can't find the blooming photo at the moment.. but have to look on my other computer.. but I found the WS'ing photo

just a tad over seeded..

but I can say every seed germinated

not my photo.. but you can get the idea

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh...

found it

Thanks so much for the pics and info Allison! That gives me a good idea how to place them- you're right, the photos make them look like much bigger blooms. That mass shot is gorgeous! It was such a weird summer last year, that very well could have made a difference.

quite a few did poorly with the way the weather was here

It was like that here too, lots of the heat lovers did poorly, but other things were so happy they made up for it- kinda felt like spending a summer in the UK, LOL.

I bet.. was more or less that

This whole part of the country had that weather last year- cooler, wetter, and above all, always cloudy. Seemed like I didn't see sun until almost August. The plants didn't seem to like that much, and I know I didn't.

Karen

Well, I was all ready this week to plant out my WS sprouts. My sweet peas are peeking out of the hole and many others are begging to be let out. It was finally warming up.

And then, last night, Mother Nature threw me a curve. I covered my jugs with a frost blanket just in time. I normally don't worry about it, but many of them had good growth. Yikes. I tell myself that Spring will arrive sometime.

wow now that's out of hand!!

When is the best time of year to start the seeds outside? Mike

Are you using the wintersowing method, in containers? If so, after winter solstice is the recommended starting time. I'm usually into to wintersowing from January through April.

Me, too. This time of year is just too busy for me. Once January gets here and all the Christmas decorations and junk are put away, I have more time.

Karen

I certinaly waited too long last year, it was Feb.I'm in zone 7b, and winter solstice sounds about right here.
Yes, I found out about the jugs last year, and was amaised. Thanks, Mike

Mike -- i think you could start early to mid-January. i bet you get warm pretty quick where you are.

I too start MidJan to Mid-Feb ... but then again, i'm zone5. our last frost date is May 15th, though usually it's mid april.

Where I am it april 15th.Almost always we have a cold spell, and then its over.Its the cold snap, that bites tender young leaves. I did not see a brug bloom, this year, because of the bite. Mike

Here those late cold snaps often bite such things as fruit tree blossoms and beautiful magnolias. They often damage my little Japanese maple. And that's when you have to watch frost-tender wintersown seedlings. I'd rather cover them with a sheet for the night than lose them. I don't cover hardy perennial ones, only those that I know won't take freezing temps well.

Karen

HI Karen. I'm so glad I kept all of your notes and tips (on an Excel sheet) from DG last year. I can't believe it's almost time to start again. :)

So, I don't have to start until January? That's great.

Debbie, January should still be fine in your zone. Your spring is a lot earlier than ours up here but in January you should still have some cold weather to come. Cold is a relative term.

Karen

LOL Karen. We had cold (32 degrees) this morning and now its back up to 60. Me and my plants can't tell if it's winter or not. But,my garden is staying pretty! What temps should I be in consistently to put my jugs out? I've been keeping a journal of the temps from last year and comparing them to this year, so it should be close. I can look at that and try to determine when to put them out depending on the temp you say.