Started some veggies indoors.. was it too early?
Heruga (7a Northern NJ)
3 years ago
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daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoLoneJack Zn 6a, KC
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoRelated Discussions
Is it ever too early to start seeds indoors?
Comments (9)Karen I have started heucheras, bergenia, some indoor plants- calceolaria. I have also started several primulas which I love. Primulas will be under lights until late Feb and then go into sunroom. Sunroom is not heated so plants that can not tolerate occasional dip in temperature will not be moved there. Heuchera and bergenia are very slow growing so I will not have problems with them till spring. there are some rare plants that I am looking forward to growing I might start now, mostly because I have time now and won't have time in the spring. I do several columbines now, not the common ones but those that I really want and cost me $$$. For germination of columbines and primulas I use GA-3/ read more on JL Hudson, seedsman website/ so I do not use cold stratification. I also started some cyclamen hederifolium, I like to start it early and feed bulbs till they nice and plump when they planted into spring. If you have seeds of begonias, tuberous or other kind you can start them now. They are slow growing and take indoor light well. I brought mine in from last year sowing so am not planning to grow new ones this year. I will start couple of trays of pansies in a couple of weeks, I usually get them to start blooming in April and have full containers until early summer when I replace them with other plants....See MoreIs it too early to start indoor flower sowing?
Comments (22)Welcome, Natalie. We really are a friendly group, don't let our goofballs scare you away. MMQC is our problem child here- endless funny comments but newcomers may not 'get' her jokes. I'd bet she spent her childhood in the principal's office. Wndy2shoes has been spending too much time around MMQC. I, too, wintersow my seeds outdoors, not inside as I was a miserable failure at that. But I do know that indoor sowing generally involves fluorescent lights about 14-16 hours a day and incandescent light isn't useful to plants. For more detailed information, the forums Seedmama mentioned will probably be your better source. Do consider a few containers outside by the wintersowing method. You might be pleasantly surprised by how easy it is as well as economical and successful. Karen Here is a link that might be useful: FAQs...See MoreHow early is too early to start?
Comments (1)December 21st is the official starting date. Winter Solstice but getting prep can start as early as you want to....See MoreToo early to plant outside? Too late to start indoors?
Comments (1)The question really is whether you think you'll get a hard frost (e.g. the moisture in the soil actually freezes to any extent) or not. The tubers will survive in the soil with cool temperatures, just not frost. Remember, they are shallow root plants so you only need to freeze a couple of inches of soil and you'll kill or damage the roots. It would take several weeks of ground frost to kill the tuber (think about what happens at the end of the season.) I too am in Zone 5, and am on the side of a lake (which usually means our temperatures are slightly higher than others) but you are more daring than I. But my reason is that most of mine are 8" tall already and I don't want to have to bother with coverings for frost warnings. Most of my tubers took 15 days to go from nothing to a cuttable sprout. Were they in the ground, that sprout would have had a couple of sets of leaves above the ground and would have been highly susceptible to frost. The up-side of your plan, however, is that even if the above-ground part gets frosted, a root system should get established as well, so a new sprout should come up quickly. Good luck, and let us know how it works out for you. Cheers, Russ...See MoreHeruga (7a Northern NJ)
3 years agoJoJo (Nevada 9A)
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoHeruga (7a Northern NJ)
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoLoneJack Zn 6a, KC
3 years agodaninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agovgkg Z-7 Va
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoHeruga (7a Northern NJ)
3 years agoLabradors
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoHeruga (7a Northern NJ)
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoHeruga (7a Northern NJ)
3 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
3 years agoHeruga (7a Northern NJ)
3 years agovgkg Z-7 Va
3 years agoHeruga (7a Northern NJ)
3 years agodaninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoHeruga (7a Northern NJ)
3 years agodaninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoHeruga (7a Northern NJ)
3 years agovgkg Z-7 Va
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoHeruga (7a Northern NJ)
3 years agoHeruga (7a Northern NJ)
3 years agofloral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
3 years agoHeruga (7a Northern NJ)
2 years ago
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daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)