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Ideal time to sow seeds

I hibernate all winter but once the bulbs start emerging I get all excited about filling the borders again image

I've bought some cerinthe & antirrhinum seed. Both can be sown now, but I'm wondering what the ideal time is. I don't want to start too early and have them suffering from low light levels, or ready to harden off when it's still too cold.

They'll be started in an east-facing conservatory with a little background heating, but not a great deal of light as at the end of the garden is a row of very tall oak trees - it's midmorning before the sun gets over them. I do have a heated propogator... if it still works, that is.

When do you think I should get them started, and should I use the heated propogator?

Thanks in advance!

Posts

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039

    Antirrhinum are half hardy, so I normally start them early, with a little heat. They cannot go out until the risk of frost has gone.

    Cerinths can be sown direct from March onwards, or now indoors. They do not need heat. I usually sow in Autumn and then plant out in March.

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • JudyNJudyN Posts: 119

    Thank you! Normally anything I plant in autumn has died by spring. I sometimes  think my garden is a bit like Dignitas for plants. But I still keep trying....

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    autumn sowing is good for the totally hardy plant but neither of those you mention are fully hardy.

    I have a forest of cerinthe seedlings but if we get a prolonged very cold spell they won't be there at the end of it



    In the sticks near Peterborough
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