I mean plant every year...

Well I went a little nuts buying seeds this winter, and actually placed SIX seed orders. Started seed-trading too, and ended up doing 5 or 6 trades. I've also picked up a couple packs here and there when I'm at the nursery. Does this sound compulsive to you?! LOL

I started winter-sowing this year for the first time, that's the reason for all the seeds. I don't expect to go this crazy on a regular basis. Then again...seed collecting and winter sowing are kind of addictive. And I don't have any sprouts yet!

Needless to say, I'm excited about a lot of different seeds out there. I've winter-sown 46 native species, assorted vines and annuals, and have warm-season grasses, veggies, and annuals left to go. Can't wait to see how they grow!

"...I don't expect to go this crazy on a regular basis..."

Heh, heh, heh...

That's what they all say!

:)
Dee
winter-sower

HOLY COWIE! That is a lot of seeds!

This year I bought a package of cup and saucer campanula. I cannot wait to try them again! In the past, I have not been so successful at getting a good batch. Perhaps they need to be planted when it is cooler.

Well, I've already *sown* about 3,000 seeds. I keep records of what/how much I sow so I can check the germination rates. I probably have a good thousand more seeds to go, lol!

I'm looking forward to the new lisianthus I'm trying this year. Last year I had really good results with Cinderella Pink, so I am trying a blue and a red type this year.

I'm also hoping that five time's the charm with my Kiss-Me-Over-the-Garden-Gate, lol! I've been trying for years to get this to germinate for me, with no luck. Maybe this year...

:)
Dee

Dee,

I dont want to highjack the thread, but do you have any tips on the lisianthus ? and do you think I am too late to try again, it takes 6 months for blooms ..I didnt have uck with the ones I tried in January..:(

I am really excited about a new Columbine I bought with gold leaves and black blooms. I am also growing my very first brug.

flwrs4ever, I'm sorry but I don't really have any tips. I just throw my seeds in a milk jug and stick them outside! I've never fussed with lights, heat mats, germinating temps, scarifying, or any of that stuff.

Like this year, last year I winter-sowed my lisianthus. They did not bloom until September, but were gorgeous and bloomed well into November until being hit with a frost, so to me, the late bloom was worth the wait.

I just sowed my lisianthus seeds three days ago. Last year I sowed them on 3/22, so I'm expecting bloom in September again!

:)
Dee

Dee - just because you were right about the fact that I wouldn't stop at "just a few containers", you think you know everything! LOL

Evonne, yes it's a lot of seeds, but that is SO much more than I've ever bought or tried to sow before in any year. Usually it's just a few packets. It's this winter-sowing thing - it liberates you to try growing any plant from seed that your heart desires (at least try, anyway).

I even left out embarassing details about spreadsheets, seed supplies, hours spent on the Internet researching plants and compiling seed order. My son thinks I've "got too many containers" and "I love my winter-sowing more than him" (hey he's 14, what the heck does he know). I offered extra seeds to share on the Seed Exchange, and have filled out at least 20 SASBE's (self-addressed stamped Bubble envelops) that people have sent in. I've even got a Winter-sowing list of new seeds to sow for 2009! Yikes!

Needless to say, I am VERY excited about when the "seeds" are going to start becoming "sprouts". :)

That is great! I thought winter-sowing was limited to seeds that don't mind or require a chill. I suppose you could do the same thing to the warm weather plants just in early spring. Do I understand that correctly?

I looked at the winter sowing site. I am guessing the smaller containers have a humidity advantage over my little greenhouse.

I love lisianthus, although I have not grown them. They remind me of those old paintings of bouquets.

This year I am also going to plant an area with ferns and Astilbes. Most of the Astilbes I plan on growing from seed. I am going to have mixed colors too.

LOL, terrene, you are too funny! I could have written your last post, almost word for word! I too never did many seeds, and now I put out at least 200 containers every year. Winter-sowing is indeed very liberating - that's a great term for it.

Glad you are having so much fun! Good luck to you and to all of us who are starting from seed!

:)
Dee

Dee,

We got her, terrene that is.

Terrene you are hooked now for good. Hooked on seed trading, seed buying and WS.

You will probably start to see those seeds begin to germinate in about 2 weeks. The earliest I've had is April 10th, course at the momment it's a heavy wet snow falling outside my window and my containers are all covered again in snow.

