What Flower seeds are you sowing now

[4pygmies]

I've been going through my old boxes of seeds to see what I can sow now. I always do things like Holly hocks, Sweet William and quite a few native flowers but just wondered what everyone else was doing? Do tell as I need a bit of motivation - haven't done a huge list of things I needed to get done (like hedge trimming....), seed sowing always encourages me and get me back into gardening mode after the long summer....once I've ploughed through the zillions of tomatoes left in the PT I shall have a huge space I can use for seed trays...

[Deleted]

Well, I still have not got all my bulbs in the ground, so that's task no. 1. Then I'll be sowing orange escheholzia (sp.?) which (if I've timed it right) will flower together with late-flowering purple irises. T&M have a very nice looking violet godetia which I'll also be sowing outdoors soon. And, indoors, I'm going to try cerinthe major purpurescens.

In terms of perennials, I'll be sowing lupins - all except two of my last batch became slug-fodder, however, so I don't know if I'll have any more luck next year.

For the rest, haven't decided yet ... still on a steep learning curve! ... cheers ...

[Deleted]

Hi 4Ps!

I sowed the following a couple of weeks ago; Night scented stocks, Nemophilia, Nigella, Scabiosis, Calandula, Cornflower, Sweet William, Gypsophilia, Heliopsis, Agastache, Mxd Perennials, Dwarf Mxd Perennials, Lychnis, Athemis, Amsonia, Gaillardia, Polemonium, Delphinium, Verbena Candensis, Dee's Crinums and some Briza grass. Impressive germination on all so far. Have still a few more perennials to do. Then on 7 October I'll start the sweet pea sowings.

I only generally sow a few of the above, so that I still have some seed in the packet in case they don't make it to Spring.

[4pygmies]

I love Cerinthe major purpurea - it's one of my favourite summer flowers. This year I sowed a big clump in a pot by the PT and have got over 200 seeds from it! Since they cost £3.99 for 10 from T&M's I feel quite chuffed about it. I've never tried sowing it at this time of year though. I've been gardening for years but I'm still guessing about autumn sowing, there's not much info about it is there? I worry a bit about the seeds rotting away if I don't get the watering right in the PT. Or getting the right timing so they don't all die.....I really ought to keep a diary - another thing I forget every year!
Hi CC - I'm going to write your list down and stick in my seed box - cheers!

[Deleted]

Hi - I have started off some poppies, penstemons, coleus and Crinums ( courtesy Dee) - and will start more Sweet Peas in Oct. Where do you all start autumn sowings and overwinter them. Last year I bought ( actually was given) a cold frame and mini plastic green-house. Know I can put poppies and sweet peas there but what about all the other things you are mentioning? My conservatory and windows sills become a bit of a production line in spring. Shame the previous owners didn't glaze the roof of the workshop behind the garage. This year I tried lots of sow and grow things but the garden just looked messy- not big enough for wild, meadow things. I was hoping to stay focussed on just a few things but I just love experimenting ! And I tend to sow too many, not believing they will all germinate. Then, I can't bear to thin out or throw away - I like to give them all a chance - I am hopeless!!!!
Take care - PA

[Deleted]

4P - The biggest risk to my Autumn sowing are slugs/snails. If they are in the PT then water sparingly in winter. Obviously by sowing now you get a head start, but the main thing for me is that it lessens the load come Spring, which gets far too mad on the seed sowing front here. BTW I have a packet of Field Scabious and Teasel, which are good for wildlife, but I won't be growing them - So if you want them let me know.

PA - Your poppies should be OK in the ground where to flower. Penstemons are generally hardy, but last winter mine were sown late September (better earlier) in the greenhouse. Coleus keep at minimum of 8C or 48F - I have overwintered these in a nursery (kids not plants!)) before. Everything else I mentioned will either be in the ground at the mercy of slugs or under cover but outside. The Crinums according to Dee's notes are probably best kept frost free ideally in a light, airy, non-centrally heated place.

As I think I said earlier - I only sow small amounts, so retaining seed to re-sow in Spring if necessary.

