Archive for the ‘Seeds and Cuttings’ Category

Sow Much Fun! Tips for Growing Plants From Seed

February 26th, 2009

Annuals grown from seed by homeowner

Annuals grown from seed by homeowner

 

If you’ve never started seeds indoors, here are some tips to help you succeed.

 

Sterilize! Use sterilized seed starting mix (not potting mix or garden soil), and sterilized flats and pots. If you are re-using some of last year’s flats, wash them with a bit of bleach in warm soapy water, rinse well and allow them to dry completely.

 

Organize! Have everything ready before you begin sowing the seeds – flats, pots, labels, marker, spray bottle of room temperature water.

 

 Fill the containers with the seeding mix. Water with warm (not hot) water. Allow it to drain and water again if necessary. The seeding mix should be moist right to the bottom of the container.

 

Make up labels. Using a waterproof marker, write the name and variety of the seeds on the front of the label. Write the date you sowed the seeds on the back.

 

Not all seeds germinate under the same conditions. Some require light to germinate, some complete darkness, some a light covering of starting mix.  Some need to be Read the rest of this entry »

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Selecting Seeds

January 11th, 2009

Old Man Winter is tightening his bone chilling grip on us. With another five inches of snow last night, and temperatures expected to dip to -20C this week, spring seems an eternity away. Thank goodness there are seed catalogues and gardening magazines to remind us of what is to come.

 

Pouring through the seed catalogues, I have managed to assemble a rather long list of potential candidates for inclusion in our gardens. Regretfully, there is not time, nor space nor money to start and grow-on all of the seed varieties currently on the list.  So, the annual task of making the gut wrenching decisions on what to order and what to leave off the list has begun.

 

The first to go are the plants that are cheaper to purchase at the local greenhouses than they are to start from seed because of the length of time required from seeding to planting out; Geraniums, impatiens for example.

 

Next are the seeds that are much too expensive for a limited budget: $7.95 for 10 seeds.

 

The third determining factor is those seeds that require special conditions for germinating or growing-on that our hobby greenhouse cannot produce.

 

The fourth and final cut is based on plants that will become too large, therefore taking up too much space in our small greenhouse.

 

The exceptions (made every year) include:

 

-          plants that are not usually available at most of the local greenhouses

-          at least one “fussy” variety (just to test my skills)

-          plants that cost too much to purchase

 

 

By now the seed list has been trimmed to a manageable size, but, there is still the dollar factor to consider. The budget set out for seed purchases forces me to make further cuts to the list.  Those are determined by my “mood du jour”. By the time the seed orders begin arriving, I’ll be kicking myself for not ordering something. But, in May when the planting out begins and the gardens begin to take shape, I’ll be happy with the plants that made the list.

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Seed Sowing At My House

February 29th, 2008

It’s time to quit pouting about winter, and the snow, and the cold, and put some springtime in the air. Best way to do that is to start sowing seeds. It will be done this weekend.

But first, the seeding mix and flats have to be brought in from the greenhouse. That means bundling up, trudging through the snow, chipping away the ice in front of the greenhouse door, crawling under the benches to pull the bags of seeding mix out. Easy if they aren’t frozen in place. Then, shifting I don’t know how many pieces of patio furniture, a bicycle, three bales of potting mix and an old cupboard awaiting refinishing, to get at the seeding flats. Hopefully the covers are in the same spot as the flats. If not, more shifting and rummaging about will be necessary. Then, after jamming the greenhouse door closed, I somehow have to lug all those things through the snow and into the house.

Once I get to the house, all the seeding stuff and myself have to make it past one very curious dog and two very curious cats. They will all feel it is necessary to check everything out thoroughly before I can get in the door and get it closed. There goes the heating bill. If the Curious George’s we live with approve, the soil, flats, covers and myself can come into the house.

Then the flats will need washing and sterilizing. The Curious Ones don’t feel they need to supervise that. They do however like to help with the seeding process. All the little envelopes, labels, and pens are quite fascinating to them for some reason. The cats seem to prefer the seeding process to take place on the floor. At least I assume that’s what they prefer since they make a point of batting the envelopes, labels and pens onto the floor every chance they get. The dog just wants to eat the seeding mix and thinks the flats make great chew toys.

Once the seeding sowing is completed with the assistance of a spray bottle of water (for the pets, not the seed flats), they newly sown treasures will be placed gently in the plant stand. The trip to the plant stand is not so gentle when someone decides it will be fun to race Mum up the stairs while her hands are full with the flats she’s trying not to upset. The other two pets want in on that game too, so they join the race.

Finally, I will make it to the plant stand, flats and seed intact. Sort of. But, the plant stand is full of “things”. Like Christmas ornaments, pot-size trellises, a wire rack, a wooden sign and a large, engraved stone. And, a watering can! So, the seed flat must be put somewhere so I can clear the plant stand. Aha! The bathtub! No, the dog sleeps in there (seriously!). On my desk? No, the cats sleep there. The floor is definitely out of the question. So is the computer desk that I haven’t seen the top of in months. Okay, the floor of the closet, and I’ll close the door. Brilliant! Wait a minute, I see the dog and only one cat. Where is the other cat? Sure enough, in the closet lying on the seed flat.

I think I’ll buy my bedding plants this year!

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