Dee, I've never counted the actual number of seeds I WS, just the containers and it varies between 500 and 800 containers every year. I do use small containers as I don't like using the gallon jugs.
Anything that is at least 3 inches deep is a container I will use.

Evonestorteller. WS in itself usually goes to May 1st and then there is spring sowing, summer sowing and fall sowing. All using the same method.
For spring and summer sowing, the containers need to go in part shade and they will need to be watered well. In the fall, I put them in full sun again.

Terrene, I don't use fancy spread sheets on the computer. I like to keep my info simple and easy.
Most, if not all my seeds are from trades, but some of my MG seeds come from 2 sellers on ebay.

Seed storage is simple too, in picture boxes with dividers. Nothing complicated.

I keep my lists of seeds that are sown in a cheap spiral notebook. List the date sown on the top of the pages and list the seed name and number of cotainers of each going down the page.
The notebook goes out with me every time I check the containers for germination and i write down the date I find them germinated next to the name on the list.
Eventually I get the list simply typed up on a word document on the computer and save it.

Perennials go out anywhere from Jan1st to the about 1st week in March, then from mid march on the annuals go out, with the tender annuals going out by mid to end of April. All WS is finished by the last day in April.

By the time I'm finished getting out the last of the tender annuals, all the perennials have germinated and at least half of the annuals have germinated and by the end of May, just about everything has germinated and ready for transplant into the garden bed and/or the pots they are going into for the summer.

I haven't found a seed yet that can't be WS.

Fran

Well Fran, the jury's not out yet, but it's looking likely that there are lots of seeds in my future! hehe

Evonne, if you have a little greenhouse, that's great! From what I understand, Trudi's winter-sowing technique simulates a greenhouse environment but it can be used by just about anyone to try to start plants from seed. People who don't have greenhouses, people who live in the city, or don't have a lot of money. And who has room for 10 banks of lights in the basement or pay for the electric bill? People can sow seeds in containers made out of recycled and free materials, take advantage of the sun, snow, rain, cold which are free from nature, and even get free or practically free seeds from other nice winter-sowers and seed traders.

And yes, it is an especially good technique for seeds that require cold stratification, but you can sow tender plants too. I don't know if all the seeds will germinate, but it sure will be fun to watch and see.

terrene, are you sure this is your first year? You sound like a veteran, lol! (I guess we DO have her, Fran!)

I've already got things sprouted outside. I noticed my first vegetable sprouts on March 6th (lettuce and spinach) and my first flower sprouts on March 13th.

Fran, I guess I'm a little anal, lol. I count the number of seeds I sow so I can see how my germination rates are. I'm really not that organized or even that attentive in any other aspect of my gardening!

:)
Dee

Terrene, your son is 14? You probably DO love WSing more than him! (LOL, tell him not to worry - when he's 21, the tables will turn again :))

I am in WSing frustration this year, having forced myself to stick to only 300 containers as I am in the middle of an interstate move. This is my 5th or 6th year - I started with a couple of hundred, but worked my way up to over a thousand in no time. It is just too cool to try every variety I can get my hands on. Of course, I spend all summer as a madwoman, running from one garden spot to another planting out. I love it, though! Until arthritis gets the better of me, I think I'll keep being ridiculous.

Welcome to the fold!

Dee, hmmmm, you keep track of number of sprouts....maybe that's another column I need to add to the WS spreadsheet (not sure another column will fit). Columns already in spreadsheet:

Container #
Species/cultivar
Date WS
Date Sprout
Cold Strat?
Container Type
Sow Type (i.e. 10-12 seeds, HOS, etc.)
Light
Moisture
Height

LOL Drippy, now that you mention it, sometimes that might be true! But then, I've also heard "you love the birds more than me, and the cats more than me" etc. Teenagers are sooooooo much fun.

