Hi! I have alot of dill seeds (25 or 50), also have Broccoli rabe, 10 garlic chive seeds, 24 sweet red cherry pepper seeds, celantro slow bolt 24 seeds. Also have roma, homestead, and red cherry tomatos. I am interested in your Broad Windsor Fava Bean,Long Island Brussel Sprout, Red Acre Cabbage , Cherry Belle radish, seet dumpling squash, and caro rich tomato. Let me know if you are interested in any of my seeds and would like to trade. Thanks, Paradisa

Many many annuals benefit from stratification! I don’t think it’s as necessary with annuals but after reading university extension articles about it, they speak a lot about better quality and QUANTITY of flowers ... The orlaya that I allowed to self seed in the fall where I live in Ontario Z4, is already sprouted w 2-3 leaves ea. In the middle of April ...and there is still snow! Mind you, they are tiny but at least have germinated -which can be issue for this prickly little seed... I don’t know if Orlaya is considered a hardy annual maybe? I have collected seed from last year stored in a cool basement that I have been stratifying in the fridge now for a couple of weeks and will also just throw some straight in the garden to measure the difference... I’m sure the latter will take the longest to get going but Orlaya definitely is a great little flower to succession plant , I never want to be without them they are so bright white and beautiful! I’m not sure, but i do think they need light to germinate as well, maybe somebody here can confirm ? Seeds left from last year’s plants were just pressed into the topsoil before I mulch with leaves for the winter ....and those are the ones that have already germinated -in a freezing cold month! So they also don’t need bottom heat to get going !...and because they are a tap root like Queen Anne’s lace, i would not bother starting them inside where I live.. (Does anyone else have problems on this site correcting/editing their comment in real time? )

Susan - my pumpkin is not Indian Doll. It is a variety I buy from Indian store and seed-harvest. As you can see in the pictures - it makes an elongated pumpkin in the garden ( my kids call it zumpkin). The vegetable inside is golden yellow ( not orange) and has a much milder sweetness. The rind/ skin is easier to peel as well. I just love the way it tastes and grows. I never fertilize or mound it but have noticed that the vines make fruit only when left on the ground rather than trellising them ( maybe they have more roots to draw their nutrition from). I do not know much about the cantaloupe variety except that the seeds have a high germination rate Yes I would also love to have radish seeds as well - never grown them before. You are welcome to pm me any time!

As with your question about currants I'll say again that you'll get far superior crops if you use cuttings or divisions from named cultivars. Growing from seed will probably lead to disappointment and could well be more expensive in the end that just buying a plant. Certainly it will take a lot more of your time.