Hi Linda. Just until they have germinated. Then the tops should come off.

Yikes- this is really early for starting Zinnia- don't get into a big rush- especially with those seed starting kits.
If I were you- once they all sprouted- I'd move them to a basement under a fluorescent light. Keeping them cool will slow them down so they don't get 'gangely' on you!

I find that these seed kits are so effective that they cut germination time in half. Last year I started my Zinnia at the end of April and put them out around 5/15. In that little amount of time they already were good sized plants.

Yeah, I know it's early, but I've got the "itch"! LOL

Linda

You know what they say about itching: Stop that!

yeah....stop that...its contagious! I really, really want to start some seeds too!

So when is everyone planning to start winter sowing? I am anxious to try it this year.

I started the first weekend in February. I got some more in a trade yesterday and hope to do them this weekend. Then I will be done unless I aquire more seeds. I really shouldn't, but who knows.

Pauline

I have been Winter Sowing for a while now- I will first get out all the hardy perennials- then Half Hardy Annuals- and when it is a bit warmer- Spring Sowing the annuals. I love how easy it is to winter sow! I love how many plants you can get to germ and grow to be healthy adults with a minimum of loss- the only real requirement is to water when nessesary- and not to let them fry in the sun.
I also start seeds in the house under lights- I am horribly late to start some- but I will catch up quick- I hope. I am trying to stay with tropicals- tender annuals and maybe just a few first year blooming perennials (when started indoors soon enough). Although I am pleased with my success indoors as well- I find it far more difficult that WS- One needs to know germ temp and light requirements- growing on conditions- and one must be dilligent in watering- but keeping damping off at bay- and I have always had problems with those durn little black gnatty fly thingies. They have invaded and consumed whole trays of tender seedlings in the past.
I do spend a bit of time searching out germination info and looking into "weeks to finish or transplant" to determine when I should indoor sow for nice sized plants come end of May.
I am hoping to have the time to make up a sharable info sheet for next year.
Here's hoping that you all have way too many plants from your planted seeds!!
Julie

I tried winter sowing last year, had such poor results I am not sure I will try it again. Like I said, I need to plant PLANTS, not good with seeds at all!

Linda

What sort of setups do those of you who start seeds under lights use?

I tried starting some tomato and eggplants in the house last year on my south window. Which was just lovely for about four days, and as soon as my little sprouts started showing, MY SUNSHINE DISAPPEARED :-( and we had three straight weeks of cloudy weather. During which, my poor little plants got about six inches tall and about as thick as a heavy string. Then they just fell over and died.

I replanted outside later and covered them at night, but it was a very late start. If it hadn't been for an unusually late first frost, I wouldn't have gotten much.

Are plain old florescent bulbs good enough? (I see Mill's Fleet Farm had some special plant light bulbs in their last flier, but are they necessary?)

How about those efficency florescent bulbs that go in an ordinary light socket -- are they too weak?

The cheapo shop lights work just great! The ones with the long florescent bulbs. The problem that I could see with the bulbs that go into an ordinary light socket is that they probably wouldn't provide light to enough area. The bulb really needs to be right over the plant (all the plants) and within a couple of inches in order to do a good job.

I have a set up with 5 wall mounted, adjustable, plastic coated steel/wire shelves from floor to ceiling, that my hubby attached full sized florescent lights and fixtures under each shelve. Each light has been adapted to a cord which plugs into a multi plug and then into a timer. As the plants grow- I can adjust the shelving to remain an inch or so away- It took a weekends work for my dear sweet hubby to buy- haul in- and install- and it cost about 200.00 all told. That sounds expensive- but it is much larger and cheeper than most set ups you see in the cataloges- and if I can start seeds- I won't be buying too many plants. The value was woth the cost for me/us.
You can use any flourescent lights- although I like a mix of daylight- grow light- and regular ones- all from Home Depot-
In the Growing with lights forum, they have talked about boosting your light fixtures by rewiring so they improve your plants performance. I have not really looked into it, but I thought I would mention it.
Before that set up- I used a four light fixture adapted to an outlet plug attached to chains to the ceiling to allow adjustable height needed for growing plants- set over a table in the basement.
Best of luck to you!
Julie