[Deleted]

Hi CC - planned to keep Coleus and Criniums in spare room, so OK. And Poppies and Penstemon in cold frame, so OK again. Donut question, what is a PT???
Take care - PA

[Cheerypeabrain]

Hi PA....PT refers to PolyTunnels....<greeneyedmonstersmiley>

I always worry about sowing seeds that have to overwinter. I don't have room in the GH overwinter as it's stuffed to the gills with my tender perennials, ferns and banana plants...I have a new CF (cold frame) so that might be safe...At the moment the CF has baby lupins plants and chinese lanterns waiting to go in the border once the summer bedding is over...
I like the idea of having plants ready to go into the border in the spring, so I'll have another look at my seed packets...

[Jonah]

I'm glad I saw this thread, just remembered putting some Lathyrus Aureas seeds in to soak and they are still on the window sill!
I sowed some aquilegia william barlow and stellata today. Also some more echinacea pallida and achillia cassis. Still got astrantias hibernating in the fridge. I have angelica hispanica and ferula tingitana to do, and I might try starting some dracocephalum off early.
I'm going to read all your posts for more ideas! ;D

[Deleted]

It's very interesting, this autumn sowing lark. For years I have sown many seeds throughout the year as soon as they are ripe, with the thought that the plants drop their seeds as soon as they are ripe, rather than store them in little packets and wait until spring - and they seem to manage rather well.

I learnt an impressive lesson a few years ago, I had always bubble wrapped and insulated the greenhouse, which I use mainly for seeds and had always suffered losses from botyritus even with daytime venting. A good friend and national collection holder showed me round some of his propagating area (he grows mainly South African and semi-tender plants). He never insulates or heats any of his propagating area, rather he leaves the vents open all year round and just covers the plants with fleece if there is a cold snap.

I tried this method and now leave the vents open all the time, and just use fleece on the coldest nights - my losses have dropped dramatically and haven't had any mold problems for years, remembering that there are lots of tenderish seedlings which are more vunerable when young makes it even more impressive.

[Deleted]

I followed this advice (re naturally sowing seeds and ventilation) last winter....

and

.....will be doing the same this winter

[Deleted]

Amazing isn't it, it flies in the face of what you would think

[4pygmies]

Jonah, I did the Astrantia in the fridge bit, then sowed them in compost and there they still sit (as far as I know), not a thing has happened.......so I shall be interested if yours germinate. I shall sow some more and let them overwinter because I REALLY want some in my garden. I saw them (the Ruby one) combined with Chocolate cosmos with a grassy thing behind at GWLive and it was beeeootiful! I am getting a bit motivated now and shall follow Dee's advice. Goodo!

[Deleted]

Astrantia can take up to three years to germinate, and need repeated stratification.

They're swines to get to break dormancy - I always resort to buying plants I'm afraid

[Deleted]

Hi 4P - actually, the reason I was going to sow the cerinthe now is that, according to the T&M catalogue, cerinthe sowed in the autumn is a 'short-lived perennial'. Admittedly, this is rather ambiguous ... but it seemed to make sense to give it a try! ... cheers ...

[Jonah]

I'm sure I'll end up buying astrantias, but didn't want to waste the seeds
My usual gardening way is start with good intentions then forget about things, so you never know!

[Chuckles]

How did everyones seed sowing go ??

I've not done any and wish maybe I had now. Still got seeds to sort that I collected out of the gdn and a whole load in pkts in a tupperware in the fridge. Need to get more organised

[Jonah]

Busybee, I've been a lot the same.
Some astrantias have been sown and left outside some are still in the fridge, the lathryus got put in a pot......somewhere! My echinaceas and achillias are romping away in the conservatory, the william guinness have germinated indoors, but the stellatas in the same tray have not put in an appearance. I don't think I've done anything else yet, I might leave them til the spring. I need to have a good look at where I am, because I'm lost! ;D

[Chuckles]

I thought I would try some now and I've done some Hollyhocks, Pansies and also some Delphiniums so far.