Anyway, A THOUSAND CONTAINERS?!?!?! Love to see a picture of that. Is your property really large? Where do you put all those seedlings??

terrene, in words a teenager can understand, you are not alone in being pwn3d by seeds. :0)

speaking of lists, i am exceedingly excited & extraordinarily hopeful about *all* of the winter-sown seeds, to wit:

Alcea ficifolia
Amsonia tabernaemontana
Arisaema amurense
Arisaema candidissimum
Arisaema consanguineum
Arisaema fargesii
Arisaema ringens
Arisaema serratum
Arisaema sikokianum
Arisaema thunbergii ssp. Urashima
Arisaema triphyllum subsp. Stewardsonii
Arisaema triphyllum subsp. Triphyllum
Arisaema wilsonii
Camassia quamash
Cypripedium calceolus
Daylily can't remember
Digitalis laevigata
Echinops ritro
Eryngium alpinum 'superbum'
Eryngium maritimum
Fritillaria biflora
Fritillaria crassifolia
Fritillaria davisii
Fritillaria graeca
Fritillaria hermonis
Fritillaria hermonis ssp. Amana
Fritillaria involucrata
Fritillaria pontica
Gaillardia
Gladiolus dalenii
Helleborus hybrids
Iris hookeri
Iris siberica mix
Lilium can't remember
Lilium ledebourii
Lilium martagon 'terrace city'
Lilium martagon: new zealand hybrids
Lupinus hartwegii ssp. Cruckshankii 'sunrise'
Meconopsis betonicifolia
Meconopsis betonicifolia 'selected'
Meconopsis horridula
Meconopsis Lingholm
Meconopsis wallichii
Nicotiana 'lime green'
Nicotiana sylvestris 'only the lonely'
Paeonia delavayi
Paeonia from tblisi hybrids
Pansy morpho (first to sprout two years in a row!)
Papaver flesh
Sanguinaria canadensis
Tricyrtis puberula
Trillium albidum
Trillium cuneatum
Trillium grandiflorum
Trillium simile
Viola canina
Viola patrinii
Viola sylettas
Viola x wittrockiana 'ullswater'
Viola yezoensis

this weekend, it's on to veggies & more annuals. yay for seeds!

So what do you look at in order to determine which seeds are appropriate for winter sowing?

evonnestoryteller, you learn to ignore most of what it says on the seed packets. :0)

some winter sowers are pretty scientific about it, but some of us just kind of fling seeds in wet dirt in jugs & then toss the jugs out in the yard and ... well ... it's really fun & you'd be surprised how often it works. i start setting out jugs of hardy perennials first, in the dead of winter, then the tender perennials in late winter, hardy annuals in early spring, and tender annuals in the spring. if a jug of perennials doesn't germinate, i give it a stir, then leave it out for another year or two.

the wintersowing forum contains a wealth of information.

Here is a link that might be useful: GW winter sowing forum FAQ

Terrene, my containers are the size of 1 lb. margarine contianers, so they're not as big as milk jugs or 2-liter bottles. I use plastic shelving units that will hold 20-30 of them on each shelf. My property is less than 1/3 acre - suburban lot - I give a lot to friends, family, and the annual church garden sale. But I also take away more lawn space each year. :)

http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/wtrsow/

I found the list of winter sowing faqs and read most of them. It sounds great!

I think I have a difference of opinion with one of them though. For two years in a row, I have not gotten Campanula to grow from seeds. This year, I am trying again since I discovered they require light to germinate. Apparently, I was just supposed to throw them on top of the dirt. I HOPE IT WORKS! Lol.

Terrene - I've already got sprouts from the Cup Flower seeds I traded from you!

Marie of R - I had to ask my son what the "pwn3d" meant. He LOL'd and said to look it up in the Urban dictionary. :) Is it some kind of mispelling of "owned"?

So you think we're pwn3d with all these seeds...hehe, doesn't bother me! It looks like you are interested in growing multiple species in a genus. I'm doing something like that - 5 species of Asclepias, 4 species of Monarda, lots of Rudbeckia (species & cultivars), etc.

Ellen - do you mean the Cup Plant - how can you have sprouts already? We've been having cold nights, things freeze up solid. How did you sow them? I have 2 containers of Silphium perfoliatum, but I checked all the containers this morning, no sprouts yet. I'm jealous.

It does look like it's going to warm up in the coming week, which is great.

Dee, thanks so much for the info on Lisianthus, wow, I had no idea they could be WS...I am going to toss the rest of my seeds into a jug first thing in the morning.

