I don't have an answer for you, but my problem with seeds is that I plant them, they start coming up and I think they're weeds, so I pull 'em. How pathetic is that? I've given up on trying to grow anything from seeds.

Best luck I've had with seeds is starting them in pots or ziploc bags then transplanting. Those mini-greenhouses you see at Lowes from Burpee also work okay, but I'm not a big fan of them.

simplycottage - I had a lot of new beds this year and had to make do with seed for the cost difference. I started watching and learning for the group on gardenweb called WINTER SOWING - I was doubtfull but It really has turned out wonderful!
EVERYTHING in these beds started from seeds in milk jugs on my patio!

6 weeks ago:

Today:

Nice garden from seeds Scuba-gal!!! Thanks for your pictures. (I used to scuba-dive too. It's a whole 'nuther world down there ... :-)

As already mentioned above I never have much luck with seeds sown directly in flower beds. Sow bugs and snails make a meal of them. I sow them in flats or little pots and keep them up off the ground until they are a decent size. More often I buy six packs if they have what I want.

If your seeds are up, you are doing it right. Probably bugs, snails or whatever getting them at night.

You can get something called Diatomaceous earth, and lay it under and around your plants. Anything gritty will (make that, 'SHOULD') deter slugs and snails.

Do you have mulch under your plants? Snails hide in mulch too, just waiting for their next banquet.

Also, you can dust your little plants with Sevin Dust to keep bugs from eating them.

I love to grow from seeds, and I have found that I have best luck starting them in styrofoam cups. Fill with medium, lay in the seeds, and cover with vermiculite. If you plant the seeds in a medium of half peat, half perlite, you won't have to worry about damping off, a fungal disease that causes seedlings to die real fast. When they have true leaves, transplant into the garden and dust the new little seedlings with Sevin Dust, to give them a fighting chance.

That is the best I know to tell you.

Good Luck!

Janie

Starting seeds indoors is no guarantee of protection from pests. I pulled a handful of seeds that were still on a vitex tree from last year and put them in a pot on my windowsill at work. Had four perfect little vitex seedlings come up, growing great.

Walked in this morning and noticed two looked wrong, had been cut off at the soil. Then noticed the grasshopper staring at me from the pot. AAAARRGGH!!!! Scratch one grasshopper.

Your cleome is beautiful!!

Kristi

Thanks so much Kristi - I have never grown it before but have now fell in love and recently started a pot of white - I have several up - hopefully I can get it started too.
The storms have been really hard on my plants back there...work in progress I guess
~Angie~

Angie, everything is so pretty, did you paint your birdhouse? It's so cute

yes i did paint it - kinda wild colors but the kids like it-lol
Thanks for your kind words

I have grown 50% of what I have from seeds. Start them inside and use flourescent lights. Then harden them off for a couple of weeks before putting them outside in the ground.
I still have several 4" peat pots of columbine, aster, and blackeyed susans that I just haven't decided where to plant yet.
They are loving the rain!

Mike

Sounds like something is eating your babies. Do you ever see rabbits?
We have some rabbits in our area and they sometimes come into our back yard.

For growing from seeds I like the plants that the seeds don't have to be planted. Columbines, larkspur, poppies you just spread the seeds around and pat them in the ground, I put a lot of them out so I know I'll have plants coming up. When they get big enough to move I dig them up and transplant them if I want some in another area.

Very pretty, scubagirl, and your beautiful cleome will reseed for you everywhere - don't worry about planting it next year. Heck, you'll even get more from reseeding this season.

My first batch of seedlings were eaten virtually overnight by slugs and roly polys. My second batch had the same fate. I was disgusted that I couldn't outsmart a slug, and my protective nature kicked in. I sprinkled a ring of egg shells around my seedlings. This was surrounded by thick ring of coffee grounds. Additionally, I laid an empty 2 liter coke bottle on its side (with the bottom cut out) and put a banana peel in it. Every morning I take great delight in picking the slugs out and dousing them in water/rubbing alcohol.

I share your frustration. I have tried sprinkling seeds outside, starting them indoors under lights and winter sowing. The ones from outdoors were hit or miss on germination. Under the lights, they tended to get fungus. Winter sowing had pretty good germination and then I set them out. I have had just a few survive. I don't know if it was rabbits or slugs or roly polys that got to them. I'll have to remember the egg shells and coffe grounds tip.

But, I'm not giving up hope. I put a stick in the ground where ever I transplanted and noticed yesterday that some have re-appeared. Not many but better than none.

I just wish my flowers did as well as the self planted tree seedlings. They've been sprouting everywhere since at least Feb.

I did the experiment this year. What a flop!! Been there, done that, now back to buying the 4" plants.

If I could grow stuff from seed, I would call myself a farmer. If I could grow vegetables, I would call myself a gardener. Instead, I install perennials and call myself a landscaper. I have tried starting trays and grow lights and such but nothing works for me. If you want to sow directly in the ground you will have to try something foolproof. Try cosmos. Last April, I bought about a quarter of a pound from Wildseed Farm in Fredericksburg and tossed it in a raised bed on top of a dressing of composted topsoil from Natural Gardener. I raked it into the soil and misted it every other day when it looked dry (not too often this year!). The flowers started blooming this week.

i start many seeds inside during the winter. Then I wait for the seed to be big enough to put in bigger containers. One thing i do also is use fish tank water . Like making my own Fish Emulsion fertilizer . PM Me and add me to your follow list