I'm keeping them all in the Poly Kennel which is open on one side ( East facing side is open)

The Hollyhocks are last years seeds from my garden and have sown them in the 6 section plastic plant trays, the ones like you buy pansies in. Used normal compo and just sprinkled a covering of compo over the top of them. Had 7 different lots of seed so used 7 trays, sown 4 seeds to a section. if they all germinate that will be 168 plants Sown on the 6/8 and 53 have germinated so far the first ones pushed through after 7 days.

The Pansies 7 colours so again 7 trays, Sown 6/8 in the same way as the HH's nothing showing yet.

The Delphiniums are some that happened to fall into my pocket whilst walking through my freinds village allotment No idea what colour they are Have sown them in some smaller plastic cell on the 11/8 and they have just showed there little shoots today, so took 5 days.

I've not done much seed sowing at all before. Would love to know what you guys are trying and how you get on too

[Deleted]

Hi Chuckles ... hollyhocks are ridiculously easy, the only problem seems to be protecting them from S&S when you plant them out

I've just sown cerinthe major purpurescens (sp?) in the hope that it will flower in spring, and have bought T&M canna seeds mixture ... it includes the bronze leaf varieties, which I lust over. Near €5 for just 15 seeds ... I'll be sowing them in the winter, hoping that at least a couple of the bronze leaf ones germinate ... cheers ...

[Barbara]

i've just done some day lillies, and some crocosmia lucifer.
they're for my sister, so more than ever i hope they turn out.
i've only taken the seeds from the plants them-selves, they aren't bought ones.

[Deleted]

Hi Barbara ... just out of curiosity, because I'll be doing this in the next couple of weeks - how are you sowing the Crocosmia? My plan had been to sow them directly where I want them next year - but would it be safer to sow them in modules/trays and then plant them out in the spring? ... cheers ...

[Chuckles]

My Pansies have started to show their little selves today, 11 days after sowing. Just thought I'd share that with you all

[Barbara]

canarycreeper said:

Hi Barbara ... just out of curiosity, because I'll be doing this in the next couple of weeks - how are you sowing the Crocosmia? My plan had been to sow them directly where I want them next year - but would it be safer to sow them in modules/trays and then plant them out in the spring? ... cheers ...

i've put them in pots and left them outside ( i hope it works)
but i think it would be ok to sow straight into the ground.

[Chuckles]

Oh CC I did rather get carried away when I sowed the HH's There are over 70 showing at the moment good job my neighbour likes them and has room for some

As far as the Crocosmia go I'm not sure which is the best or proper way but I'd do pots and pop them out the way somewhere sheltered, frost free if poss when necessary. I only say this because if I put things in the garden I tend to forget where I've put things Good luck with them

[Chuckles]

Look at all my Hollyhocks ;D I only sowed then on the 6/8

[Deleted]

They look great Chuckles - I have some seeds that I tried sowing in July but because of the rotten weather they didn't germinate. Do you think if I gave them another go now under glass they'd catch up?

I might just give it a go and see what happens. I've only lost the price of a packet of seeds if it fails after all!

[Chuckles]

I'd go for it Sairey they can be sown Sept/Oct anyway. Mine are now 25 days old from sowing and have just got thier true leaves so I'll be potting them up this week before I go on my hols.

There are quite a few things you can sow now or spring time. I'm doing Foxgloves, Verbascum, Aquilegia and Knautia when I get back from hols.

Happy sowing

[nightowl]

barbara said:

canarycreeper said:

Hi Barbara ... just out of curiosity, because I'll be doing this in the next couple of weeks - how are you sowing the Crocosmia? My plan had been to sow them directly where I want them next year - but would it be safer to sow them in modules/trays and then plant them out in the spring? ... cheers ...

i've put them in pots and left them outside ( i hope it works)
but i think it would be ok to sow straight into the ground.

I'm sure Crocosmia are originally a South African plant so maybe need a bit of warmth to germinate?

Chuckles, if I sowed Foxgloves now, would they flower next year or the one after?

[Chuckles]

nolawn said:

Chuckles, if I sowed Foxgloves now, would they flower next year or the one after?

Yep, they'll flower next year so get sowing NO ;D