my MS office is only a starter version.. I couldn't "pin" the photos in excel to sort with the rows.. was making me nuts!!!.. so I was glad I figured out to do the google docs.. but I had to upload the photos to my picasa page in order for them to sort with the text.. otherwise they stayed still and the text sorted.. almost ripped my hair out this morning.. almost.. then I figured it out

Well I love what you did. I can't think of anything your are missing. Maybe some one else has something they would add to your spreadsheet?

I think it's great!

I currently have an Excel spreadsheet that I use to keep track of what I have and when it blooms (if it blooms) - much more simplistic than your sheet, Allison. I've been looking at another program to show where they are and what they look like, but I might just add the pics to the spreadsheet. Hmmmm.....

I can always make a blank copy if you want it.. don't mind at all sharing

Aw, thanks! I'm not that organized, yet, lol...

Allison, that is awesome. I've been using an excel spreadsheet, but not to that level of detail

I'd love a copy if you don't mind sharing, as I'm getting ready to update my spreadsheet for this year.

not at all.. here is a link with an unlocked blank one

https://docs.google.com/spread...

you can either create a copy to another google doc or download it and use it in excel

Very nice Allison.

I did a basic spreadsheet, not so elaborate or complete, for my wintersown seeds the first few years. Because my computer skills are so lacking, it felt like work, and I stopped the spreadsheet thing. It should be easy for someone who knows his way around a computer, but that's certainly not me.

I sometimes have to remind myself that gardening is my hobby, and supposed to be fun. When something garden-related starts to feel like work, it's time to abandon that project.

Karen

on these cold days I don't mind playing around with this stuff inside.. reminding me of being in the garden

I've had a little bag of seeds in the fridge since I collected them last summer. Guess I should probably cold moist stratify them now. I have high hopes for these Amsonia seeds!

little cuties

Very pretty. I though all amsonia bloomed blue- shows what I know.

Karen

I might have some purple seeds around

One nursery I know has some blue Amsonia. I want those also!

Wintersowers, I have a question!

How densely do you sow seeds in containers?

I've read answers to this question that are very general ("sow heavily"), but I don't have a reference point, so I don't know what's heavy or light.

For example, if I have teeny tiny seeds that look smaller than pen marks, do I liberally "broadcast" them, as if I were salting a piece of meat?

For a packet foxglove seeds (30 in a pack), would you divide that up into 2 milk jugs, or would you sow the entire packet in one jug?

Thanks!

if you were like me.. you would use one jug... if you were a sane person.. 2 or 3 I always seed heavy and deal with it later

I'm usually heavy handed too. But remember, a heavily seeded jug with good germination can look like a chia pet. Some people might freak out in trying to transplant a jug like that to the garden.


Not all seeds will leap up as seedlings. Some won't sprout, whether inside under lights or wintersown. In other cases, every seed grows.If I have a lot of seeds and they're tiny, I sprinkle them liberally. Bigger seeds, like zinnias, I only plant a few and space them more evenly. So it's sort of a crap shoot I guess.

I can tell you that foxglove tend to grow like weeds for me.

Karen

yes me too.. usually have lots of chia pets

Quick questions from a wintersowing newbie!

We've had some rain/ice/snow here followed by a lovely warm day today.

I just checked on the containers, and two of them don't have any condensation: a 16-oz juice container with straight sides and a wide top; and a large liquid soap container where the duct tape cape off so it's not closed very tightly.

Should I be concerned?

No, they're most likely fine if you've had rain and snow. They don't need to be closed tightly, some air is good. That's why we don't use the screw on cap on milk jugs. And my jugs are closed with a small vertical strip or two of duct tape, plenty of air flow.

You won't always see condensation. You should see it when weather starts to warm a little and sun is hitting the jugs. I never water mine before about mid-April, and even then it's rare. Usually we see plenty of rain at that time of year.

Karen