This is my first year wintersowing, and I now have 160 2 liter bottles or milk jugs. I plan to work on more tomorrow. I am also happy to report that I have sprouts in 13 containers ! I even moved them a bit today so they could get warmed up some by the sun.

This wintersowing is sooo addictive, between that and this site, I dont do much else lately..LOL

I have two teens, that think I am crazy, and now when their friends come over I get hows the seeds coming" or if they see me on AOl, they ask if I am trading again...*blush*

Drippy are you planning on taking your garden with you when you move? I would LOVE to see some pictures of your WS set up.

I didnt give a thought to keeping up with the germination rate, BUT I cannot imagine counting each seed, I take soo long NOW to get them done.

So, is there really NOT a seed you cant WS ? I have been looking them all up....maybe I should just dive in and not worry so much ??

DO any of you start perrenials in the summer to plant in the fall ?

Terrene - yes, the Silphium perfoliatum. I have the containers on a brick patio that does get very warm. But I usually have sprouts by now - I've had sprouts in mid-March before.

Tomorrow it's going to be in the 60s..I bet there'll be sproutage all across the region :-)

I would imagine there are some tropical variety seeds that cannot take freezing at all.

I went into Walmart yesterday to pick up a few things. They had a seed rack with 10 cent and 30 cent seeds! I got some cup and saucer Canterbury Bells for 30 cents each! They had some nice picks at the right price for experimenting.... asters, zinneas, shasta daisies, sweet william, forget-me-nots, snapdragons to name a few!

I probably should not have posted that on April 1st! It is not a prank though. I thought I would wait until today to say it.

Hey Evonne & everybody, how are your seeds doing?

I've got 95 winter-sowing containers out there, and got the first sprouts on April 1st. As of today there are 7 containers out of 95 that have sprouts.

Ellen_S, my Silphium perfoliatum sprouted today Yippeeee! Two teeny tiny cute lil green sprouts. These babies must be pretty hardy, since the containers are on the East side of the house, so they get morning sun only. And we haven't had much sun until yesterday.

There are also Alyssum and California poppies sprouting in the garden. I love reseeders!

I set up my greenhouse on the 1st... a very bad day to start any new project. Lol. By evening, we had high winds, hail storms and even thunder. The whole greenhouse left the yard as though Dorothy and Toto were in it. I did find it the next day, my neighbor fixed a broken stabelizing bar, and set up on the 4th.

I planted on the 5th and 7th. The seeds are doing nicely, but no sprouts yet. ;-)

Hi terrene,

My seeds are coming along slowly but surely. I have 71 containers with sprouts in them. Sounds like a lot, but some might only have one sprout in them! Things are behind schedule this year, and the weather is definitely colder than usual.

My lettuce and spinach are looking particularly good, and alyssum, rudbeckias and zinnias, (believe it or not!) are doing well also.

I haven't looked for reseeders since last week, but hoping there are some soon!

:)
Dee

Another winter sower here. I think this is year number three or four. Never going to be doing 1,000 containers like drippy, but it sounds like fun. [g] Last year my DH helped me and we ended up with 200 containers. Even that amount was a little too intense for me, so this year I have cut back to 20 containers. I just didn't have the time to do them, being involved in other things. I have a few containers that have sprouted. Dianthus was the first one up. I had a little left in about 6 packets and just threw them all in a container labeled, assorted. Great germination and wondering where I am going to put them all. Lupine are making a good showing. I saw a handful of sprouts in the Ammi container, that are new to me this year. Not seeing any germination for Delphiniums or Foxglove so far. Pansies and Primulas are still no show.

I have a lot to do in the garden this year, repositioning perennials and shrubs so aside from starting some annuals soon, the 20 containers will be enough for me. I am sure that I will be doing winter sowing every year. Too much fun, not to.

What about some photos of what is sprouting for you?

pm2

Evonne, LOL, hope your greenhouse is firmly staked down now! And hope that you're wrong about April 1st, because that was the day I got my first sprouts. :)

Lots of sproutage yesterday! Phlox drummondi, Baptisia, Eupatorium rugosum and coelestinum, Lobelia cardinalis, and Ratidiba columnifera (Mexican hats). Just 1 or 2 little teeny sprout mostly. Expecting more sproutage today with temps close to 70!

