Hello all:
Finally had some time to start reading this forum. Karen directed me over here and so glad she did.
I planted more seeds today (indoors). I've got Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano started today.
I've already started echinaceas. My first attempt at doing echinaceas from seed but we shall see what happens.
I also started a oriental poppy variety.

Finished putting my spreadsheet together so I can keep track of when to start each of the seeds I have. I went a bit
overboard but I think the end results will be worth it. I do perennials, annuals, herbs and vegetables. I'm trying a new vine this year called Cup and Saucer or known also as Cathedral Bells.

I got seeds from Swallowtail, Diane's and Seeds and More (Canadian). I've not used any of these online vendors before so
here is hoping the seeds germinate.

I'm looking at the winter sowing idea but with the high winds we have here, I'm not sure using jugs left outdoors is a good idea here. Maybe I can find an alternative or someone can make a suggestion.

Julia

JuliaNY said:Hello all:

Hi, Julia.

JuliaNY said:
I'm looking at the winter sowing idea but with the high winds we have here, I'm not sure using jugs left outdoors is a good idea here. Maybe I can find an alternative or someone can make a suggestion.

Julia

You can set your jugs in a box and weight it with rocks, or perhaps tie the jug handles to a handy fence.


I set mine in an area between fences, grouped closely together, and we're very windy here, (on the receiving end of off-lake winds)....works fine. I've yet to have a jug blow over.

Hi Julia, I'm glad you found us.

I've used all the seed companies you mentioned and been happy with the seeds and results.

My area is very windy. I pack my wintersown milk jugs in plastic bins, holes drilled for drainage. Last year whole bins containing 6 to 8 jugs where blown away.


I had a brick in this bin with 16 oz cups, that was blown too!


Now I put 2 bricks in each bin and so far so good on that. This big tan thing works best- it holds about 20-25 jugs. (It's the bottom half of a dog cage).


Honestly, we've had trouble keeping a roof and siding on the house, so when I say "wind" I know of which I speak!

Karen

we had a day like that here today... hello & welcome Julia!!

Thanks for the welcome. So glad the winds have died down today.

Me, too!

More seeds have arrived, the sun is shining..... finally , and I'm ready to continue planting!

You're going to like that cup and saucer vine, I think! They do take a while to get around to blooming, tho. Did you get the purple ones or the white ones?

Julia. So glad you joined us here.

Sounds like you've got some great seeds started (I love to grow herbs, too). I admire your organization, too. I have a spreadsheet that lists my seeds with appropriate germinating information, but one of these days I need to start listing when I start plants.

I also pack my WS jugs into a cardboard box, and tuck the box tightly in between some of my unused containers out in the garden. So far, that's prevented them from blowing away. 35 MPH gusts predicted here again today....as windy as it's been, at least the temps haven't been too bad.

I ordered both purple and white Cup and Saucer They arrived yesterday so hopefully they bloom the right color. I got them from a seed seller called Seeds and More since she had both colors and the other sites I looked at appeared only to have the purple. I figured if I'll spend the $ to ship, might as well ship both.
I am kicking myself as I found that Swallowtail had the Agapanthus seeds I was looking for. I should have put that with my order. I just hate to spend money to ship 1 packet of seeds.

Last year I did morning glories and loved that. I did learn I need to start the vines indoors to see blooms earlier. I didn't plant until
June last year which I did get to see Heavenly Blue and Grandpa Otts (which was suppose to be Scarlett) bloom. Moonflower vine never
did bloom.

I'm still figuring out the winter sowing logistics. And with all the new seeds I got this year, I'm sure I'll be asking for advice.

One cool thing about the Cup and Saucer is that you can tell which is purple and which is white just by looking at the plant. The purple ones have a purple-ish tint to the leaves and tendrils, while the white ones are plain green. I planted a Cardinal Climber with a white one last year and they looked really nice together. The tiny red flowers with those big white ones was a nice contrast (although the cup and saucer sort of over-ran the poor little Cardinal Climber).

I tried Cup and Saucer Vine a couple of times and never had successful germination. How do you do yours?

I didn't have any difficulty with them. And once you get them going, they can be propagated from cuttings fairly easily. I forgot to take cuttings last year, so I'm back to starting seeds. Hmmm, should probably make sure I still have some.....

edited to add: whew! Thought for a moment I didn't have any seeds left! Anyway, it does mention on the seed pack I have to plant the seeds 1/2 inch deep and on edge. And they want temperatures from 68-72 to germinate. I had better luck with the purple ones than the white, BTW.

Thanks, Woofie. I did plant them on their sides, but I bet they weren't nearly warm enough. When I get more seeds I'll make sure to warm 'em up.

I was wondering if these need to soak overnight before planting? I read the planting instructions that came with these and it did say to plant edgewise, pushed into soil/ mix (surface sow)but don't cover or cover lightly. 70 degree F for germination.

I also wonder if these need light to germinate besides the heat? Germination is suppose to take 1 to 3 weeks.

To me, they don't look like the sort of seeds that need to soak. Hmmm, Tom Clothier's site does say to surface sow, so maybe 1/2 inch is too deep. Maybe that 1/2 inch includes the width of the seed?

It's been a couple of years since I started them from seed, but I followed the package instructions and they came up just fine.

I checked several sites including Botantical Interests (they advertise in the Horticultural Mag) which say to soak 12 -24 hours or nick them.
I could always do some in a soak and others without and see what happens. Perhaps the presoak gives them a boast in germinating.

I've sent an email to the seller I got the seeds from to see what they say to do.

Well, that's interesting. I just did a quick search on soaking those seeds. Most of the first results do say to soak them for 2 hours. Ha! What do I know? I've only grown them from seed once before!

I did get a response back on C n S and this is what they wrote:

"It is not required to soak Cathedral Bells seeds but it will do no harm to
do so - it might help soften the seed coat if you do soak and possibly
speed up germination. Indirect light is fine for germination - we just
push our seeds into the planting medium and barely cover or even leave
partly exposed. Keep your planting medium moist but not soaking wet. We
find it helps to cover with plastic but if you do so, make sure you have
not planted in direct sun as this will "cook" the seeds if under plastic."

I guess I'll try it both ways to see what happens and how the germination differs.

If you find that one way works better than the other, be sure to update the seed starting information in the database!

Hi Julia!

>> with the high winds we have here, I'm not sure using jugs left outdoors is a good idea here

Maybe corral the jugs with a low wire fence, like rabbit fence cut down to 14". Stake the fence well.

And/or drape chicken wire over them, then weigh down the edges with bricks or stones. That would let the light and rain get to them.