skip to main content

Another newbie, another question

16 years ago

Hi all, I've been following this thread for a couple of months and after reading all the FAQ pages decided to try my hand at ws this year. I've got all my containers (aluminum dishes with plastic covers) and lots of new seed packets ready to go. I'm getting excited.

Here's my question. Can I put the containers on a screened-in porch instead of outside? They'd be much easier to access, but it would be a lot dimmer there than outside. Does that matter?

Also, to anyone from zone 4a, when do you start putting them out? With our long winter, I was thinking maybe February at the earliest...?

thanks!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

clumsygrdner
16 years ago
I'm a newbie too but I can tell you what I've read so far.

You'd have to water the pots if they were on the porch. I wouldn't do that because I'm so lazy so I won't have mine sheltered at all. Because you have a long winter, I imagine that you can put them out any time after it gets really cold. I don't have such a long winter so I have to worry about a lot of unpredictable weather and the seedlings being exposed to a dangerous cold spell. So long as your seeds don't sprout until they are ready you won't have any tender seedlings to worry about.

But... maybe someone more experienced will come and say something different. ^^;;
barbaranh
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks -- I think I'd better put them outside in the snow and rain. The whole idea, after all, is to LET THEM BE and still have seedlings in the spring! Good luck with yours too!
Related Discussions
Another newbie with a couple of questions
Q
Comments (4)
I can't really comment on your container questions...all of my roses are in the ground with the exception of two miniflora Deja Blu roses in pots. But the pic of your pink rose looks like The McCartney Rose to me. It's a good rose for me, but will blackspot some. I also grow Livin Easy...great, easy rose for my hot, humid climate...no blackspot whatsoever. I'm not sure how they do in containers, but in the ground, McCartney gets about 6 ft tall, but stays narrow. Livin' Easy gets around 6 ft tall and about 4 ft wide...very bushy and always blooming.
...See More
Newbie with another question
Q
Comments (1)
You could put them in plastic bins with drainage holes and tie them together.
...See More
another Newbie question... pistachio
Q
Comments (16)
I was NOT impressed with photos I saw of this plant - I thought it looked ghastly! And then I saw it in real life and in bloom and I couldn't resist :-) In my climate, the pink was a much richer, deeper jewel-tone color than the pics depicted and a great contrast to the chartreuse. And the coloring just gets better as the flowers age. I should also let you know that I am not a fan of 'pink' in virtually any shade - never owned a pink hydrangea and never wanted one and selectively removed anything else in the garden that bloomed pink. Obviously this plant seriously impressed me :-))
...See More
Another newbie question
Q
Comments (3)
frankleylnnsie I believe you are writing about "suckers" not sports.. Is it another small clump of leaves, what looks like a little plant growing from the stem or from the junction of the leaf and stem? That is a "sucker." If any bloom, either from the main plant or a sucker, is radically different from the normal bloom on that plant, it is a "sport." Leafs can also "sport" with variegation or shape. It is a radical variation on a plant or from a leaf set of a plant. Sports are rare. Some plants, particularly the bi-colors, will bloom solid white in cool weather. Variegated leafs will be greener or even solid green in warm weather. Those are not Sports. That is variable color caused by cultural or environmental conditions. Sports are stable. If you have suckers, you can remove them at any time, either by flicking them off with a tool such as a pencil or you can let them grow, removing them when you repot. You can separate the suckers when you repot, pot them up separately. Those suckers usually will grow into plants identical to the mother. Suckers do not trailers make. Trailers are a specific type of violet. Suckers make very mess looking plants. Suckers do sap the mother plant. Suckers are unlikely to kill the mother but at some point in time suckers should be removed. That picture I posted shows the small clump of leafs known as "sucker" on the lower left. The leaves are small and don't fit into the rosette shape of the mother plant. I need to separate 5+ suckers from the mother plant but I have been waiting for the Mother to stop blooming. As anyone can see, the suckers haven't quite discouraged the mother plant yet. I have been waiting a while. I am letting it grow that way on purpose.
...See More
bakemom_gw
16 years ago
Zone 6 but I think the rule remains the same - OUTSIDE! I let ma nature garden for me - she's much smarter than I am. Here in Columbus, I start after the winter solstice 12/21. I generally start with perennials and move into annuals by Jan/Feb. It's a nice relaxing progression that feeds my need to garden in the winter months.
spartangardener
16 years ago
Zone 4a and this will be my fifth year doing this.

I start around new years, typically with hardy perennials in my zone, shurbs/trees and seeds that i don't really care about (e.g. old seeds). I typically wait until late February to start putting out a lot of my annuals, and I leave the following til the end of march or early april:

zinnias
sunflowers
ornamental millet
abutilon
dolichos lablab
morning glories
4 o'clocks
cosmos
and pretty much anyhting tropical in origin

Most of these will sprout if sown earlier, but their foliage is sufficiently tender that I lose them in the cold nights we have earlier in the winter/spring. If I wait til then, they typically don't pop til mid april or later and i typically don't have to worry about the seedlings freezing then.
barbaranh
Original Author
16 years ago
Outside it is. I'll start the perennials in January and hold back on the annuals till later in February/March.

spartangardener, thanks for the list -- I saved the seeds from this year's cosmos and now I'll wait till March/April for that one.

BTW I'm planning to use peat moss mixed with a bit of seed starter. I got a great buy on a big bag of peat moss. Any reason I shouldn't do this?

Related Stories

HOUSEKEEPING Don't Touch Another Stain Before You Read This

By Mitchell Parker

Even an innocent swipe with water may cause permanent damage. Here's what to know about how rugs and fabrics react

HOUSEKEEPING Another Independence Day: When Kids Can Do Their Laundry

By Alison Hodgson

Set yourself free and give your child a valuable life skill at the same time

EVENTS Don't Throw Away Another Household Item Before Reading This

By Mitchell Parker

Repair Cafe events around the world enlist savvy volunteers to fix broken lamps, bicycles, electronics, small appliances, clothing and more

MOVING Saying Goodbye to One Home and Hello to Another

By Laura Gaskill

Honor your past and embrace your future with these ideas for easing the transition during a move

REMODELING GUIDES 9 Hard Questions to Ask When Shopping for Stone

By Ventana Construction LLC

Learn all about stone sizes, cracks, color issues and more so problems don't chip away at your design happiness later

ORGANIZING Pre-Storage Checklist: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Store

By Laura Gaskill

Wait, stop. Do you really need to keep that item you’re about to put into storage?

SELLING YOUR HOUSE 15 Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Real Estate Agent

By Laura Gaskill

Here’s what you should find out before selecting an agent to sell your home

KITCHEN DESIGN 9 Questions to Ask When Planning a Kitchen Pantry

By Susan Redman

Avoid blunders and get the storage space and layout you need by asking these questions before you begin

REMODELING GUIDES Considering a Fixer-Upper? 15 Questions to Ask First

By Sarah Phipps Design

Learn about the hidden costs and treasures of older homes to avoid budget surprises and accidentally tossing valuable features

MOST POPULAR 8 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Meeting With Your Designer

By Kelli Kaufer Designs

Thinking in advance about how you use your space will get your first design consultation off to its best start

Sponsored

Whispering Pine Construction

Franklin County's Top Choice for Reliable Outdoor Construction