The new seeds I will be starting inside are dahlias. My wintersowing will include hostas,clematis and asters this year. Hostas aren't exactly new for me, I tried them last year but they did not do much, but I wanted to try them again and see if I had better luck. The others will be interesting to try. Marg

Hi Marg, I tried Dahlias from seed last year for the first time. I was happy with the one type it came true from seed. The second type I tried was cactus and it was not true to type and well they turned out rather ugly. I did not keep the tubers at the end of the season. I did keep the pompone tubers though. Let us know how they turn out for you.

Sierra

Marg, good luck with the Dahlia's from seed. I had some beautiful results last year and a few not so great that didn't get saved.

Sierra, I'm thinking of trying Coral Vine Seeds from swallowtail. And a bunch of different heirloom tomatoes.

I recently try to grow lilium (species) from seed and have been reading all kinds of instructions on-line. Anybody has hands-on tips for me?
I do have heat mats and growing lights on hand, have no idea which one needs what though. So I am doing a hit and miss.
Thanks.
Otis.

Seeing the success others seem to have had, I'm going to try bacopa myself--sounds like it needs to be started soon. I'm also going to try, yet again, Lisianthus (Eustoma). In past years,I don't seem to have started them early enough, so I need to get some seed and get started very soon with them.

I'm thinking of trying ivy leafed geraniums from seed this year, mainly because there are no nurseries around here to buy them. Any words of wisdom would be much appreciated! Thanks

My bacopa cuttings didn't survive either. Sigh. And i'm going to order seeds for Red Shield hibiscus - mine has kicked the proverbial bucket. :(

Marie, I think those Ivy Leaf geraniums should be started early. I grew the Summer Showers mix one year - I think that was when we were still living in Ottawa, and they didn't really look like much until late in the season because I didn't start them early enough. I also remember what a beautiful red the leaves turned after a few light frosts.

I'm going to start Orange Appeal geraniums from seed this year and I have to get my butt in gear and put that order in so I can get those seeds started asap.

I will try a couple more ornamental peppers as well as a few varieties of hot (eating) peppers this year, and quite a few more herb varieties. Oh, and Coleus - I've never grown Coleus from seed but will give Wizard Mix and Black Dragon a whirl.

I'm awaiting the arrival of my new heat mat from Lee Valley Tools - stand back, I'm dangerous now, LOL!

Pudge, It's good to hear that someone else has grown the ivy geraniums.
I was excited to receive my Lindenberg catalogue early enough this year to even consider growing geraniums. Usually it arrives much too late. I've just spent the morning making my seed order. Now I have to make sure I really want all those seeds, LOL.
Coleus are really easy from seed, and fun to watch how they take on their different hues. Wizard mix is a good one. You'll love the heat mat, also.

petunia2, perhaps we could persuade savona to tell her lisianthus secrets...she has grown beautiful lisianthus for a few years now.

north, I have tried summer showers ivy geraniums a couple times. Yes they do have to be started NOW! They were slow growers for me, but did flower...not over abundantly, but nicely.

Pudge, I have also grown wizard mix coleus for several years. I find if I start it early in Feb, that I have nice big plants all summer. Not last summer but the summer before I got one coleus plant from the wizard mix that looked like the kong variety.I really like this mix for the variety of colours and patterns.

I was also surprised to get my Lindenberg catalogue so early. I am pretty sure though that I don't need anymore seed.

Sierra

Sierra: I forgot to ask how early you started your dahlias? I did some checking and Veseys says to start them 4-6 weeks early. I was just wondering if that was early enough? Thanks. Marg

Marg, I sowed the dahlia seed Feb 11 last year and some more March 15. They only took 2 days to germinate. They got a little leggy even under lights 12 hours a day. I planted quite deep when I planted out and staked them. The pompones started blooming end of June. The cactus dahlias started blooming end of July.

Sierra

Thanks Sierra. I was planning to start them in March 1. Maybe if I start them that early I'll get blooms earlier? I'm always impatient for blooms. Marg

I think mine didn't bloom till later in the season because they were started too early. The roots were already forming mini-carrot size tubers and I didn't want 20 galleon size pots in the basement. Plus with the late spring, and freezing until June, March was a little early. This year I'm going to wait until April 15.

I've started ivy geraniums from seed. I started mine before the end of December and they germinated quickly. I found that they were a pain under the lights once they started to grow over the sides of the pots. They were forever falling off the shelf under the lights.They bloomed ok but I am sure they would have done better where the evenings and nights didnt cool down so much.
I've done dahlias from seed for 3 years now.The smaller border dahlias like collarettes, extreme doubles and fireworks came true from seed. The cactus ones last year didnt..and like Sierra said they were ugly colours. The pompone ones were closer to coming true but mine had blown centers, but did bloom very well. I start mine about the middle of February and move the plants out to the greenhouse in March so it is ok for them to need extra room. Sometime in May they are blooming...savona
best pompone dahlia from seed 2008

Gorgeous pictures Savona. Now I can't wait to start! I received mine in trade and I believe that they are Fireworks dahlias. Thanks for posting. I like the Garden Pride Mix that is in the William Dam catalog, might try them next year. Marg