Now is a tough time, since the hot weather increases the risk of seedlings in a container getting fried. Also, planting out would need to be done in early fall to give things a chance to get adequate roots established to survive the winter. Oh, never mind. I just noticed where you are. You can start just about anything you want, unless it requires cold stratification. Pansies would be able to bloom for you in fall, though I don't know how they germinate in warm weather. I would look through garden catalogues too see what you like and how tall they get in your climate. Happy gardening. And keep us posted on what you are trying and how it goes.

Martha

Thanks for all encouraging words.

I have now ordered these seeds to sow.

Rudbeckia
Hirta Prairie Sun

Coreopsis Seeds - Early
Sunrise

Delphinium Seeds - Delight Mix

Hollyhock Seeds - Chater's Mix

Lupin Seeds - Russell Mix

Rudbeckia Seeds - Indian
Summer

Gaillardia Seeds - Goblin

Digitalis Seeds - Speckled
Spires Mix

Mirabilis Seeds - Marbles Mix

Wallflower Seeds - Cloth of
Gold

Stock Seeds - Sweetly Scented
Mix

Aquilegia Seeds - Pretty
Bonnets Mix

Chrysanthemum
leucanthemum maximum 'Crazy Daisy'

Iberis
sempervirens 'Snowflake'

Rudbeckia
hirta `Goldilocks'

Campanula
portenschlagiana

Echinacea
purpurea

I read the seed packet instructions but still not sure if I should wait for winter to sow anything out of the list above or sow them all now. Usually our summers are not that hot and there is plenty of rain but somehow we have hot weather going on at the moment with temperatures going upto 30C (85F). I have a paved shaded area next to house which I call my little nursery to sow and keep baby plants.

I had planted out some coreopsis, poppies, lupins and nicotiana seedlings. Slugs ate all of the coreopsis and poppies, most of lupins seedlings and some of nicotiana seedlings. A bad start for me :(

This is another reason why I am thinking of starting plants in summer so they are big enough before i plant out. Little seedlings have no chance in front of those fat slugs here!

Are the slugs less of a problem during the summer?

Slugs are problem all year round but they are less likely to attack a slightly mature plant then hunk of seedlings. Also if there are enough leaves i am hoping some will survive the attack. I am thinking if sow seeds now, I will have good size plant before frost time.

Daisy - this is quite a handy guide. http://www.thompson-morgan.com/what-to-sow-and-grow-in-july

Thanks flora. That is helpful guide. I have sown everything i had listed and some verbena and primula too. Yet to sow pansies as i ran out of sowing compost.

I have a paved area where slugs dont come so i have kept everything there. Whatever germinates and grows should i plant those in garden in autumn or should i overwinter them in pots?

Depends on how big they are. Decent sized plants are more slug proof. I doubt they'll get much size on them before winter now so on balance I'd go for Spring.

Will they over winter in pots? I dont have greenhouse :(

Thanks flora. Really apreciate your helpful and detailed reply.

From where can i get grit and what is it called in stores?

Horticultural grit. Any garden centre or online.

Thank you. I have now around 40% things sprouted. I will leave unsprouted things as it is.

Here are photos of little ones :)

Wow - that is seriously impressive. Note the lovely labels all you keen growers who come here for ids after your babies germinate saying 'I've forgotten what I sowed in this pot' ;-)

I purchased an old window blind at a second hand shop to use for labels. I've been wintersowing for years, but I'm getting enough new natives in my garden that I don't always remember. So, I'm going to start putting labels by things both in the pots and once I plant them out.

Martha

Just bought 1000 labels because this year, I am going to label every pot and not just one pot of each variety and hope I recognise or remember the rest.

now that spring is officially here, I thought I will report back how did the containers do. It was mild winter and I had mixed results.

I have many coreopsis, delphinium, lupin, gaillardia, aquilegia, verbena b plants which i will be planting out in coming days. I have couple of plants in each 3-4 liter pots. The plants are small but i see roots filling out till bottom of pots.

No success with phlox, campanula, astilbe, red hot poker, monarda and couple of other things. I think they didnt germinate at all.

Looks like echinacea didnt survive, though i did see some little leaves so keeping it for some more time.

Crazy Daisy is a crazy plant and every single seed germinated and survived.

Wallflowers are in full bloom, and foxgloves and sweet williams are doing good where i had planted them out last year. I have concluded that biennials are best in fighting with slugs.

A product called Escargo worked very well for me with slugs. It is safe for your garden, kids, pets..http://www.gardensalive.com/product/escar-go-slug-snail-control?p=0164423&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&gclid=Cj0KEQjw0dy4BRCuuL_e5MeqmNABEiQAq8iNI982N7eMtTVpOilMs4rt2GCWIEE-Pk-fdAAIngDRqxsaAteY8P8HAQ

or go to Gardensalive and search Escar-go

Escar-go is not available retail in the UK. You'd have to get it by mail order. But there are lots of other iron phosphate products. However, slugs and snails are the number 1 garden pest in the British Isles and any bait needs replenishing constantly due to rain. It's hard to convey the extreme slugginess and snailiness of our climate to gardeners from elsewhere in the world.

slugginess and snailiness are perfect words to describe it!