6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed
Not that hard... I've had luck with them on top of a Tropical Fish Tank set in Jiffy 7's and keep mosit in a water bottle Mini Green house... Hope that makes sense...
I May be able to get my hands on some Point seed as Dads looks like it's setting some, I'm hopping to try and Germinate some... Please wish me luck...
NC
You are going to love this plant. I don't care for the regular KMOTGG. It's a weed here and I'm constantly pulling it out of the yard but the variegated variety's foliage is quite different. The plant is beautiful with big green & white heart shaped leaves. This also gets a lot bigger then the weedy kind. I had some that were almost 10' tall.
Karyn
It is called "damp-off" and results from too much moisture, insufficient air circulation, combined with mold that forms on the soil surface. There is a FAQ here about it. I note from your other post you are or were misting the seedlings daily? Please don't, the seedings need to have slightly moist root soil but dry surface soil to survive.
Good luck when you try again.
Dave
Here is a link that might be useful: FAQ's Growing from Seed
I think I might have found what the problem is. I had a tray of Cardoons that sprouted nicely. I took the lid off and kept them misted. They are on the top shelf of a three shelve rack with metal supports. When I went down to look today, I saw that something was digging in the seedling trays! I think it was a mouse!
I guess a mouse might have eaten my seedlings!
I don't think the fluxuating temperatures are that big a deal. Problems can arise when you have a period of warmth and a plant seed germinates that doesn't like honest to goodness freezing temperatures. In my experience nasturtiums fall under this category. Last year mine germinated during some warm days in late February but then one night of just below 32 degrees in March killed them.
But there are plenty of seedlings that can come out during a warm spell and handle their jugs being frozen solid. I have lettuce in some jugs that I planted back in December that germinated quickly. The seedlings have thrived despite nights down in the teens and their jugs being frozen into solid bricks of soil.
High 30's shouldn't kill anything. It's 32 degrees and below or desiccating winds on opened jugs (the entire top has been removed, not the little lid that comes with the jug)that can kill seedlings.
Parsley, sweet pea and stock all benifit from planting while temperatures are still cold. In fact, here in Michigan, I toss down parsley seed in the fall for best results.
Delphinium will do better if started in a dark place - no light at all. I start them in a little-used drawer or cabinet.
The rest should not be damaged by cool weather, they will not germinate until the soil is a certain average temp. It just depends on if you are picky about where they sprout and how many sprout. Starting indoors is more dependable and gives you greater control, but with your long season, starting them outside seems to be a lot easier to me. Or is the hot summer hot enough to kill things off, hence giving you a shorter season that way?
Does the stem have a thinnish area? Is it still droopy? If so, you are a looking at damping off and your best bet is to cut your losses by snipping out affected plants. And yes, quit misting!
Water when the top half inch of soil is dry and keep a fan running in the room for at least 4 hours a day. Lighting within a half inch of the top leaf. This will make the environment less attractive to things like fungus and molds.
Much luck. I love sweet basil and am having a real hard time keeping myself from starting plants too soon for my zone 5b.!! Kay.
The varieties you named are annuals. Sure, you could plant now. But considering that your soil is likely still frozen and snow is a very real possibility, I would wait until early spring when I could press the seeds into the top of the soil right where I want it to grow. Mid to late march, I guess. It has been a while since I was living in zone 6.
Winter sowing can buy you a month over direct sowing, but the plants that you purchase or start inside are another month or even 2 older than that, so if you want immediate impact and don't want to wait until summer is half over for flower, don't bother with the winter sowing. Zones 6 and lower are just too short-seasoned for the method, in my estimation.
I would start the cosmos outside, early spring and the other two indoors under lights 8-10 weeks prior to your last frost date.
Cristi, good advice above. As for fertilizer, I'll just add that I dilute to 25% for the first weeks and always use a water soluble type, not granular. In fact, I dilute from the label instructions for full sized mature container plants and rarely apply a fertilizer product to much more than half strength. Remember, the fertilizer company is in business to sell fertilizer and the more the better, just like laundry soap :)
I got down and dirty last night to transplant all those little 3 and 4 inch plants.
They look great today.
