There are some flowers that do best directly sown. I've started godetia indoors and wintersowed them, but find they are best directly sown.

Joanna, I'm so glad you posted this- I was going to wintersow mine! When do you sow them, or perhaps, considering the differences in our zones, I should ask, what temps are you having when you sow them?

I usually do mid to late May. Right around the average last frost. They are best sowed fairly thick in a group (circle) to form a nice clump look.

Thanks, Joanne--I am trying these for the first time this year, and like Neal I was going to start mine in jugs. Good to know they are easiest to start if direct sown.

Do they reseed? I'm getting downright paranoid about these reseeders.

Karen

I have had some self seeding, but not a lot and last year I didn't have any. Guess it would depend on how early our frost is in the fall and if the seeds were fully developed before frost.

Just the info I needed! I think about mid April will work here. I had wintersown some last year and they were puny. I just tossed it up to planting them out too late or the cool, wet summer we had.

Checked out info on Godetia and gotta have it! Why have I not heard about it before?

Hey gemini_sage! Good to see you! My bulbs from our trade last year are doing great! How about yours?

Awesome, Bridgett! So glad they're doing well for you. I have lots budding, and several of the King Alfred blooming.

I've worked with Godetia as a cut flower, such satiny petals- so pretty!

Now I thought it was me. I tried ws these, too. They came up fine, but didn't transplant well. Lean something new everyday:) Thanks for the info!

Well, we are definitely in hot weather now. 70's in the day and 50's at night. Looks like I saved all of my jugs for nothing, since I still haven't WS a thing. So, I will direct sow the ones that say I can. I have a stupid question. Won't the birds eat them?

Not a stupid question at all. And yes, the birds might eat a lot of them. Which is why I'd rather sow seeds in milk jugs.

Karen

Hi my friend. Then OK, jug it is. If it gets too hot, I'll flip em' open like you said. This weather is just awesome. But I've gotten so fat this winter, I went out for a little while to weed, HELLO, this extra tire around my middle made me breath too hard.

very pretty

Debbie, if your weather is really hot now, you might want to make a few extra holes in the jugs (I make them around the shoulders) and avoid putting them in the full, hot, afternoon sun if possible.

Karen

Will do Karen. Thank you. And I have a spot that gets morning sun and afternoon shade right now, so that's where I'll put them.

Debbie, tender annuals tend to sprout quickly in warm weather. I haven't done any of my tenders yet, I never do them until around the beginning of April. Too much danger of a killing frost in my zone. Now I have a few days off work so I might do a few jugs of things like zinnias and marigolds in the next few days. If they sprout and we have a freeze I'll just throw a sheet over them for the night. Our 10 and 15 day weather forecasts show just one night with temps near freezing.

I used to direct sow things like zinnias, and would conceivably still do that if I had tons of seeds. But I know that if sown in a jug, they're less likely to be eaten by critters, washed away in monsoon rain, sprout better due to increased heat and humidity in the jug- overall the success rate is just better.

Karen

Thanks again Karen. I never thought of the rains. And we have rain a lot here. I should get some of my jugs planted today. I just went outside around 7:30 for a walk in the garden and 2 1/2 hours later I came in , pulling my sweatsuit off as I fast as I could. It's already getting hot. Shorts it is. I was just going to weed a bit, then I started rearranging a bed. OH, I LOVE SPRING. I just came in for a cubits break and to catch my breathe , then I'll head out again. I hope you have an awesome day.

Debbie

I just walked outside, too. Beautiful sunshine but it's deceiving- still only 45° with a wind chill of 38°. It was 30° when I got up this morning. I think I'm going to wait a little while longer before I get out there.

Karen

Any suggestions where I can get Godetia seeds? I have looked at the various stores I have visited over the past few days. Notta! I was hoping to avoid mail order, but internet is my next shopping sight.