I winter sowed quite a few seeds already and was told that I should not put out a couple of my tropical type seeds so I brought in a couple of my jugs and kept them at room temperature. I was really surprised when a couple of the seeds germinated. I just transplanted to a bit larger container 2 Hedgehog Vine seedlings and one Lavender Moonflower seedling. I know it is way too early to be starting these in my Iowa Zone 5a but I will do my best to keep them going. I have them in my small green house in our heated garage under grow lights. I will be keeping a very close eye on them. I am so excited.

The Lavender Moonflower seedling should do well in a greenhouse under lights. I overwintered one in my basement for a few years.
What is a hedgehog vine?

Ronnie, I think they are very similar to an ornamental cucumber that I have grown several times. The ornamental cucumber is round and spiney. If you cut it open it smells and looks like a cucumber inside but it is bitter to the taste thus not edible. Here is a picture of the ornamental cucumbers that I grew last year. I am curious to see if the hedgehog fruit is similar to these. The ornamental cucumbers are in the front of this fall center piece.

Oh aren't they cool! I love them

If you would like some seeds, I would be glad to send you some so you can grow some of your own.

Has anyone W/S heliotrope? I got some seeds in the last swap and I'm reading they should be started indoors only.

Jeanne, I would love to try them!

Leslie I tried heliotrope last year, they germinate and I planted them but they never got very big and never flowered for me. You are a zone higher so you might be okay.

Ronnie, T-mail me your address and I will dry some of these seeds from last summer and will send them to you when they get dried.

I grow heliotrope every year but never winter sow it. Needs bottom heat to germinate. I grow it in the greenhouse until May.

OK. I have just the place for the heliotrope. I sowed half a flat of agapanthus today and needed something for the other side. Thanks for the info you two.

Today I did a dozen jugs. 10 of heuchera, a couple of daylilies and a flat of violets. This is so fun!

I'm almost out of jugs. Does anyone have a good source for them?

My friend's husband works in the cafeteria of a home for retired nuns and he save mine. I read somewhere that Starbucks will save them if you ask. Maybe a local nursing home or school cafeteria.

Thank you.

Remember if someone saves them for you to specify "no lids please." The first couple of bags I got from him. even though they had rinsed them, they but put the lids back on and boy did they stink! A couple weren't rinsed and I gagged so bad they went in the recycle bin

luvsgrtdanes said:A couple weren't rinsed and I gagged so bad they went in the recycle bin

Heard that!

It occurred to me that I have tons of 4" pots and their trays. Wouldn't it work if I covered them with a baggie until the seedlings got taller. I could put the whole carrier tray, which is perforated, in a shallow bath to water them if they needed it. That would solve the problem of having only a few seeds of a particular type that I wanted to plant.

I winter sow some in pots---but place the pots in a translucent bin.
Keeps critters from disturbing the pots.

Caroline,
When you do that do put bags over them and then leave the top open?

No, I do not use bags with the pots.
The bins have covers so I just use them.
I have also placed the milk jugs in translucent bins too.
I pour a bit of water in the bottom of the bin so there is good humidity.

Are your tops translucent as well? Mine are a colored plastic that won't let light through.

Yes, translucent tops.
Maybe you would need to replace the coloured tops with a large clear plastic of some sort. Tape a clear plastic bag over the top?
You want diffused light for seedlings. ( translucent shower curtain? clear table cloth?)

Thanks. I think I have plastic paint tarps that would be just right.