In fact, I’m still tending. Our last frost date is somewhere around May 10 so I won’t be planting anything that is sensitive to cold until after that (by at least a week). Some things, like basil and nasturtiums have just recently been sown. With the exception of a few larger things or things that don’t like root disturbance, everything was sown in soil blocks and then potted up into either 4-inch or 3.5-inch pots.
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| Plants in my hardening-off house. |
But the back room, where I set up some grow lights, was turning into a scene from “Little Shop of Horrors” and something had to get out of there. I ended up buying a large temporary greenhouse that I use mostly for hardening things off. That has created room in the house for the dozens of dahlias I’m starting in pots. Dahlias just need warmth to sprout, but not light, so they are mostly stacked up. As they sprout, I’ll move them into the greenhouse to grow on.
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| Redbor kale |
As far as growing from seeds goes, I think I can qualify most of my efforts as successes. The redbor kale, which I will grow as an ornamental (although there’s no reason I can’t snitch a couple leaves here and there) in the circle garden is ready to transplant any time. I’ll be growing other kinds of kale for eating, but I plan on direct sowing these in the garden: I can’t start everything inside!
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| Nicotiana alata |
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| Signet marigolds |
I fell in love with signet marigolds last year when I picked up a few at our master gardener plant sale. They have charming little edible flowers and citrus-scented foliage that is pleasant to me, but not to critters. I found the “Tangerine Gem” seeds to be easier to grow than “Lemon Gem” but I have enough of each to spread around the garden.
I’m also growing “Geisha Girl” calendula which I like for its flowers but I’m also hoping to learn how to use it in tinctures and creams (it’s great for cuts and burns).
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| Sweet peas |
Gomphrey (aka globe amarinth) didn’t germinate as well as I had hoped, but I have enough of them. And the sweet peas, at least those that escaped the wrath of a cat hellbent on eating them every time she sneaked in the back room, are doing pretty well. All have been nipped back to create bushier growth.
Bronze fennel is gorgeous and I’m hoping I can get these plants to a decent size before putting them in the garden. I love the airiness of fennel. It’s also a host plant for swallowtail butterflies so if it all gets eaten, I’ll at least feel good about it.
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| Just sprouted basil. |
The basil has just germinated but looks to be in good shape.
As is often the case with gardening, sometimes the things you want to succeed the most, end up struggling for no apparent reason. That is the story of my verbena bonariensis seeds. After sowing them the first time after chilling them in the fridge and having no germination, I consulted other sources that said nothing of doing that and did a second sowing. My information says that they can take 14 to 28 days to germinate and that they need darkness but warmth to germinate. For three weeks, my verbena seeds have stayed in the darkness of the basement on a heating mat, first covered with newspaper, then with the plastic cover of the flat covered by a towel. I would say that maybe a third or fewer have germinated and while I’ve not brought it into the light, I think it’s time to start thinking about doing that. I haven’t seen anything new germinate in recent days to make me think that any more are going to.
It’s funny that the verbena is being so picky. For many people, it’s almost considered a weed as it reseeds so freely. I’ve never found a self-sown seedling in my garden, either because it’s too cold or maybe because I’m too quick with weeding (although that seems unlikely with my less-than-stellar weeding habits). Still, my dreams of a tray of verbena seem to be fading.
What did you grow from seed this year and how’s it going?
17 Responses
Where ever did you find that amazing mini greenhouse? I love it …and your blog. And thank you for the links to Gardeners World….what a treat and so educational. Best garden videos by far. Toodles!
Here's a link to where I got it from, Karen (it's the larger of the two listed here), but unfortunately I see it's jumped back up in price (it was on sale for $130 when I got it a few weeks ago): http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/product/flowerhouse-harvesthouse/portable-greenhouses
I like that it completely disassembles, so once it is cleared out in early June I can put it away in the garage until next year.
Thank you!
I tried winter sowing a few things, but my dog had other ideas about how to use the milk jugs I planted the seeds in. I'm going to put in a fence so he can't access a section of the garden so I'll have a "safe zone" for seedlings and plants that are more toxic (he also likes to nibble random plants). I'm also going to direct sow some seeds in May when it warms up a bit. Your plants look fabulous though!
I fear my dog would have a similar reaction!
Honestly I didn't sow anything this year despite buying a new light last year. Didn't want to start anything I couldn't finish after my surgery. Can't wait to sow my lettuce and kale outside soon
I really need to get going on adding some soil to the raised beds (it disappears every winter, especially in the big raised garden where I originally filled the beds with every sort of yard debris type thing I could find, all of which continues to decompose, hence lowering the level of my soil), so I can be ready to get planting on those things. I pushed enough soil down to one end to get the peas sowed, but lettuce is right around the corner!
Everything looks fabulous! I didn't realize nicotiana grew so quickly. What variety are you growing?
That one is nicotiana alata "Lime Green." I think it's growing much quicker than I expected it to, because it has a long time left in those pots!
The nicotiana is stunning. I'd buy those. Amazed at all your productivity. Just below or above freezing from tonight thru sat. Just spent an hour covering martagon lilies, peonies all budded out. Do not know if I rally need to, but I would kick myself if I lost them.
Oh this weather is the worst. We had snow today! It didn't stick but it sure came down. I don't think we'll get below freezing because of the lake, but it's colder out there than I'd like it for all my little seedlings.
Everything is looking so great!! I am really impressed with your set-up, those kale are beautiful.
This won't help you this year, but I would suggest trying to start verbena boniariensis next year by wintersowing them. I had some seeds that I had saved from a garden that we visited last year and I just sprinkled them over moist potting soil in a clear lidded salad container and plopped them on my deck in late February. They sprouted beautifully and I haven't had to do a thing with them (they even survived one of my kids accidentally sitting on the container, ha!). They sure are pretty!
Thank you for the excellent suggestion. That sounds like the way to do it because clearly what I'm doing is not working! Thanks for that.
Wow, this looks like a major operation. I've gotten so lazy I buy everything already started or just throw seeds into the garden…. You'll get a great head start this way, though, and save money too. Thanks for showing us your admirable setup! -Beth
Nothin' wrong with just throwing some seeds in the garden too!
Damn you're looking downright commercial here! Well done! Just basil and sage for me 🙂 I'm redoing my herb garden this year and am just planning to spend way too much on plants I could have grown from seed but didn't so I wouldn't have an excuse to not do weeding and shaping. "Oh I'll go weed after I repot these seedlings…"
I manage to find plenty of excuses not to week no matter what! 🙂