6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed

Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
lemecdutex(z15 CA Petaluma)

I love Chiltern's seeds in the UK. I've ordered seed from them on a Tuesday evening, and had them arrive that Friday (that's faster than US-based shippers!). They give you good quantities of seeds, and I've had great success with germination, including with particularly tricky seeds, like the blue poppies (meconopsis).

--Ron

    Bookmark     July 26, 2008 at 2:34AM
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
evonnestoryteller(5-6)

I watch for seed sales at T&M all the time! This year they had the 1/2 price sale and then the 99 cent sale! I stocked up on things I would not normally purchase.

http://www.tmseeds.com/

    Bookmark     July 26, 2008 at 8:29PM
Sign Up to comment
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
georgez5il(z5 IL)

A minimum of 4 week cold period (40F) is needed..... then lightly cover &..... darkness .....needed for germination. Soil temperature 65-70F taking 10-14 days .... taking 15 weeks to be large enough to set out. Figure last frost free date... count back 20 weeks & see if enough time to plant this year.

    Bookmark     July 14, 2008 at 5:20PM
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
lemecdutex(z15 CA Petaluma)

In your zone you might do well doing what I used to do with them, I just sprinkled them lightly in my garden during the month of October. I always got plenty that reached blooming size. My old garden in Fresno had them return each year by the 10s of thousands. Quite spectacular!

--Ron

    Bookmark     July 26, 2008 at 2:43AM
Sign Up to comment
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
brockthegreek

Hi mblabe,
Your big pots should work fine. The potting soil in them will be fine. You can put more zinnia plants together in a pot than sunflower plants. The zinnias will grow to 1-3 feet tall, the sunflowers along the lines of 4-7 feet. Zinnias aren't fond of their roots being disturbed, so be gentle when you transplant them. Leave an inch or two between the plants. Put your pots in a sunny location. As you can see from my picture, I used 15 inch planters that I placed a full packet of seeds in each. It may look a little crowded but they are growing well.
BTG

    Bookmark     July 24, 2008 at 6:07AM
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
caroline_2008(Z 6)

From Gardener

Hi there, just wanted to say that is real cool, that
your daughter planted seeds and watched them grow. This pic of my zinnias was one package, I plant them in
several places in my large flower beds. They grow
quickly and are pretty. Just keep them watered and I
too think the large pot will be fine for yours.
Good luck .

    Bookmark     July 25, 2008 at 1:29PM
Sign Up to comment
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
thestrangeangel

If I grew it in a pot it would be a half barrel... don't know the capacity but its pretty large.
you still think it would be a bad plan?
The weather there isn't that different from here :P so it shouldn't be to hard to grow you think?

    Bookmark     July 19, 2008 at 2:24AM
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
erict

Try Cananga fruticosa instead if you're worried about the size. Go dwarf!

    Bookmark     July 25, 2008 at 1:39AM
Sign Up to comment
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
brockthegreek

Hi greenmouli,
Here's a link to shade loving plants from Spring Hill Nurseries. It should give you some ideas on choosing something suitable. Hope it helps.
BTG

Here is a link that might be useful: Shade loving plants

    Bookmark     July 24, 2008 at 6:16AM
Sign Up to comment
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
samfawzy10(Z5)

sow the seed now and they will germinate in less than 10days. They will grow very well in your zone then as you said protect them during winter.

    Bookmark     July 23, 2008 at 9:18PM
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
merianna

Thank you. I will be sowing tomorrow.

    Bookmark     July 24, 2008 at 2:51AM
Sign Up to comment
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
dicot

My advice is take advantage of your great, frost-free weather and learn to germinate before spending the $$ on either. Unless you are really deep into the Outer Sunset foggy part of SF, I would use the coffee filter in a plastic baggie method (see link) for the heat lovers and germinate outside for most of the veggies that can take some fog (my preference is to use flats). All the root veggies, the leafy veggies and squash and beans and peas and brassicas will germinate w/o additional heat in SF, although it can be slower this way if the sun disappears for days.

I grew plenty of veggies outside in Bolinas, the Haight and Oakland using these methods. Your main obstacle is that the humidity can promote damping off and other diseases, so an occasional spray of dilute hydrogen peroxide or watering with weak chamomile tea is a good preventative.

