Hi,
Welcome!
First, check out the FAQ's if you haven't already.

I think people are sowing their annuals now, figuring that by the time they germinate it will be warm enough to put them out in the garden.

I read that some people in your zone (and mine) are not starting their annuals til the end of April.

That's my 2 cents, and I'm sure others will chime in.

ellen

Hi Tequillashotz,

I am starting some annuals now and some in May.
Zinnias are very fast to germinate and I will direct sow
some of them, and some in jugs.

I think the idea of sowing them in jugs gives them a
safe weed free/ and in my case CAT free place to
germinate. Plus a bit of a jump start in the growing
department.

I don't think there is a right or wrong way to
sow those annuals.

Just my two cents :-D

Mary

You are confused. Technically you can begin to sow annuals after 12/21. However, there are some tenders that will germinate easily and croak at cold temps. Some of us tend to hold off on those. Otherwise, go annuals!

Hi-another newbie question: I have some 2 liter Ginger Ale bottles (green plastic) do those work or should I just use clear plastic? Thanks!

llhowland44 - I am also a newbie, but I have used green tinted see through plastic over mine with success, so I think a ginger ale bottle would be ok. Milk jugs are opaque and not completely see through but they get the job done. :) Good luck!

I sowed a few annuals a little early and kept them all in a wagon. On really cold nights I could pull the wagon inside. Most of the time it just went into an unheated shed, but it gets to be a pain to have to think about doing it every night eventhough I kept them separate from those that didn't have to be babied along. It was convenient when we had threats of hail to just pull them inside. It would have been easier to just sow a little later, I think.

soonergrandmom, please clarify whether you are taking unsprouted containers or sprouts inside for the night. Without knowing whichs ones, I won't argue with sprouts, but taking unsprouted containers to shelter is a mistake. By giving them warmer temperatures you increase the likelihood that they will sprout too early. Then you have compounded your troubles.

llhowland, Put your hand inside any container. If you can see your thumb, it will work.