Thanks, any help would be great. Now if your kids can grow marigolds, maybe there is hope for me yet! When you say they do require a lot of light are you referring to a grow light? Petunias and marigolds are my choice for this year.

Thanks, any help would be great. Now if your kids can grow marigolds, maybe there is hope for me yet! When you say they do require a lot of light are you referring to a grow light? Petunias and marigolds are my choice for this year.

Hi again. When I said light, I meant outside. But to start them, petunias are just sprinkled on the top of the soil, the seeds are very small, like tiny grains of sand and they need light and warmth to grow. If you are only doing a small amount, I wouldn't worry about grow lights, a really bright sunny window is fine. Just turn the tray a quarter every day so they grow straight up. Otherwise they try to lean towards the light. Marigolds are planted a bit deeper, and the seeds are much bigger, but same growing conditions once they get going. I suggested marigolds because they are very fast. If you plant a few weeks or a month before you plan on putting them outside permanently, that gives them lots of time. If you can, I would put the trays (or whatever you are growing in) outside as much as possible during the day (weather permitting) and bringing them in at night when it is cold. Usually by mid-April it is warm enough in a sunny spot outside even though it still gets too cold at night. You should also harden them off a bit, sort of get them used to the sun over the course of a week or so, by giving them an hour or two in the sun first, then increasing it every day by a bit more. But I find most sun loving annuals are pretty forgiving, especially marigolds, if they get put out and left in the sun. Petunias take a little more time before you get a nice sized plant, but still very easy from seed.
If you do already have shop lights, then go ahead and use them but don't bother to run out and buy them if you don't.
If you like, I can look through my seeds, and send you some different types of seeds. I can't remember off hand what colors I have but I know I have some of the wave type petunias and some of the regular types. I also have some marigolds, (cracker jack type I think) and yellow African type. (I don't always keep the labels for my annuals so I don't know what exact variety they are when I collect seeds, I just go by the type and color and if I liked them that year). I love growing from seed, and would encourage anyone to try it. It can be as easy or as complicated as you make it. It's not hard, and there are always answers to your questions on the forums or on the net.

Thank you for the great info. Do I have to use the peat pots or can I use the plastic ones I kept from the nursery last year? I have lots of windows and it is bright and sunny, how often do you water? I guess I will need to buy some seed starting mix? I don't want to complicate things, just never did this before. It would be fun for you to send me some seeds but only if you have extra. Thanks again.

Hi again. For starting seed, you can use pretty much whatever you like. Everyone's got their own favorites. This year I bought some peat pots but only because they were on sale and they fit nicely in the trays that I have. I also use the plastic plugs from the nurseries (I pick them up from people who are throwing them out - the sillies!) just be sure to clean them before you use them. A quick dip in a bleach/hot water solution, just to kill off any possible fungus/disease. I am also growing some brug seeds in the newspaper pots as per Bonnie's suggestion. With Marigolds, the seeds are large enough to plant one at a time, so I would use the plastic plugs, that way they are easy to just pop right out when their ready to go. They also hold water a bit better. The peat/newspaper is great for plants that don't like to have their roots disturbed when transplanting, stuff like poppies.
Watering, you just have to keep your eyes on them. You don't want the seeds to dry out, which can happen faster than you think in a sunny spot. But...once the seeds are growing, you don't want to overwater either. And you don't want to encourage dampening off, which can happen with overwatering and can kill your seedlings. So I would just check them everyday, and make sure they don't dry out completely (says the obsessive/compulsive person who checks probably every couple hours, just to see if they've sprouted yet!)
Good air circulation is important too. Some people set up a fan just to keep the air moving. Just turn it on for a couple hours everyday, if you want to do that.
Seed starting mix is fine, or you can make your own mix, too, which can be a bit cheaper, depending on how much you need. I use a 1-1-1 mix of vermiculite, perlite and regular potting soil. Instead of potting soil, you could use peat. Again, it just depends on what you like and what's available. But if you're just doing a little bit, it's probably easier to just by the starter mix.
As for seeds, you would be more than welcome to them. Marigolds put out seeds profusely, I have lots. And I don't think I'm going to do petunias this year, so rather than keep them, if someone else can use them....You want to start the petunias ASAP. Just email me your addy, and I'll pop them in the mail by the weekend.

Thanks for answering all my questions and if all goes well I'll be taking pictures in the summer to show you. Cant' wait! I sent you an email with my address. Look forward to getting started. Thanks again. If you think of anything else I should know, you know where to find me. One more thing.. I've been growing marigolds from the nursery for the last 10 years and (stupid question) what part of it is the seed? I don't remember looking at them and seeing seeds.

If you look inside the spent Marigold flower, you will see the seeds. They are about half an inch tall, and 1/8 wide. The bottom part is black, and just the tip is kinda yellowish/transluscent. There are a ton of seeds in one flower. Just wait for the flower to shrivel up and dry a bit, then pull off the flower by the dried petals.
Here's a link with some more info that might help a bit.
http://www.seedandsower.com/collecting-seeds.asp

Thanks for your patience and the info.