It's not that heat mats aren't a good aid when the marine layer rolls in, they just aren't a necessity. APS always has seemed an unnecessary expense in coastal CA.

Here is a link that might be useful: faq: baggie method

    Bookmark     July 22, 2008 at 5:59AM
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
sfveggies

Thanks! That's great to know you were able to germinate outside (I am thankfully in the Haight, not the Sunset).

For germinating outside, I'm assuming that putting them anywhere that doesn't get direct sun is okay? Did you just put the flats out there or did you use any kind of cold frame?

    Bookmark     July 23, 2008 at 10:20PM
Sign Up to comment
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
omedusa

Congratulations!! This worked best for me:

Wait till the sprout is about 2 inches tall, then set the whole thing belly down, sprout up in the dirt, leaving one inch sprout out. Keep in a warm sunny spot, keep moist but not wet.

    Bookmark     July 23, 2008 at 12:18PM
Sign Up to comment
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
reba_nc(z 7)

You may have already figured this out, but the part that flowered first should be mature enough to harvest by now. If you roll the dried capsule between your fingers the tiny little seeds should spill out. The plant produces over a period of several weeks. Try to protect forming seeds from the rain.

    Bookmark     July 13, 2008 at 6:14PM
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
flora_uk(SW UK 8/9)

The 'puffball' are not the arugula. You must have some weed in there too. Or maybe lettuce. Arugula produces pods and when they are dry you will find small almost spherical brownish black seeds inside. Alternatively you could not 'harvest' them but just leave them to self sow.

    Bookmark     July 22, 2008 at 6:04PM
Sign Up to comment
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
georgez5il(z5 IL)

Will have BEST luck is start early in spring after danger of frost has passsed.

    Bookmark     July 19, 2008 at 1:26PM
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
maggie_berry(z6CT)

Thank You georgez5il! I will wait it out!
Maggie

    Bookmark     July 19, 2008 at 4:26PM
Sign Up to comment
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
georgez5il(z5 IL)

sounds like a fungal growth 1-2 DROPS of "Chlorox" will help. Should transplant ASAP since water roots do not last in soil. will have to be replaced bu new roots. I ALWAYS transplant at the FIRST sign of a water root.

    Bookmark     July 19, 2008 at 1:24PM
Sign Up to comment
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
georgez5il(z5 IL)

Remove lid as it can promote damping off (not a good thing) & yes may continue to grow insid if container is large enough for the size of the plant. May need /does need GOOD light. to grow ewell. (Basil + all others) Still time to start herbs for fall/winter use.

    Bookmark     July 19, 2008 at 1:22PM
Sign Up to comment
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
msye_cox_net

Would n you provide information on where to purchase jujube seed? How many trees can be planted in a 5 acres land? Thanks.

    Bookmark     June 13, 2008 at 12:59AM
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
willyt

They are fairly upright trees and do not get that big. I could forsee spacing them 20x20.

    Bookmark     July 17, 2008 at 11:11PM
Sign Up to comment
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
persephonita

I live in an apartment and don't have a yard or any outdoor space. I've been wanting to start an herb garden. Would it be possible to grow the plants in the aquarium first and then put them in individual pots and keep them inside?

    Bookmark     July 17, 2008 at 12:15PM
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
happycthulhu(7)

Yes, if you have a sunny window.

    Bookmark     July 17, 2008 at 12:21PM
Sign Up to comment
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
morz8(Washington Coast Z8b)

I don't grow it, but looked it up and the information is a little confusing. I find the site you mention, another that says isolated plants may be self sterile, yet another that states 'self sows' but with more restraint than c. radicans (missouri botanical gardens).

Then this from the Clothiers site - blooming 17 months from seed after pruning, his information is reliable....

Here is a link that might be useful: Campsis x tagliabuana

    Bookmark     July 16, 2008 at 12:40PM
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana(zone 5/6)

Thank You Morz8...I will go then with the 'reliable' info.

Sue

    Bookmark     July 16, 2008 at 12:44PM
Sign Up to comment
© 2015 Houzz Inc. Houzz® The new way to design your home™