I've started both my indoor sowing and winter sowing. I have 65 or so milk jugs out on the patio with more to come. I can't wait well, so have also started some perenials in the basement and now will be starting some annuals and veggies (toms and peppers). Being that John is an electrician he has set me up a great indoor growing area in the very basement (lets just say I have lights!). I even have about 10 pond plants that I have in a huge tub with lights over them and a little pump to circulate the water. Will be nice not to have to re-buy all my pond plants, just the floaters.

My indoor lights are 4 ft shop fixtures with 2 lamps(bulbs) per fixture. One cool light and one warm light. All fixtures are plugged into electrical strips, and on a timer. Can raise and lower them as needed. I have a small fan that runs on low to circulate the air too. The initial setup may be a bit spendy, but overall it's not bad when you only have to buy the fixtures once and only buy lamps when needed. I stock up on lamps at Menards when on sale.

Last year I also splurged and bought a small 6 X 8 hardsided greenhouse from Harbor Freight that I get to put into production this spring. Again, the electrician in the house has modified it with electricity, shelving, auto vent openers, water/misting system, etc. I sure hope my seeds sprout so I can use it.

I second Julie's comment that we all have way too many plants from our seed sowing!!!

Not only are we all starting to many plants we will take them to the plant exchange and come home with just as many as we went with or possibly even more.

Pauline

say.... about controlling that" spring gardening itch"....does anyone know if there are any herbal remedies for it, and if so do you know of a source for the seeds, and can we start them yet, huh, can we?!??

Hostas are a good thing to start if you get the itch early. They can actually be started in the fall or any time through the winter and will do just fine, so long as you keep them under lights. They don't get huge and leggy although they will stretch out if they don't get the light they need. I have one 72 chamber tray of those going at the moment.

Otherwise, I've started a few of the plants that take a little longer then others to get to transplant size. So far, I have three varieties of Impatiens and some Red Swallowwort. I also have a few of the palm tree seeds sprouted.

One that was kind of fun last year... on March 12th, I planted some bib lettuce, then moved it to the garden early in April. If I remember correctly, we had our first salad about the time I transplanted it to the garden. That was a treat!

And right now... it's nice to come home after work and visit my growing garden!

My onions are up now - and they took only 3 days to germinate. The red swallowort is a bit of surprise. The info I could find on it said to sow 12 weeks before last frost, and I pushed that one a bit :-) But, it sure is growing fast! This is a new plant for me, so I guess I'll just wait and see whether it takes over the back room before the season progresses enough to move it out to a cold frame!

I planted most of my tomatoes on 3/12 last year, and although I know it was early, the plants did great. Still, I think I'll wait a week or two longer for those this year.

I finally did a little winter-sowing, too. Only 9 containters so far and I guess I'd better hurry if I want to get more in. Actually, my guess for WS would be another 3- 4 weeks, but what do the rest of you think on that one?

And how is your seed-starting going (both indoors and WS)?

It's been months since I've posted but I finally got the gardening itch. I even got out yesterday and did some cutting back before this nasty storm hit.

I have a setup similar to Sandy's and have had excellent results starting seeds indoors. I have oodles of seeds from packets I bought last year. Does anyone have experience germinating old seeds or would I be wasting my time? They have been stored in the dark, coolish basement.

Julie, thanks for the seeds you sent me last year. The amaranthus and purple millet did great.

Hey there ErnestM-
I am glad to hear that they did well for you! Your welcome-
As far as using old seed- I am told most will keep for many years if stored carefully- after all, they grew lotus plants from seed found in the pyramids! I have been told that the onion family seed loses viability quickly and should be used within the same year- but other that that,most seeds should hold onto viability for at least a couple of years!
I am sure those who know more than I will let us know differently if I am wrong.....
Best of luck to you this year as well!
Julie