Hi Vera,

Have you ever winter sowed nasturtiums before? I tried them last year, they sprouted during our warm spells but then froze and died during our freezes. I was just wondering what your experience with them has been.

Thanks,
Michelle

Yes, I have. They self-sow themselves too, but if they sprout too early they can die in a hard freeze; a light freeze is fine.
No matter what I sow I've always had a few early sprouters in a container here and there...it's ok since most of the "smart" seeds wait LOL!

Vera

I must not have planted any smart nasturtiums last year then. I even planted the nasturtiums in the later part of winter. They germinated and then croaked at the next freezing temps. I had nothing but shriveled, burnt up little nubs sticking out of the soil.

Hmmmm, guess I'd better experiment with this one.

Thanks for your input.

Michelle

Michelle,

They routinely self sow here, so maybe it's case of needing to put their little milkjug greenhouses in the shade to keep them cooler. I know they can take the cold as seeds, I think you just need to prevent them from germinating too soon, and I bet the milk jug is just a little too warm and snug.

Lime

I get much better results sowing nasties later, around March. Those I sowed earlier rotted in the jugs. And last year I did the Yvonne's Salvia in April. I might try them just a little earlier this year, maybe March. Vera, I hope you saved some of the salvia seeds to sow later, just in case?

Karen

Of course I did Karen :D
I didn't sow all of anything LOL! I'm just doing 10 or so small containers (no jugs this year)since I'm moving in spring. According to Emily these are definatley re-seeders in her zone 6; therefore they should be optimal for wintersowing.

Vera

Here is a link that might be useful: Yvonne's Salvia reseed?

BTW it wasn't Prairie Dropseed that I sowed but was Sand Lovegrass. I also sowed some Calendula officinalis nana 'Citrus Cocktail'.

Yes, Vera, she and others said that volunteers don't get very big, though. I don't expect many volunteers from mine because those areas are now mulched with a thick layer of fall leaves. I will push some off in spring and hope, though.

If any plant ever convinces me to try indoor seed starting again, it will be Yvonne's salvia. But I don't really have a good spot for that, nor lights or heat mats. It would be an expensive experiment in which most things would probably result in nothing but dead plants and damp off. (The voice of doom resulting from past experience).

Karen

Every time I think of you moving your little WS babies to Nebraska I have to chuckle, Vera. March on, WS soldier!

I just got seeds for Calendula "Citrus Cocktail" because I like look of flowers but needed a smaller variety due to space considerations.

Like a typical overanxious newbie I actually bought Pro-Mix with Biofungicide...LOL. A whopping 70 pound bag.

Then I realized damping off is probably more a consideration with indoor germination.

By next year at this time I'll hopefully be telling first year WS'ers it's all good cause there'll be so much to plant that anything that doesn't come up perfectly or at all doesn't put a dent into the "extra reserve" seedlings ability to fill in.