Views: 2233, Replies: 37 » Jump to the end |
JuliaNY Feb 9, 2012 5:32 PM CST |
I've been thinking to try and find some seeds for Balloon flowers in the catalogs I have but nothing so far so will start an internet search but wondered just how easy to start these indoors and then transplant out in late spring? Has anyone grown them from seed indoors and then planted out in spring? I haven't grown them before but thought the blues would add a touch of bling to the garden. Julia Upstate NY Zone 6 |
kqcrna Feb 9, 2012 7:04 PM CST |
I tried to wintersow them for 4 or 5 years in a row and never had one sprout. I know lots of wintersowers who swear they're the easiest seeds to grow, but not for me. I think they just don't like me. I've never tried them in the house. Karn |
JuliaNY Feb 10, 2012 8:06 AM CST |
I don't have much luck with winter sowing so usually start all my seeds indoors and then transplant out in spring. Julia Upstate NY Zone 6 |
SongofJoy Feb 10, 2012 8:41 AM CST |
I direct-sowed them here last year and they did fine. Now I'll find out if they come back this year. :greengrin I garden for the pollinators. |
JuliaNY Feb 10, 2012 12:14 PM CST |
Tee: Where did you buy your seeds from? Julia Upstate NY Zone 6 |
SongofJoy Feb 10, 2012 12:27 PM CST |
Julia, I think I bought my seeds at one of the local farm supply stores here ... most likely Rural King. That probably doesn't help you very much since I can't remember the company name that was on the seed packs. Let me see if I still have an empty seed package. Sometimes I keep them. I garden for the pollinators. |
woofie Feb 10, 2012 12:33 PM CST |
Swallowtail seeds has a lot of varieties of Balloon flowers, if that helps, and they have a good reputation. Confidence is that feeling you have right before you do something really stupid. |
SongofJoy Feb 10, 2012 12:43 PM CST |
Good to know, woofie. Julia, I'm thinking Summer Hill Seeds. I garden for the pollinators. |
woofie Feb 10, 2012 1:03 PM CST |
Tee, I bought a bunch of Summer Hill seeds on a co-op once, and I was not very pleased. The prices seemed a bit high for the number of seeds in a packet, and I did NOT have good germination rates from them. I mentioned it to them, too, and got no response. I hate to bad mouth a company for one negative experience, but I was not too pleased, and as I recall a number of other participants had similar complaints. Confidence is that feeling you have right before you do something really stupid. |
SongofJoy Feb 10, 2012 1:09 PM CST |
Well, that's good know. My balloon flowers were okay, but that might not have been the company. I garden for the pollinators. |
woofie Feb 10, 2012 1:41 PM CST |
I haven't totally written off the company, because they do have some hard-to-find varieties, but they're a last resort for me now. Confidence is that feeling you have right before you do something really stupid. |
SongofJoy Feb 10, 2012 1:44 PM CST |
True. Sometimes companies seem to go downhill for awhile and then they turn around. Hope that's the case. ![]() I garden for the pollinators. |
woofie Feb 10, 2012 1:54 PM CST |
Oh, and speaking of GOOD vendors, I've been really happy with Diane's Seeds, and she does have some balloon flowers, too. Confidence is that feeling you have right before you do something really stupid. |
JuliaNY Feb 10, 2012 5:56 PM CST |
Thanks for the names of companies. It is always good to get recommendations for online vendors. ![]() Julia Upstate NY Zone 6 |
woofie Feb 10, 2012 6:05 PM CST |
And speaking of vendors, I wonder if Dave is going to set us up with a place to rate garden vendors? Confidence is that feeling you have right before you do something really stupid. |
PollyK Feb 28, 2012 6:37 PM CST |
I surely hope he does, and I hope we can upload pictures into it. Not being able to see pictures makes me suspect some times, and I get suspect easily, LOL. I think if someone had seen some of the pictures I took of plants they would never even consider buying from a certain company. But sometimes I see poor ratings on a good company, and wonder if perhaps the rater is just not a novice gardener, and maybe the product was fine. |
woofie Feb 28, 2012 7:08 PM CST |
You know, that is an interesting thought. Maybe when we do get a vendor list, would it make sense to allow other members to give a "thumbs up" or maybe just an "agree/disagree" rating to the posted opinion? Confidence is that feeling you have right before you do something really stupid. |
SongofJoy Feb 29, 2012 3:36 AM CST |
And people often tend to rate something when they are disgruntled, have a bad experience, and want to complain. When all is well folks tend to go on their merry way without a second thought or so much as a "thank you" quite often. Human nature. I garden for the pollinators. |
woofie Feb 29, 2012 10:39 AM CST |
Oh, isn't that true! I just had the joy of selecting a new dishwasher, and reading all the reviews online....for every positive review of any product, there were at least two or three unhappy reviews. Confidence is that feeling you have right before you do something really stupid. |
SongofJoy Feb 29, 2012 10:45 AM CST |
![]() I garden for the pollinators. |
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