I used to sow thousands of seeds, I’ve never had a heated greenhouse, propagator or grow lights, I sow my seeds in rice pots or similar, just a pinch of seed, that way I can have a dozen or so plants of a hundred different varieties instead of hundreds of just one variety. I’d rather wait for natures own to get the seeds growing.
They stay indoors until they are ready to be pricked out, then are usually ready to go out in the GH. I don’t prick out too early, I like to wait until the seedlings are quite robust. Nothing is planted out until start of June.
But then, that’s just my climate, and although at opposite ends of the country, @Fairygirl and I garden very similar.
Everyone does things differently, the main thing is that you learn as you go along, you can see what’s wrong this year so next year you’ll do different, that’s how we all learn.
Don't be disheartened, we all start out the same.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
You won’t get plants next from those lobelia seeds next year, they’re annuals. You sow at the start of the year, they bloom the same year then die, it’s too late now.
Hopefully you can save the violas you have there but not worth sowing them now, it’s too late, they don’t germinate so well in the heat, keep your seeds and sow in September when it’s cooler.
You could sow Lupin seeds now, then keep potting them on and overwinter them in you plastic GH for planting out next year,
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
You could grow some Calendula seeds now, they are tough little brutes, mine just keep flowering even in the winter I had a few flowers on them and they’ve back now looking lovely.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Sorry - I went outside for a little while as the rain was off I don't use Vermiculite either @Lyn. Perlite is bigger, and opens up the compost better IMO. I don't use heat for any seeds either, because they're started in the house, on the back sills [kitchen mainly] which are SE facing, and often where there's a radiator, although I don't have my heating on as much as other people do, so it just depends on temps etc. I don't sow things too early either as there's no point because I'd just have to deal with them until they can go out - even if that's into the wee growhouse I have. I also don't do a lot of the things other people grow. Annual bedding etc. I mainly grow hardier stuff. As Lyn says @Latimer - it's all about the learning process too. As long as you understand the reasons things don't work, it's helpful. I've often said on this forum that I couldn't understand why, when I followed the info on seed packets and G's World, I couldn't get things to germinate. Eventually, I realised that it's because our climate and temps up here are completely different, and it's a case of starting several weeks later. The temps recommended for a lot of seeds germinating is higher than my kitchen usually is as well, apart from on hotter, sunnier days from about April onwards.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
You could grow some Calendula seeds now, they are tough little brutes, mine just keep flowering even in the winter I had a few flowers on them and they’ve back now looking lovely.
Will do, I think I do have some seeds!
@Fairygirl definitely agree that it's a massive learning process and this forum has been absolutely invaluable for me, everyone, you especially, is so helpful!
I have another question then: in terms of "maturity" of a garden through the growing year, where are you generally aiming for the garden to peak? And would this time of year still be considered relatively early in the growing season?
This would be called early for us, not too much out, few Aquilegia, dicentra, early clematis, my garden is at its best in early summer, foxgloves, delphiniums, aconitum, campanulas, geraniums, all grown from seeds and cuttings. In high summer it looks a bit overgrown, but still lots there, later there are crocosmia, heleniums, rudbeckia, a tall lobelia, so all round colour.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Very kind of you @Latimer, although loads of people would be able to offer advice - maybe I've just been around at the times you've asked! Re your query about when a garden has it's peak - I think it depends on what you're looking for and what you like. If you're someone who goes away on holiday in summer, you may want colour and life at this time of year, and then going into autumn. The plants would also need to be suited to that too. If you work, a garden has to suit that too. My gardens have always had to be lower maintenance due to work and childcare commitments. Easier now that I'm retired, and can play about with stuff a bit more. I like spring, and our springs are a bit later than many other parts of the UK, and it's all about renewal and looking forward, but my favourite time is probably autumn, and - unlike most people - winter. I like the contrasts, so I have a lot of evergreens of various sorts, because I like something to look at when it's wet or snowy, and to complement the short days and the ever changing skies.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Again, it's all part of that learning process. I often feel frustrated that my garden really doesn't look like much until August time but that is the peak time for most plants so I shouldn't feel frustrated that my needs are not filled up yet.
I know what I like and what I don't, I suppose. I don't like big, blowsy flowers, I much prefer a multitude of smaller ones on a plant. And I like leaves and texture. Shades of green over lots of colours.
Posts
They stay indoors until they are ready to be pricked out, then are usually ready to go out in the GH. I don’t prick out too early, I like to wait until the seedlings are quite robust. Nothing is planted out until start of June.
But then, that’s just my climate, and although at opposite ends of the country, @Fairygirl and I garden very similar.
Everyone does things differently, the main thing is that you learn as you go along, you can see what’s wrong this year so next year you’ll do different, that’s how we all learn.
Don't be disheartened, we all start out the same.
I'll try showing done more seeds, if it means I get plants next year then so be it! 😊
Hopefully you can save the violas you have there but not worth sowing them now, it’s too late, they don’t germinate so well in the heat, keep your seeds and sow in September when it’s cooler.
You could sow Lupin seeds now, then keep potting them on and overwinter them in you plastic GH for planting out next year,
I don't use Vermiculite either @Lyn. Perlite is bigger, and opens up the compost better IMO.
I don't use heat for any seeds either, because they're started in the house, on the back sills [kitchen mainly] which are SE facing, and often where there's a radiator, although I don't have my heating on as much as other people do, so it just depends on temps etc. I don't sow things too early either as there's no point because I'd just have to deal with them until they can go out - even if that's into the wee growhouse I have.
I also don't do a lot of the things other people grow. Annual bedding etc. I mainly grow hardier stuff.
As Lyn says @Latimer - it's all about the learning process too. As long as you understand the reasons things don't work, it's helpful. I've often said on this forum that I couldn't understand why, when I followed the info on seed packets and G's World, I couldn't get things to germinate. Eventually, I realised that it's because our climate and temps up here are completely different, and it's a case of starting several weeks later. The temps recommended for a lot of seeds germinating is higher than my kitchen usually is as well, apart from on hotter, sunnier days from about April onwards.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Fairygirl definitely agree that it's a massive learning process and this forum has been absolutely invaluable for me, everyone, you especially, is so helpful!
I have another question then: in terms of "maturity" of a garden through the growing year, where are you generally aiming for the garden to peak? And would this time of year still be considered relatively early in the growing season?
In high summer it looks a bit overgrown, but still lots there, later there are crocosmia, heleniums, rudbeckia, a tall lobelia, so all round colour.
Re your query about when a garden has it's peak - I think it depends on what you're looking for and what you like. If you're someone who goes away on holiday in summer, you may want colour and life at this time of year, and then going into autumn. The plants would also need to be suited to that too. If you work, a garden has to suit that too. My gardens have always had to be lower maintenance due to work and childcare commitments. Easier now that I'm retired, and can play about with stuff a bit more.
I like spring, and our springs are a bit later than many other parts of the UK, and it's all about renewal and looking forward, but my favourite time is probably autumn, and - unlike most people - winter. I like the contrasts, so I have a lot of evergreens of various sorts, because I like something to look at when it's wet or snowy, and to complement the short days and the ever changing skies.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Again, it's all part of that learning process. I often feel frustrated that my garden really doesn't look like much until August time but that is the peak time for most plants so I shouldn't feel frustrated that my needs are not filled up yet.
I know what I like and what I don't, I suppose. I don't like big, blowsy flowers, I much prefer a multitude of smaller ones on a plant. And I like leaves and texture. Shades of green over lots of colours.
I think I just need to keep experimenting!! 😊