Its a krap-shoot either way for me.

I bought a mini GH over the wkend to get a few flower/tomato seeds started. I didn't think you could transplant poppies. You can, it is just best to when they are small ok.

Teresa

Yes really small and I have never started in a greenhouse.I just take a small patch of germinated poppies and transplant that. It rarely works for me but I do manage to get a few to grow from the patch which is about 2 inches wide.

There are going to be losses transplanting. I am speaking from my own experience.

Anything with a taproot is like that- best transplanted early and small, before the taproot is too long. Here's an old pictrue of a wintersown lupine that shows how big a taproot can get, and how soon. As you can see the taproot is already longer than the seedling is tall.



As long as the gardener gives the root the respect it deserves, seedlings can be transplanted. It's not that difficult to remove them from nice fluffy potting mix. Later, after they are established in garden soil and the taproot is 15" long, transplanting is a whole other story.

Karen

agreed.

I have done it before.. just have to be careful

Karen, that's an excellent photo - I had no idea the taproot got that long when the seedling was so tiny!

Sandy, wintersowing these things then later transplanting from jugs to ground, you learn these tidbits. But you can see why plants with taproots are best transplanted before that root is too long. In that lupine photo you can see that the seedling is just forming the second true leaf.

Karen

Karen, that picture is so helpful! When's the earliest you can transplant lupines? Mine sprouted so early, about 2-3 weeks ago.

Do I need to transplant to a bigger container once the true leaves come out? I'd like to avoid transplanting twice, if possible.

Our last frost date is sometime around mid-April.

Sandi, are they wintersown or grown under lights? For my wintersown stuff I almost never pot up to a bigger pot- I stick everything right in the ground. Last frost date doesn't matter if they're already used to the cold. At most you might "harden off" to the wind by removing the top part of the jug for a couple of days, then stick into a garden bed as long as your soil isn't frozen and you can dig.

As you can see from my lupine photo, looks like second true leaf was just starting when I transplanted. If yours are indoor seedlings you might want to pot up and harden off when possible. If they're wintersown, they don't need to be hardened off as they were born into the cold and they're used to it so they could go right in the ground.

Honestly, wintersowing is just so much easier in so many ways I don't understand why more people don't do it.

Karen

I would try it but there isnt anyplace to hide the jugs.

Hide them? Interesting concept. Mine go anywhere and everywhere, wherever they land. We used to have a patio in back of the house and I put most there. Now there's a deck there so most go on the deck.




Sometimes the overflow are on the front porch...


If our property wasn't littered with milk jugs all winter the neighbors would think I'd moved!

Karen

This house is situated so there isnt anywhere that isnt seen. We have wanted to move the compost box but either the place is too far in the back or the front yead next to the driveway where everyone comes.
I like your set up with jugs and plastic boxes.Very neat and organized.

How do you cut your jugs so that they hinge? I tried one with pathetic results.

My jugs are plainly seen, especially on the front porch. It's just not a big deal to me. If anyone doesn't like it they just don't have to look. It's my property.

I use those plastic bins with bricks in the bottom to keep them from blowing away in the wind. Been there, done that.

Karen

So wintersowing in situ isn't very effective?

Woofie, I make a stab slit with a utility knife, then cut the rest of the way with scissors. I cut 3 sides, leaving one side (adjacent to the handle) intact. It's most often the side with the label. Cutting all the way around the corners allows it to stay open easily on it's own. After that, poke holes in the bottom. No screw on cap is used. The pouring spout is left open to air, rain, and snow. Easy peasy.

I'm going to win you over to this easy method eventually! Relentless, arent I?



Karen

It depends Evan. Some things like poppies and larkspur work well. But in areas with heavy spring rain(mine), a lot of seeds are washed away. Critters eat a lot of seeds. Those that sprout might all be in 3" and need transplant anyway. Some folks like direct sowing and seem to have great results. I just get better results using my milk jugs. If I have lots of seed to waste, I occasionally do direct sow some things.

Karen

Hmmm, I think maybe you have sturdier jugs than I have. Mine are all from distilled water, not milk, and they flop around and wiggle and don't stay closed.

I am feeling the nudge Karen. I might try this next year as yours look o neat on the porch. Somehow I had the idea the jugs were left where the plants were going.I will give Larkspurs one last try and use this method but next year.
My plant plans are set for 2012.