Six weeks or so ago I sprinkled some three-year-old Shirley Poppy seeds in a bed I've been having problems trying to get anything to grow but the daffodils that are in there. I plant only annuals in this bed to grow when the daffodils are finished. About three weeks ago I saw poppy sprouts all over in the bed, which surprised me really because I thought the seeds would be too old. So then I sprinkled quite heavily Tidy Tips (Layia platyglossa), Farewell-To-Spring (Clarkia amoena) and Queen Anne's Thimbles (Gilia capitata). I now have lots of little sprouts in that bed, and if it would ever get warm and the sun shine, those little babies would grow faster. All I did was sprinkle them around just before a rain so the rain would beat the seeds into the soil to give the seeds better contact with the soil and not get blown away. I hope the plants do well, otherwise next year I'll be on the hunt for something else to try to grow in this bed. Karen

With annuals like zinnias and cosmos (both of which I plant a lot), I tend to sow them pretty close and don't worry much about distance initially. Both are easy to move around when seedlings emerge. Ultimally, I leave 12 to 18 inches between them, I suppose. Zinnias can get mildew if they're packed too closely, but that's not a huge issue in my climate. I always space annuals more closely than the package recommends. That's my 2 cents worth anyway. dan

I would like to try direct sowing some flower seeds in the Fall to assure that I get blooms in the Spring from them. Here's my dilemma..For the last two years,We have paid somebody to do our Fall maintenance and put down mulch. My husband insists we have mulch spread both in Spring and Fall. How can I continue to have the fall mulching session and direct sow flower seeds where I want them to grow? I feel that the Fall mulching keeps the soil too moist or wet. The soil is very rich, I think it needs to be lighter if that makes sense. Hubby wants the flowerbeds to look neat, even in the winter. I feel that there's still mulch left on the flowerbeds from the Spring Mulching..why pay for adding more? If I direct sow before Mr. B comes to do the Fall mulching, won't the mulch smother the seeds and they not be able to germinate? If we do have Mr. B to Fall mulch, can't I just pull the mulch away to sow the seeds and not put the mulch back where the new seeds are sown? This question seems so long but I need to work this out in my mind. I have never sown any seeds in the Fall.

I would think so Joanne. I'm busy preparing for a plant sale which I'm holding this weekend and haven't really had time for the annuals. There are some waiting for me on the deck which I winter sowed, but as I start cleaning some of the garden areas after this weekend, I'll be direct sowing as I go. I still have lots of seeds left and I'd rather not keep them and start fresh next year. Our season goes late - well into October - and I expect lots of blooms!