Now that I have all the empty trays I will be able to start planting a bunch more!
I did not have a problem with the roots being to entangled, I was worried about that after you mentioned it Dave.
Also, thank you for letting me know that my soil mix is what I should be using, and it is all a soil-less mix including the potting soil.
I installed 2 more sets of lights using T12 bulbs, I will watch and make sure they are providing enough lite.
I also placed mylar under the plants and on the wall behind them.
I really hope this is enough to keep them growing!
Thank you all for the help =)
cristi
Hi there,
georgez5il: I did check sales@proptek.com. I love the concept of air pruning and am really interested in trying it out. The sturdy root development shown on their website still makes me drool!! ;)
I read about these "Speedling or Todd trays" in Square foot gardening By Mel Bartholomew. But he also says that besides being expensive they are difficult to keep watered. He further says that they are bulky and need to be sawed in half.
Have you tried these out? If yes, what has been your experience? Has anybody else had any experience with these? Please Share your experiences and ideas.
I am yet to contact proptek people to find out about the pricing and if it is affordable. Since they also sell second hand I have to brace myself.
digdirt : I also checked the links but could not find the exact size. I liked Novosel and great sale too! I desire the same size that you were looking for (2.25 x 2.25 x 4" deep). Where did you find yours? I did not see that size on Novosel either or did I miss? Did you have luck? I would appreciate your guidance.
lilamy : Mel Bartholomew went on to state tht his favorite containers remain the waxed cardboard yoghurt cups! Just like you!!So, I wonder if I am also ultimately going to end up doing the same. Only problem is they will waste space between them under the lights. And I wish to raise lots of seedlings this year. Also lights cannot be lowered to adequate height if I keep the cups in a plastic bin for humidity.
But if I do try this then I will insert paper pots first in my yoghurt cups to facilitate removal and ease transplant shock. I have been saving on these cups.
I would appreciate all the input I can get from the gardening experts out there.
Bobdole
I do not think starting watermelons now is good idea. It is one of those plants that usually started directly in the garden. They grow very fast when temps are high, hate transplanting. Once vine starts going is not unheard for it to grow a foot a day.
-Can anyone think of any plants that are fun to look after, that need attention at least several times a week, but at the same time are not too demanding?
Hi Jonnie - That's almost a contradiction in terms - "attention several times a week but not too demanding". Most of us are always looking for plants that do NOT require attention several times a week. ;)
Are you thinking about using flowers or vegetables? Small container type tomato or eggplant plant comes to mind. I also think of tropical flowering plants as requiring more than average care - Jasmin, orchids, plumaria, etc. Gardenias are notorious for being difficult to care for unless one is very knowledgeable about them.
Just some suggestions and I'm sure others will have even better ones for you. Hope this helps and good luck with your project.
Dave
Thanks a lot for your quick reply!
Any form of plant will be considered, flowers and vegetables included. Orchids are something we've considered from a brief look on the web, but we shall definitely consider all of your suggestions!
Thanks once again,
Jonnie.
I have just started some impatient seeds along with other annuals here in so.illinois. I will pinch any buds that may develop before putting outside but most annuals will bloom all summer if taken care of.
I start my petunia and impatiens early, as well. they germinate quickly but do take longer to grow to a full size. I've started them as early as the last week in January, but I did them the first week in February this year and last. Tender annuals aren't suited for the unheated greenhouse while it's still cold out (1. it's too cold for them, 2. plants have a temperature they like to grow at, and even if it's not cold enough to kill them, it won't be warm enough for them to do anything. Ever notice how your petunias are small, and then when it gets real warm out they take off?).
I sow cool annuals and perennials in the unheated greenhouse - similar to winter sowing. At the moment my greenhouse isn't heated, but I've built a propagation tent inside (using greenhouse film) that has a small heater inside. that means I only have to heat a 4Wx6Lx3H space. By the time those seedlings are ready to be potted up I will be heating the whole greenhouse. you can use your hoophouse for cool season vegetables. I don't start peppers until a few weeks before the last frost. they like it warm. I haven't tried starting them even earlier and growing them inside - I don't have the space. It's all taken up by flowers!