in stores recently, especially at some upscale nurseries. Whole Foods and other specialty food stores often have small heirloom seed racks in the spring, too.
I have no idea what kind of stores you have in Manhattan beyond the big names we see in the news. I've heard of many rooftop gardeners in big cites, though, and am sure somewhere not too far away must sell seeds.
I also like to see the seed packs before buying. But sometimes if I really want a particular variety I need to order seeds. I've been pleased with all my seed orders. I think it is bad experiences that people talk about forever, and all the good service is seldom mentioned.
I don't know if I am over thinking this or not. The seeds sprouted today. Well sort of, they appeared out of the soil but it was basically the seed with the entire casing still intact with the root below it.
Should I cover this up with soil or just let it be.
When growing indoors, transplanting is a recommended practice. When I grow indoors, I plant impatiens and pansy in foil loaf pans with shredded moist sheet moss at the bottom. (NOT milled peat moss!) I always have good root production which makes transplanting much easier!
I transplant into neat newspaper pots I learned to make on this site, also tucking the sheetmoss in the bottom, and then I just plant the whole kit-n-kaboodle outside.
Here is a link that might be useful: Newspaper pots
I too broadcast spread impatiens all together in an open flat then use the prick out method to transplant them into cellpacks. often the petunia seed i get is pelleted, so that goes into a plug tray (between 76 and 128). the seed on both is too small to start in individual cells that are much bigger. you could try market-packs - the compressed peat or fiber trays about 4"x6" designed for 6 plants. In a hobby greenhouse you might have more trouble with germination in those though. they dry out faster. It might seem time consuming, but you'll get better plants if you start in small trays and transplant when they need it. it encourages more growth.
It will definately produce seed but the seed will fall out soon after the flowers die so you need to get them early. I suggest taking stems and put im paper bags to dry out and separate later. I did not get seeds this year as I was sick during the time I needed to collect seed. Last year I collected 50plus on just a few plants.
I have been starting seedlings outside in Al's gritty mix. I can usually pull the seedlings out when very tiny because the mix is so loose. In addition, the root systems are huge compared with the little plant, which is a result of having a lot of airspace in the mix allowing the roots to grow fast.
I usually leave them in until they fully grow their second set of leaves. Then I move them to gritty mix again with much more spacing and let them grow until they are an inch or 2. It is so easy to get the roots out of the gritty mix, I can usually use a fork, and when the mix falls off, it's fine with me because it does not attach to fine feeder roots so the roots remain vastly intact.
I usually use water right from the tap that is at a temperature slightly warmer than room temperature. Soak a paper towel with it, wrap up the seeds, stick in a ziplock bag and onto the top of the fridge they go. There is a heating pipe about 5-10 feet away so the lil guys think its spring or summer and start sprouting within a week or two. crazy huh!?
Update! Over two days ago I decided to put the other plants in the ground. They all had 2 sets of leaves and looked pretty established. Therefore, I whacked the bottom of the egg shells and cracked them off. I was surprised to see so many white roots there. I then made cracks in 2 sides and gently put them in ground mixed with potting soil and vermiculite. They are FINE and growing new leaves! I'm glad I only murdered the first one. I guess I set it out too early. Lesson learned. Wait till they get established.
In the past we have ordered seeds from Burpees (good but expensive), Gurneys (cheap & vegetable seeds are reliable), Henry Field (ditto as Gurneys), Thompson & Morgan ( expensive & very few seeds germinated), E & S (cheap but only fair germination). I am sure there are more but do not remember all. For vegetables that are standards such as some beet varieties we use seeds from Walmart if they are cheaper.
I agree you can't find some varieties of flowers or veggies without trying the more expensive catalogs. I have often googled for seeds I have difficulty finding. I then try to find reviews of those companies before I order.
Jelitto has great seeds, if you're looking for perennials. I also like the North American Rock Garden Society.I found some other interesting sources here:
Here is a link that might be useful: Seed Sources
It depends on the variety and how fresh they are. Some varieties can take up to a year to germinate while others a couple weeks. Soaking the seeds in orange juice for a couple days prior to planting helps as does bottom heat. The fresher the seed the higher the germination rate in most cases. Here's a link to a great site for passiflora info.
Here is a link that might be useful: Passiflora
Did you try searching it? If you do find it, don't reply to the post b/c the member might not even be here anymore.