OohÂI just started setting out my WS containers yesterday! So far IÂve started Iris ensata, I. cristata, I. halophila, and I. tectorum seeds, caryopteris, several different penstemons and aquilegias, some heucheras (I love the different variations and colors that come out of the named hybrids!), a couple of different rodgersias and astrantias, darmera peltata ÂnanaÂ, Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate'... IÂm going to wait until March before sowing the rest.

I need to go seed shopping still. My 5 year old wants to start a vegetable garden this year... if it will help him eat his veggies, IÂm all for it!

Sharon

In stores here seeds are out year round. This time of year my temptation comes from the catalogs I find in my mailbox.

I took seed inventory yesterday and started looking through Johnny's and Tomato Growers Supply. Have a list ... mostly tomatoes and peppers, but a few zinnias and tithonia. I'll probably order tomorrow.

I just ordered a bunch of seeds from Scheeper's catalog...is that Johnny's?

Mom and I went in together and got a bunch of fun seeds, including eggplant 'Rosa Bianca' :) Also got three kinds of tomatoes, bambino eggplant, baby cabbage, and all kinds of lettuces and more Emerite pole beans and purple pole beans. Those were so good last year and mom wanted some too.

We'll probably get more seeds when we're out shopping at the stores. Who can resist seeds this time of year?

I've ordered some seeds, and need to order more. Which is a surprise if you saw my seed stash!!

I have so far sown mainly native plant seeds and medicinal herbs. I save my annuals for later.
Direct sowed the very earliest of spring annuals for us here tho: carmine larkspur, "red" (Really pink) batchelor buttons, pink nigellas - which reminds me I need to plant some nigella orientalis too, to get seed (hardly anyone sells that seed anymore and I love that plant!!), black batch. buttons and black poppies were also sown in with this lot as well as pink/lilac annual candytuft.

I have lists and lists of seeds I 'Need' to get. There's always something, although the "new" varieties of heirloom flowers seem to be slowing down for re-introduction to the market... I'm finding many of the seed companies I loved so much have folded, too. Which is sad for me. Luckily a few smaller ones have opened up. That may save some of the wonderfully odd heritage cottage garden plants from obscurity!

GGG

Not nearly as much as there was. I have a very nice selection of new salvias this year. Hardy geraniums thanks to dawiff. And plenty of agastache and hyssops. I'm waiting for warmer days to sow many of these. With 484 containers already sown, the seed pile is getting smaller every week.

Oh yeah, the first order from Pinetree has already arrived and I am awaiting an order from Value Seeds. I already have hellebore seedlings, erodium seedlings and several clematis seedlings up in the garage. They are not doing too much since it has been so cold even here in the south. We are running about 20 degrees colder than what is normal and the wind makes the temps seem even colder.

I have hellebore seed planted and have started martagon lily seeds which are still going through the warm stage.
The catalogs are starting to arrive, decisions, decisions, decisions :o).
The clematis cuttings I took last summer for a GW member are alive and well sitting in small pots on the kitchen window sill, I cut them back, now they have fresh growth coming from the roots.
At present I'm perusing Chiltern's catalog to see what might be interesting to grow and tomorrow I'm going through my seed stash, my first attempt at winter sowing.

Annette

I am doing winter sowing for the first time this year too. ;-) Seems like any garden plan that emulates Mother Nature is sure to end up doing well. We have had a strange winter, so I am cossing my fingers about a couple of them. Right now I am on the prowl for more veggie seed...
CMK

CMK- What exactly is winter sowing? I see this all the time and I feel silly having to ask, but is it like sowing grass seed? More complicated? What are you winter sowing?

LL- Please come join us at the winter sowing forum! Its so fun this is my first try at it but i am so excited. Ill sum it up-
save your milk jugs and 2 liter bottles. Cut the tops off almost all the way (leaving a hinge)poke drainage holes in the bottom. Fill with potting mix, moisten, sprinkle seeds on top,duct tape shut(leaving the cap off for ventilation).Label.
Put outside in safe area from crazy puppy(if you have one)in the elements, so rain and snow can keep watered for you. In march or april little seedling emerge. Yay! Almost no work for lots of beautiful plants. The winter sowing forum FAQ is very helpful, and goes into better detail. If you decide to try it i have gotten alot of seeds id be happy to share with you.
Its a fabulous way to keep from getting cabin fever this winter!

I will be sowing everything i can get my hands one!

Lilyfinch- Thank you for explaining. I keep seeing them discuss it on the veggie forums and I thought...are they out there throwing seed on the ground...in the snow? (LOL)

Now that I know what it is, it sounds like fun! I'll have to check out the forum :)

I have some seeds listed - check them out. Not very much I'm looking for but always up for sharing. I am WS a few things that I typically have trouble with to see if it will be a better way.

CMK - Have you grown Thalictrum rochebrunianum from seed? I'm going to order those and thought about WS.

Mickie

LL, i forgot to write that in the ws forum, token has posted a wonderful thread about sowing a cottage garden. Ill bump it up for you, thats what made me decide i had to try!

I did a post a few days later with the same photos, mostly, on my blog.

Wintersowing a cottage garden.

There is a Canadian winter sowing forum here on GW as well.

I had my best winter sowing last year after trying for several years. What I found in my zone 2 is to spring sow instead of winter sow. Sow and set containers outside in Mid April or early May. It is still cold and snowy here then. Last frost date is approx June 6th. I tried sowing before this at different times and didn't get any sprouts. So just a heads up for any cold zone WSers.

As to whats in my seed basket....it is full and spilling over. Don't need any more seed......however I have been informed that once I see the seed racks I will be buying. lol. They are probably right.

I have also started martagon seeds. They are also still in the warm stage. When checked today many have the grass like leaf, and many others have sprouted and the tiny bulbs can be seen.

Sierra

Finally! For some reason I couldn't log on to gw. Took me a dozen tries over the past few hours to get on!! Anyway...

-LL, don't feel silly for asking ;-) I didn't know what it was at first either. Lilyfinch did a wonderful job explaining it.

-Mickie, I haven't grown Thalictrum rochebrunianum by the winter sowing method. I have gotten seedlings from my plant though. I think they should come up really well (as long as they were not sown too deep) by WS. Hope you have great luck with it, since that is one of my favorite plants!
CMK

CMK- Thanks for the moral support!

Lilyfinch- Thank you for explaining winter sowing and directing me to the forum :)

Sierra- That's exactly my concern! Our last frost date is usually June 1st, which means we have a short growing season. I think spring sowing might work much better. I can't even get out and play in the dirt until the end of April, since the clay gets so saturated with the snow melt. If I start too soon, it ruins the soil texture until the next spring.

Token- Thanks for the thread :)