skip to main content

First time WS'ing - too late or too early?

15 years ago

First, thank you so much for answering some of my earlier questions. I truly appreciate it!

This is my first year winter sowing - I'm very excited but also nervous. I live in NE Ohio/Zone 6. This is what I put out, all today...

delphinium

aubrieta

painted daisy

shasta daisy

echinacea

rudbeckia

...I'm afraid I did it all wrong...until reading through this forum I didn't realize you should put certain seeds out at different times of winter. Do you think they will make it? Any suggestions?

Also, if they DO actually live, I was hoping to maybe put some more out within the next few weeks...is it a good idea to start tender annuals around the time I would normally sow them in the ground? Thank you! :)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

nancy_drew
15 years ago
All of those that you have already sown, should be just fine! Keep up the good work!

You are right about the tender annuals, those should be done in early spring. You could probably do them a week or two earler, than you would if you direct sowed them.
quilt_mommy
Original Author
15 years ago
Yay! I'm so excited now, thank you so much! :)
Related Discussions
Too late or too early to plant?
Q
Comments (3)
You should be fine, I always wait until the full moon in October, the gravitational pull following is more conducive to root growth. I never refrigerate them and have had success for 3 years, in fact I will be putting another 3500 cloves in this weekend; looks like it might be the last nice weekend here in Southwest Ohio. I mulch with Moo-nure because it seems to keep the top soil a little warmer, if it's a nice crisp morning it will still be steaming... Anyway, happy planting!
...See More
Is it too late for 'Early Spring' prunning??
Q
Comments (7)
Well, this looks like a good place to pop my question in. I have a 3 or 4 year old "Huldine", which I had assumed was growing from multiple stems (it's planted in some astilbe to disguise the stems shooting straight up into the branches of a small crabapple). This spring I took a closer look at it and it's really only l stem coming from the ground, but the buds on that old stem have become stems themselves (not sure of the terminology here), which is why I thought I had multiple stems. I have been afraid to cut it way back because of something I read in a clematis book that said that if you cut into an old woody stem, it might just "give up the ghost". I'm not sure whether that means that one particular stem, or the whole plant, but I don't want to lose this clematis. I fearlessly cut my old woody Sweet Autumn clematis down to 6" every year with good results, so maybe the book was wrong? Or is there a difference between cutting it down every year from the start, and waiting 3 or 4 years to do it for the first time? I'm not a total beginner with clematis - I must have at least 20 type 2s and 3s, but I paid a lot for this one particular one and don't want to lose it. Any help would be appreciated.
...See More
Planting cover crop for first time today, is it already too late?
Q
Comments (3)
I planted the very same organic seed mix from Ace this year! Granted, I sowed the seed about 3 weeks ago now, but they did begin to germinate within 3 days (peas longer). I'm sure you'll get something, just maybe not the coverage you were hoping for. Like Ian said, it's probably fine.
...See More
vinegar . . . too early or too late?
Q
Comments (3)
My St. Augustine is allready greening up. You indicate zone 7 Ft. Worth. We are actually in zone 8A unless you are north of Ft. Worth. Now, 20% vinegar works a lot like Roundup in that it kills grass and weeds so if your grass is starting to green up I would use a spray bottle and spot treat weeds. Other, the stuff is pretty caustic so use gloves. IMO, the best control of weeds is a healthy turf and the hot Texas sun.
...See More
bakemom_gw
15 years ago
Quilt, us buckeyes are here to help you. You are fine. You might consider updating your member page so we can see where you are when you post. You can get very specific advice for NE Ohio quickly. As you can see, I am in central Ohio and below the snow line.

Don't worry about timing. This worry is a little out of control right now, but typical. Things like zinnias, marigolds, cosmos and morning glories are sometimes best left for the end of March.
leisa_in_md
15 years ago
OOPS -- I just put some marigolds out. Are they gonners? Did some snapdragons, too...

Leisa
bakemom_gw
15 years ago
Snaps are fine. Marigolds are fine too. But... you need to keep an eye on the marigolds. If you get a freaky warm spell they can germinate quickly and then tank if there is a late freeze. It's that simple.
quilt_mommy
Original Author
15 years ago
bakemom - oh you are so sweet, thank you! I will update my page when I am finished here...I live on the coast of lake Erie, in that sliver of Ohio that some gardening books say is a zone 5 and some say is a zone 6. We are in the snow belt so some years we get very cold winters and some we have warmer snowy winters. Those lakes keep us in constant amazement in regards to our weather! LOL*

I did plant some zinnias but I will do the same as with the impatiens, and I suppose I'm really only out $3 if they don't live! :)

I will go ahead with snapdragons then, because I wanted to plant some of those too but wasn't sure when to start them.

Know anything about sweetpeas? I've never planted them but they are so beautiful, I thought I might experiment.
PVick
15 years ago
Be careful with the sweetpeas - too much wet and cold for too long and they will rot.

PV
leisa_in_md
15 years ago
If the marigolds sprout, and we do get a hard freeze, should I bring them in?

Leisa

Related Stories

ARCHITECTURE Get a Perfectly Built Home the First Time Around

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

Yes, you can have a new build you’ll love right off the bat. Consider learning about yourself a bonus

LIFE World of Design: Discoveries of 10 First-Time Homeowners

See how people around the globe have shaped their starter houses and made them their own

GARDENING GUIDES 12 Edibles Perfect to Plant in Late Summer

By Marianne Lipanovich

Keep those homegrown vegetables and greens coming well into fall

FLOWERS Best Cutting-Garden Beauties for Late Summer

By Paintbox Garden

Pick blooms bursting with color or in classic white for bouquets to give away or keep all to yourself

LIFE Late Again? Eliminate the Things Holding You Up in the Morning

By Emily Hutchinson

If you find yourself constantly running late for appointments, work and get-togethers, these tips could help

FALL AND THANKSGIVING It's Not Too Late to Decorate: Minimalist Fall Decor

By Alison Hodgson

No need to go all-out with autumn decorations. Nod to the season with just a few well-placed pumpkins and flowers

DECORATING GUIDES Strange but True Parallels Between Early Western and Old Japanese Style

By Robyn Lawrence

Part 1 of our 'wabi-sabi' series: in which Shaker and Arts and Crafts designs reveal simplicity, modesty and integrity

SPRING GARDENING 7 Great Container Plants for Early-Spring Appeal

Good things sometimes come to those who impatiently head to the nursery for plants that can take a chill

HOUZZ TV FAVORITES Houzz TV: See How Early Settlers Lived in This Restored Pilgrim House

Passionate restoration and preservation efforts give a 1665 home an honored place in the present

NATIVE PLANTS Plant These Fall-Flowering Natives in Early Summer for Pollinator Love

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

These 3 groups of plants will support masses of beneficial insects come autumn

Sponsored