6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed
I germinate lots of Gaillardia from my own seed. In fact the FanFare shape seems to show up naturally in my garden.
Gaillardia needs hot temps to germinate here so I have to wait until June to start them. In your case you can start earlier. Just put them in soil any which way-they will germinate in spite of what we do. Good luck.
I tend to late winter sow or spring sow them. Fanfare shows up in my batches too. Seems like the Fanfare is a little shorter lived than regular gaillardia. Perhaps 2-3 years for mine.
Ditto on the shuttlecocks. They know what to do and which way to grow.
My first set of seedlings were planted and the squirrels dug them up (same as last year). I bought repellent, and it worked part way.
I also planted lettuce and peas in tubs and the squirrels dug large holes (same as last year).
Therefore: I laid down plastic chicken wire, pegged it down, and replanted in large and small containers. I now have spinach, lettuce, peas, beans, squash, cucumbers in the protected tubs or buckets. We are eating the spinach and lettuce - they really look good and taste great. The squirrels have tried to dig, but have finally given up.
I also have new seeds in baggies outdoors. When they are ready I will use the chicken wire this time for the garden. I have spent too many hours, too much money, and too much emotion to let those varmints win. If it takes wire and pegs, so be it. Carol
When you transplanted your seedlings from their community pot into their individual container they went into transplant shock. This is normal and should be expected. It takes a while for the new feeder roots, growing now, to show new growth on the foliage. All is well. Al
Hi Al! Glad to hear they will be okay! I don't know why i didn't think of that! It looks like the stems are turning a red brown color too. I hope thats not a bad sign. Its been so long since i grew anything from seed i seem to have lost my memory!
Enjoy your day & thanks for your help and support!
Tonia
Nope, not old seed - I've always bought fresh every year. I think I'm going to try a combination of soaking/Saran-Wrapping. I've also read that one way to ensure germination is to freeze the seeds in ice cubes, then just scatter the cubes in the garden. I'll probably try this, too!
I have never soaked or paper toweled or anything!!!I use a potting mix from a local greenhouse, no plant food added, just has the right mix of soil and perlite etc.!
I plant the seeds about 1/2 inch below the soil, cover, with good ventilation, and they sprout plentifully!!!!
Oh...I did use a 4" pot/plastic! and put a bunch of seeds....the containersare FULL of 8" parsley already!!! 1 packet of seeds did 3 containers for me!
Carol, I always keep ALL of my seed in the refrigorator. I actually have a refrigorator just for them now. Anything that is coming in a "planting mix" probably does not need to be chilled before planting, but it won't hurt them any. Any extra that you want to hang on to for next year, put in an airtight container (I recycle Mayo and peanut butter jars for this) with a packet of silica gel if you have one. I started tomatoe seeds this year that are ten years old with 85% germination!!
B
Carol, I don't have any experiences with mixes, but I wouldn't think a seed company would put seeds with greatly different germination requirements in the same package. You're probably safe in following the suggestions on the seed envelope back...Do they tell you what time of year to sow?
But I did want you to know when you come across a seed that needs stratifying (a chill to break dormancy), the chill must be moist. Dry in the refrigerator is a good way to store, but it's storage.
Scattered thundershowers would save you a bit of work in not needing to water to keep your seeds moist....unless, you are expecting a deluge that could move your seeds around or wash them loose. :)
How did you use it? It would be very unusual for fertilizer to kill plants unless you had put it on the leaves. It is supposed to be worked into the soil, and the label warns to wash off leaves. Like other granular fertilizers, it is supposed to be activated by water so I don't understand the "crumbled by rain" comment.
I've only tried the Lavender variety "Lady", and I had blooms mid summer last year from it so I went with it again this year and have 7 small starts. I use the wet coffee filter in baggie method for germination, which usually takes less than a week...give or take. If you're unaware of what that method is. Wet a coffee filter (bleached/unbleached whatever) thourougly, sprinkle the seeds on it, fold it up then place in a plastic baggie. Blow a puff of air into the baggie before sealing it up. I then place the baggie (for other seeds/plants as well) on top of my cable box (for gentle bottom heat), and check every day to make sure the filter stays moist, and for germination. Once germination occurs, proceed as normal into seed starting mix/under lights.
Hope this helps...could be the variety, or method you're using for germination....hope it helps...
Todd In Philly
I planted snapdragons from seed last year. They were a little slow to handle the sun. Like you I put them out in the shade (like your overcast days) and after a few days into the sun. I learned that I had to start them in the early morning full sun and then move them into the shade come around 10 am. Hard to do for you if you work outside the home though. After a few days of this, they seemed to handle the sun okay.
The good news is that their final planting spot was in some planters that were in full sun. They did very well all summer. I did plant them in the MG Moisture control potting soil.
Years ago I had managed to gather leaves to about 1' thick on my 30x75 garden. It took a lot of work and was very productive. We had a large "dust devil" and it picked up and scattered every leaf from my garden all over the neighborhood. My neighbors were very upset and needless to say so was I.
You need to make a nuisance of yourself at all of the local garden centers! Spy and take notes about what they carry so that you can exert your energy on plants that won't be so readily available. I began seeing 'Silver Falls' at the stores several years ago.
All of the work is really worth it when you know that you've produced something a bit out of the ordinary.