PM2, you want some photos...okay here are some photos taken yesterday. There's not too much to see yet, most of the containers have 1 or 2 or 3 little sprouts, and there aren't any "true" leaves yet. Still not quite sure how to get real clear close-ups of such teeny little seedlings (yes I am using the Macro feature).

Gaillardia aristata (Blanket Flower), love those "hairy" little sprouts -
{{gwi:379392}}

Silphium perfoliatum (Cup Plant) - most of the containers look like this, but I still think it's so exciting! In the bottom left of the photo, you can actually see a seed, which is much huger than the sprout!
{{gwi:379393}}

Solidago speciosa (Showy Goldenrod) -
{{gwi:1061984}}

Sweet Alyssum - 'Carpet of Snow' on left, 'Pastel Carpet' on right -
{{gwi:379394}}

Anybody else got any photos?? :)

Terrene, lots of white allysum for you this year! Thanks for posting your photos. It is kind of hard to get the shots, isn't it..lol. I have been just putting the lense of the camera right in my milk jug hole to steady it and they seem to be coming out pretty good. Can't remember if I am using the macro setting or not. I will try to remember next time.

Here are some Dianthus seed...I am in zone 6a

Some lupine...

I got excited today and purchased more seed. I partially blame you guys. :)

I saw the Charter Double Hollyhock, and could not find it, but I saw the Fordhook Giants mix, so I went with that. The blossoms are 4" across rather than 5 apparently. The Apricot Foxglove was attractive and I got the Poppy Giant Peony Mix.

My little greenhouse is full! I can't want to see how planting all this stuff a month earlier than usual greenhouse planting will work.

One of my flats has seedlings already!

I went outside early this morning to see the birdbath water had frozen solid, but I looked anyway! This is a flat of two kinds of seed, so I either have German Camomile or Butterfly weed.

{{gwi:1061988}}

Here are my sprouts! They have to be the German Camomile. There are so many of them right now!

I had my snow tires taken off today and wandered into Kmart while I was waiting. Martha Stewart has some nice seed selections for a little extra money. I purchased White Swan Ecinacea, Charter Double Apricot Hollyhocks, Dwarf Queeny Mix, and Persian Cornflowers. I stopped into True Value for some supplies and finally found the Charter Giants I was looking for too!

Evonne, congrats on your first sprout in the greenhouse! There is poster over on the Winter sowing forum who lives in Maine and his first sprouts were Chamomile too. I grew Chamomile from seed years ago, it was a prolific reseeder and grew well in really lean gravelly soil.

I've got 127 containers and so far about 1/3 have sprouted. A few weed seeds have sprouted in the containers and confused me into thinking the REAL seed had sprouted. I also inadvertantly transferred some very tiny seeds to a few other containers cuz they stuck to my fingers!

The picture of Cup Plant above isn't Cup Plant, it's one of those pesky stray seeds. Here's the real Silphium perfoliatum -

{{gwi:1061989}}

Dalea purpurea, Purple Prairie Clover -
{{gwi:1061990}}

The Alyssum is growing nicely -
{{gwi:377139}}

Monarda bradburiana, Eastern bee balm, little purply sprouts -
{{gwi:1061991}}

I looked up the purple prarie clover. Very pretty! It looks very close to a weed that grows around here with that green center.

I have a lot more sprouts now. Wild Flax, Gomphrena QIS Carmine and Mixed Colors, Hollyhock (Queenly and Indian Spring), Rudbeckia Double Gold, Cosmos, Painted Daisy, Dianthus Arctic Fine, Pinks and Amaranthus Summer Pointsetta Mix.

I ordered a whole bunch of seeds that I would like to try for round two in the greenhouse this year. I am asking about Hellebores.

Kmart has a sale this week on seeds and it includes the Martha Stewart line. I got more Chater's Double Apricot Hollyhock and Carneum Oriental Poppy. From the regular seed collection I ordered Wild Flax. I love the blue flax flowers!

I am going major Hollyhock. I wish they would blossom the first season. :) I ordered Creme de Casis and the Black Currant Whirl Hollyhock. I tried to wait for a trade, but I could not do it! Lol.

I have that seed sickness someone mentioned. :-0

I GOT THE PURPLE PRAIRIE CLOVER TOO!