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Should I worry about early germination?

14 years ago

My containers are on and around my front stoop. I did this last year but started about a month later yet had great results. This year though I put my containers in the same place but since they are there earlier I didn't anticipate all the melt off from the icicles! The four inches of snow and icicles are melting all over the place with the near 40 degree weather we're having and I'm concerned about all the moisture as well as germination. I moved them closer back towards the house so they won't be continually dripped on. They aren't swimming but those pots are as muddy and watery as the front lawn. We're smack dab in the middle of winter and I expect plenty more snow in February before March comes around with spring. Should I be concerned?

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Comments (4)

kqcrna
14 years ago
Are you worried about germination now, at 40Â°? Don't worry, the thaw won't be long enough for much action from seeds. When the first real warmth comes and lasts a while, those first ones to sprout will most likely be things that can handle the frosts. Generally not a concern except with tenders (zins, marigolds, etc), that's why most of us don't sow them until spring.

Karen
quilt_mommy
Original Author
14 years ago
Karen,

Yes I'm so nervous that because it's near 40 they will germinate...is that still too cold for germination? LOL* I feel like a dork! LOL* I got a late start though last year so I didn't experience my seeds going through an early warm up like this.

Also should I worry that they are SO wet? They are not pooling water but just VERY muddy. I have them in old nursery pots then in zip lock bags with drainage slits. When I lift the bag it doesn't come pouring out or anything but it's just so wet EVERY where outside, so I'm a little concerned. Although I guess if the garden plants can reseed in all this mud and come up next year my WS seeds should be ok too.

I know I winter sowed last year but I am still nervous that I'm going to do something wrong and this year it won't work for some reason! Just because it's ME and stuff like that happens to ME! :) LOL* I'm doing alot more seeds this year and a lot more varieties...so I'm freaking out a lot more too. ;)
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Thank you hoosierquilt, but the potting mix is a citrus mix and drains extremely well. There is no problem with draining. Water runs right through it and out the bottom. I live near the coast. Some mornings are foggy, and as I said temperatures have been cool as of late and not getting much sun so the soil in all my plants is not drying at all. You can even see the moisture on the leaves. These pictures were taken early in the morning. Also, the roots are not sitting in water. The pot is elevated above the saucer so the pot (nor the tree) is even touching the saucer underneath. Both those issues are not the problem. I'm hoping it's just sunlight and once the sun starts shifting further north in a few weeks it will be fine. Thanks again. This post was edited by ariel.s on Tue, Jan 21, 14 at 22:55
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Another word on my layout. I always leave at least 3’ walkway space through rooms. Each square in the layout drawing is equal to one square foot. Your grouping, no matter the configuration, needs to “float” in this room closer to fireplace. Your TV needs to be sized to fit into the niche on a cabinet. Or mounted with cabinet below or wall mounted cabinet. With little ones I would maximize storage so would suggest a cabinet. From your post that the width is 5’-4” wide, I would try getting one 54” wide. You have to clear baseboards too. So you will need a little wiggle room.
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Thanks very much for the continuing conversation, Silica. The water comes from the city, and it tastes Terrible. A look at the latest "Water Quality Test Results" report from the company measures only 19 particulates. When I lived in So Cal, there were 72 measured items on the annual report, and That water tested good. My opinion is that This company measures (or publicizes) only the items that indicate a "No Violation" reading. On that report, the only part that (I think) could be related to SALT is the measure of Sodium, with a reading of 590 ppm in an allegedly acceptable range of 230-590.
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dorisl
14 years ago
Alot of seeds can "read" the hours of daylight (I dunno how, thats pretty darn smart if you ask me), hopefully that factor will slow them down.
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14 years ago
We have had a week in the forties and I checked my alyssum jugs and their little roots are coming out already. No green yet, but we are supposed to get storms for the next week so hopefully they will be just fine!

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