We're to get 3-5" of snow today and, thankfully, I don't have to work. I've decided to be a lazy slug all day. I'm not going anywhere. I think I'll just play in dirt. I'm going to sow a small try of begonias for under lights, then maybe start wintersowing a few things. I'll make a pot of soup for dinner. I'm sure my husband will get home late today. Traffic will be awful by rush hour this afternoon.

I got a fresh bag of ProMix yesterday. I pay $14 for the 2.8 cu ft bag of ProMix BX at a local nursery. After potting up all my coleus cuttings last week, I was really low on potting mix.

When it snows, it really puts me in the wintersowing mood.

Karen

Karen lucky you that you can stay home today. I've been wanting to start some seeds to, but I have to organize them first.

Yes, I love working part time. Not enough time in my life for a full time career any more.

Organize seeds? You should see the mess of seeds I have. My life is a constant state of disorganization. I still haven't started on seeds today. Mostly messing around on the computer, watching it snow, talking to my husband and my girlfriend on the phone... I did sterilize some soil. Boy, my kitchen stinks!

Karen

Quit horsing around and get busy....lol! Why do you sterilize the soil if its ProMix?

Karen -- knowing we had snow on the way, i wanted to start last night. I found a bunch of jugs in the basement that i had been stock piling.... poked holes in the bottoms and cut them - preparing to get them filled.

here it is, 3pm and i have yet to start sowing. I have a few seeds already chosen for the first batch... just have not gotten to it yet. but -- no plans for the week - so there is time.

th snow has been light, off and on most the day... they have over guesstimated again... the weather liars were saying 3-6" -- we are on the low end, probalby approaching the 3" mark. the back patio maybe has another 1/3 to half inch... i shoveled 2 hrs ago.

Oh -- i actually came in to ask a question.... so while i'm here...

have you ever sown Canna seeds? I have some in my seed stash... never tried them before?

I've never tried cannas.

I never did start wintersowing. I did sow one tray under lights today (begonia). But I did get a lot of phone calls taken care of. And I made a big pot of soup for this snowy day. We've gotten about 3" of snow today. They say another inch or less overnight.

Donna, I sterilize soil for starting seeds indoors under lights. Some sources recommend that to prevent damp-off. I always do it and I never have damp-off, so I'm afraid not to do it.

Wintersowing certainly is easier. All that sterilizing soil and trays is a pain.

Karen

on DG i did find a little bit where someone posted they sowed seeds in Feb and germinated in March at in 6 i think ...and bloomed in Aug.

so i'll give it a try.

The "guys" are going out for pizza - so i'm gonna do a few jugs while they are out.

that's why i've been poking thru the seed basket --

found some Delph's i'm gonna do too.

gotta run and get the soil... they are heading out the door.

here's my first 8 gallon jugs

Lemon Balm - melissa officinalis
Penstemon strictus
Penstemon cobaea
NE Aster Alma Potschke
NoID delphinium [seeds i grabbed off spent plants in wisc.]
delphinium elatum "guardian blue"
DIANTHUS deltoides Arctic Fire
Penstemon mexicali "red rocks"

Terese looks like you've sowed some nice goodies! Do you use the Lemon Balm for tea or for a repellent?

this is my first time sowing it.... the tea sounds good.

Karen,

have you started yet?

I've got 21 jugs under my belt already....

Seed
Lemon balm, melissa officinalis
Penstemon strictus
Penstemon Cobaea
NE Aster Alma Potschke
Delphenium - NoID
Delphenium elatum
Dianthus Arctic Fire
Penstemon Red Rocks
Agastache Surprise
Rudbechia Mix
Canna [red] [generalis]
Agastache Apricot Sprite
Agastacge rugosa
Agastache Lavender Haze
Agastache Mystery Blue
Agastache Honey Bee White
Agastache Tutti Fruiti
Agastache Golden Jubilee
False Indigo
English Lavender
Echinacea, Tomato Soup

No, I didn't start. I only did 1 tray of begonias for inside.

I can't even decide what I want to sow this year.

Karen

there is so much i want to sow... i honestly have no idea where i'm going to put it all.

My goal again this year is to cut down on what I stuff into those beds. I want to thin it out, make maintenance easier.

I made a little progress last year, but not enough.

Karen

I STILL haven't started wintersowing.

But today I did spend a long time picking through my seed stash. I pulled out some I want to do this year. I think I'm only doing begonia and impatiens inside under lights. A few I'll just direct sow, like basil and beets (I bought a pack of seeds for golden beets, highly recommended by a friend). And I have a list of about 15 to wintersow.

That might be it for this year, though I might add more later. Plus, of course, lots of coleus from cuttings.

Karen

Karen -- picking thru the stash is the first step....

And tonight I started slicing up milk jugs. I only got 6 or 8 done, then my son called, so I stopped. But eventually I'll get started
And I got a fresh bag of ProMix a couple of days ago, so only have to actually sow the seeds now.

Karen

Just caught this thread--Karen, do you ever WS pelargonia? I notice that you said you will be sowing other "tenders" like begonia and impatiens under lights.

No, I never have tried them from seed. They're so common at garden centers, cheap and readily available. Last fall I started some from cuttings and overwintered them under lights. They were really easy and did great, but I just can't afford the space under lights. I'll just buy a few if I want them.

I'm far more likely to grow things from seed that I can't easily find locally. Or hardy perennials which are so much cheaper from seed

I say I'm frugal, my husband says I'm cheap.

Karen

Karen -- funny how that is such a fine line... I'm frugal too. but i wouldn't call myself cheap.