Hi Linda - Last year was my first year for geraniums, so I don't have that much experience. Looking at my notes they started sprouting in 3 days. The geraniums I sowed this year (4 days ago), haven't sprouted yet. I looked at Swallowtail seeds info and they say at 75degrees it is 14-21 days. Dont know why I got such fast germination last year. I am sure it varies among the different types. I have to confess that I bought more seed on line yesterday. I was looking specifically on Swallowtail's site for more coleus, but I ended up spending another 41 bucks (free shipping for $40 orders). Along with the coleus I decided I would give Begonias and Lisanthus another try - they didn't do well for me last year. It actually a little late to start them, but - what the heck. Also got some more impatiens, scabiosa, zinnia, and yes - two more types of petunias, Dolcissima Frangolina and Sophistica Lime Bicolor. The Frangolina are similar to the Flambe, but the color is deeper. They have really nice varieties of annuals available and are a little cheaper than Johnny's or Parks.

This is a wonderful thread. So many ideas to share. Just bought a bullseye geranium and really happy to know that I can keep it alive indoors. @ridgetop01 guess I will try my luck with gerbera daisies once more. Love the beautiful flowers. Anybody had any luck with calibrachoa and bachelors' button? I started gardening 3 years ago and found it really hard to let the beautiful annuals die. So started bringing them inside. My living room and a bedroom gets atleast 4 hours of direct sun throughout winter, but lack of humidity is a challenge. The first year I brought a vinca, a zinnia, a gerbera and the container of Indian hot chilies that I started from seed indoors. The vinca, zinnia and gerbera succumbed to dryness very soon (I can't think of any other reason). But the hot chili did wonderfully inside. The chili plant is still alive and thriving after 3 winters. That winter I started many annuals (both ornamentals and edibles) from store bought seeds. The flowering ones were petunias, portulacas, nasturtiums, marigolds and 4 o'clock. I started vinca and zinnia from saved seeds. All these are very easy to start indoors. I find zinnias really amusing as they can surprise you with unique colors (the seed from a pink zinnia resulted in a beautiful coral zinnia). The nasturtiams and marigolds started from seeds remaine true (mine is a balcony garden and I suspect there is little or no cross pollination). Gradually I realized the portulacas reseed generously and so I don't save the seeds anymore. I continue to bring in as many annuals as I can and each year the numbers just keep on increasing. I place the plants real close to each other (that helps with humidity). So far I have successfully over wintered the following plants in my sun lit rooms: Colocasia (loves the indoors and grows rapidly) Jasmine (this one continues to flower indoors) Malabar spinach Hot Pepper Ginger Petunias (need good amount of humidity) Amaryllis (not exactly annual) Tube rose Tropical hibiscus Some herbs I have started many new kinds of plants this year and after going through this thread I'm hopeful that many will survive the winter. Happy gardening everyone :)

The Vinca Jams & Jellies Blackberry is an excellent choice! An AAS winner that we have been growing in our trials for several years (in Michigan!)I am including a link to AAS - please note that this is NOT a company or an advertisement. AAS is a non-profit organization that does independent plant trials across North America. Here is a link that might be useful: AAS

Orange Cosmos From Backyard Summer 2009 Another orange cosmos In full sun and good rich soil they get very tall and huge, I wish I had a picture of one of them "orange cosmos trees" :) From Backyard Summer 2009 Annual Phlox This year I have whites, and different shades of pink. I originally moved a few plants we found growing along a road (when in season, you will see masses of them near highways). The plants flowered and disappeared..And for a few years now, they reseed and bloom in large clumps From Backyard Summer 2009 From Backyard Spring 2009 Salvia Same thing, reseeds. I recieved one plant at a swap two years ago and since then, my yard is covered in them :) They are nice plants to have, I really like them - and they do live for more that a year it seems. From Backyard Summer 2009 Blanket flower Same story, found a plant growing by a road, moved it to my yard and now I have masses of them. They tolerate draught and lots of sun, and poor soils - but boy do they love good soil. In my rose garden, I have to weed them out so they do not eat the roses! The plant gets big AND the flowers are much larger in diameter From Backyard Summer 2009 I do not have a picture of Alyssum . It likes colder weather, or at least does not like the heat as much. It is very popular in Russia in the summer, so very different climate there! In the cooler months, it grows really well, so I would start seeds around that time. Same goes for Calendulas and the pink and white cosmos, they seem to like less heat Marigolds, I start whenever :) They reseed once they are done Here is a picture of Salvia (perennial) with marigolds From Backyard Spring 2009