When to plant fall seeds?

16 years ago

I know it is only August but I was wondering when to start fall flower seeds. I want to put in more of my Mexican Sunflowers, I know those that came up on their own last fall lasted a long time. I have some other seeds, like herbs: parsley and dill and fennel and flowers: Snapdragons, pansies, hollyhocks, sweet williams and phlox. The packages all say Aug or Sept till Feb or so for our area but I was wondering if that is true. Seems too hot now. I want to start them in jiffy pots inside first then move them out to the shade to adapt before planting. When do you think?

What else would be good for my butterflies? I do have lots of Salivas and Cosmos that reseed, pentas and the normal stuff that are planted in the spring.

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Comments (8)

tony_k_orlando
16 years ago
mboston

Thats always my question too, WHEN! I am usually too late.
an_ill-mannered_ache
16 years ago
mboston,
pretend it's winter up north... i am starting my seeds indoors right now, in the window. i have (or will soon have) Torenia, sunflowers, tomatoes, cukes, corn, and mums. i figure in a month, the days will be short enough and the plants big enough to handle the weather if they're in the shade. by the middle of october, things will have calmed down enough to put everything in the ground.

i've also got a ton of pots filled with cuttings -- some for the orlando swap, some for my own garden. most of these cuttings came from nicki's garden -- cardinal flower, pentas, agastache, blackberries, raspberries, roses, okinawan spinach. now's the time of year when they root in a few days.

hey nicki -- what's that relative of purslane you gave me?

tony_k is totally right -- the tendency is to get things in too late. you want healthy seedlings ready to go in the ground as soon as our second spring starts sometime in late october.
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zozzl
16 years ago
I have lots of mexican sunflowers coming up right now since I cut down some declining ones and threw the bushes around the side of the house. They seen to think it is a good time to grow:) I have also put down some cosmos and they are doing great.
cindeea
16 years ago
Here I was afraid I started Treefrogs Tomato Farm too soon! I have little plastic drinking cups in my sunny spare bedroom window starting his heirloom seeds. I guess it's not too early to start some of the other varieties right now as well?
nativemel
16 years ago
I have really naive questions about vegetable gardening. I've never actually grown anything before this year. I've never successfully started plants from seeds.

I'm planning to put in a raised vegetable garden for tomatoes, lettuce, onions, bell peppers, carrots, herbs. I plan to build raised boxes and put in the soil, compost, etc. before August 15th. From what I'm reading of your posts, it seems that I should be starting seedlings inside the house now, even if I don't have the garden beds ready.

Everything I read says vegetable gardens need to be located in an area that receives 6 to 8 hours of sun a day. Is that rule the same in central Florida or is that too much summer heat? I know the lettuce likes shade. Should I consider putting one of the garden beds in a partially shaded area?

My mom was a supremely successful vegetable gardener, but we were in north Florida with actual climate changes and it was her full time job. I was her official snail smasher and strawberry harvester. Otherwise, I wasn't allowed to participate in the gardening.

I'm hoping that I inherited some of my mom's green thumb, but I'm worried about where and how to start. My plan is to start small. It's more of a hobby/stress reliever for me from my full time job. I know gardening should be fun, but I'm having anxiety about how little I know, what to do, when, how.

And, I see snails everywhere, EVERYWHERE I turn. How am I supposed to have time for gardening when I've got all this smashing to do? Yikes!
mboston_gw
Original Author
16 years ago
I have Mexican Sunflowers that I grew from seed this spring that have been blooming and looked great until the squirrels decided to eat the flowers and the leaves also turned brown (unrelated occurreneces). I think I might cut them back and see what happens. My Cosmos (Bright Lights Klondikes) are still going strong. My zinnias got overgrown by my Sunflowers so I know I want to plant some more.

So are you saying Ill-mannered that I should start my seeds now inside?
msmarion
16 years ago
Here is a link that should answer your questions about when to plant veggies. I printed it out and refer to it often.
Hope it helps.
Marion

Here is a link that might be useful: Click here!
nativemel
16 years ago
Marion, thank you for the link. I'm printing now. I feel much calmer now.

When to plant fall seeds?

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tony_k_orlando

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When to plant fall seeds?

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tony_k_orlando

an_ill-mannered_ache

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