I'm to the point where I don't even know how many are out there. Today am planning a marathon sowing session (peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, and lotsa flowers) and fully intend to use all the remaining containers I've been hoarding. At the end of it I'm going to force myself to count every single jug, box, bottle, and cup out there. Really!

Of course, tomorrow I'll have to make some calls to try to scare up more jugs, but right now I've gotta run to the post office to pick up another seed order...(Value Seeds)

I have been counting for the big zone count but I do smallish cups so I cut my count in half some of the time. I intend to count every single cup when all the plastic comes off and I can see them all. I know I have twice the annuals that I had perennials though. There were just over a hundred perens. There will be more than double the annuals if I don't get a back bone and save some seed for next year, lol.

I just can't get going with my annuals. I am not an "annual" person and have very little experience with w/sing them, and can find little confirmation as what the heck type of annual they are... so I wait.

I haven't done any veggies yet either, for the same reason. I never winter sowed them, so I put it off... got the seed out though... I just keep lookin' at them and wonderin'

This is frustrating to me. I like to feel like I know what I'm doing, but when it comes annuals, I wonder if the outcome will be worth the frustration?

Which do you prefer for sowing annuals, direct sow or flats? It's because the person that gave me the cleome seeds told me that she just drop the seeds on her non-mulched dirt and it works every year. She puts small stones around the area where she threw the seeds so she will remember not to step on it.

I don't do annuals at all. If I do, it's maybe a 6 pack from Walmart of Snapdragons for quick color.

I say relax and enjoy this hobby! I have a difficult and stressful life and try not to put pressure on myself in the one area of life I really enjoy - gardening.

Nancy drew, annuals are great, and I only winter-sow about 1/3 of them. Many of them reseed in the garden quite abundantly so I don't sow unless wanting a specific variety. This includes Cleome, Cosmos, Verbena bonariensis, Cilantro, California poppies. I expect that Yvonne's Salvia and dill, maybe some others will reseed this year too.

Direct sowing has worked well for me with Tithonia, Zinnias and Sunflowers, and large seeds like Scarlet Runner bean. There is some advantage to direct sowing because seedlings establish in situ and don't suffer any transplant shock, although sometimes pests will munch on the sprouts. Last year my mammoth Grey Stripe sunflowers self-sowed from the previous year and grew better than any sunflowers I've ever tried to start in flats (I watched in amazement as they grew to 10-11 feet).

Nancy,
I know what you mean, i am frustrated about starting my tomato seeds,and other veggies,i like to feel like i know what i am doing,and what the results will be,i do not feel this,so i am frustrated,i keep looking at the seed packs,and i think i have bugged every one here to no end,with all my questions,that i still have more of.
Ahhhh,we are running out of time,so we better figure out real quick what we are going to do,and how we are going to do it,lol
cAROL

Nancy,
Maybe as I post what I sow, that might be a guide for what you might want to put out. I don't think about it too hard (or I think I don't). I probably could've put a lot of them out sooner, but I didn't have time.
The only two things I'll probably wait until April to put out is Zinnias and Basil, because from past experience, they seem to be very sensitive to cold after germinating.
BTW...Snapdragons WS great and I do several different types. Sometimes, they overwinter in my yard too (and reseed).
What I usually buy is Impatiens. They usually serve as my "quick color". And I buy Calibrochia at a small local nursery.
v1rtu0s1ty,
I WS most of my annuals, but I usually direct sow 4 O'Clocks, and Balsam. They do WS fine, but it's easier for me to put those right where I want them from the get go, and they usually remain undisturbed by the animals.
I DS Nasturtiums, too, not because they don't WS well, but to fill in where last years' plants have reseeded. I WSed them one year and they provided a pretty good base of reseeders the subsequent years. Sometimes the dog digs up the reseeded seedlings, so I fill in by DS.
If I direct sow anything else, it's usually later in the season, again to fill in where my dog has dug :-( I had to do this with Zinnias last year.
I could probably Spring Sow them (using WS method, just in the Spring season), but by then I'm ready to get the containers out of my yard and off my porch.

Linda

March is when I do cool weather veggies. They are usually up in a month, so I can get out in the garden by April.
April I have learned to SS annuals, the weather is too up n down for a March sowing of annuals for me. I lost alot of zinnias and marigolds last season because of that.

Maters, peppers and eggplants I still sow inside, old habits die hard. I have 1st true leaves on maters sowed 14 days ago for the first sowing.

Thank you! You've really helped to reassure me! I'm not lagging then, I'm impatient! I want it done, and I want it done now, isn't going to work this time!

I have Cosmos, Morning Glories and Lobelia along with the veggies. I just have to wait till April then.

My tomatoes have been out since January. I don't think I'll ever sow a tomato indoors again.
Peppers, I'm doing indoors. If I lived in Atlanta or Houston, they'd be outside. They have a longer season than us nord-folks... :-)

Linda

Let me get this right,

Zone 5**** Tomatoes are WSed already?

When can you expect sprouts,and then what?
cAROL