Okay, I've got the agastache seeds, now what do I do with them? My computer is down....I'm using hubbies....therefore I can't find the info I'd stashed away on how to plant my seeds. I would think now's the time here in southeast Alabama, to start seeds indoors....or did I need to direct sow outdoors in spring? Stupidly annoying middle-aged brain!!!

Dell,
I winter sow my agastache seeds in containers out on my porch. Best germination for me is to surface sow the seeds and then water them in lightly to make good contact with the soil.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

You should sow plenty of seed. Agastaches are famous for damping off so you will likely end up with only a small percentage surviving to transplant. Last week a flat of Agastache cana were started in the basement, under lights with bottom heat. About a hundred seeds have sprouted so far, the first seedlings of the New Year.

Ward's comment about damp off is the reason I winter sow the seeds. I have never lost any to damp off with this method....which reminds me that I better get started or I won't have anything to plant out this year.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Dell I don't know about agastache seeds but I don't even bother starting with seed until sometime in March. I don't have an area inside to start the seeds real early.

I was outside looking earlier today and I have subrotunda and Yvonne's up in the beds. EEK!! They are just going to get killed. Makes me ill. At least I have a some seeds saved.

Dianne
Southeast Alabama
Heat Zone 8
Sunset Zone 31

I know Dianne, it's a strange year. My climbing rose is covered with new leaves. I go back and forth in my mind....should I go ahead then and trim it? or should I wait another month like I was told to do last year. The Confederate Rose has quite a few new leaves. There are few of my plants that have yet actually died completely back. All of them seem to have at least some new growth way down next to the ground.

and thanks for the input, ya'll. Guess I'll try to get something going. I've always been bad about starting seeds inside. I do well for awhile and then either forget to water, or find that they are moldy. sheesh

Dell,
after you have sown your seeds and watered them in, put some of the containers out side and let mother nature take care of them....no mold to worry about. You can put a clear plastic bag over the container with a few holes in it for aspiration to protect the seeds.



Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Dell if I start seeds in March I keep them outside on the patio. If we have a late freeze I bring them inside or move them to the garage. I don't worry about starting anything early with the growing season we have here. I have found that the early started seeds don't do any better than the seeds that just come up in the spring when it warm up. I really think the volunteer seed do better.

Dianne
Southeast Alabama
Heat Zone 8
Sunset Zone 31

Yeah, Dianne....those aggravating volunteer seeds! I stick stuff in the ground and baby them, protect them, and watch over them carefully watering and have wimpy results. But the volunteers that have just plopped on the ground any old place sprout prolifically! What's with that?! sheesh

Not a clue Dell.

Hey did you hear on the weather last night we could have snow this weekend?

Dianne
Southeast Alabama
Heat Zone 8
Sunset Zone 31

That is because your volunteers are perfectly adapted to your garden. I'm curious, are you talking about weeds or reseeding flowers you have grown other years? Salvia coccinea is an example of a bit of both. Most of us here have learned that once you have it you will always have it. The only reason some of us start it early is because we don't want to wait that long for flowers. A case could be made that we're crazy. Here in the east most of us don't need huge masses of flowers until early July when the young start coming out of the nest. Maybe not those in good rural habitat, but certainly for most urban and inner suburban ring dwellers. The habitat simply isn't there for many or any breeding hummingbirds.

So I'm curious what plants are causing you trouble.

Ward I am talking about flowers. Every flower that I grow that seeds come back each year. That is why I don't worry too much about saving seeds. I just let them come up as it warms up and when they are large enough I transplant some.

Dianne
Southeast Alabama
Heat Zone 8
Sunset Zone 31

Ward, I'm talking about flowers too. Larkspur for one. The places I have carefully planted and tended the seeds don't do well. The places where I obviously must have accidently shaken a plant as I was carrying the dead plants out of the garden are literally covered with baby plants.....well at least they were until this cold snap, haven't checked today. So from now on my method with Larkspur is going to be just shake the dead plants everywhere and forget about it. But I have had trouble with even zinna seeds at times. And that's really pathetic. I suspect I may just be using too hard a spray when I am watering the seeds. Or maybe I am just having trouble keeping them moist enough as they are germinating.....seems the sun bakes the surface too quickly.

"may have snow this weekend"?! Dianne! I am shocked at you using such naughty language! Just say NO to the "s word"! I only remember 2 snows in the 28 years we've lived in Alabama.....and I think I told you the sad story of my husband having a snow drift across his chest from the snow blowing in around the door in our old house. brrrrrrrr nooooo

Dell looks like the snow is not going to happen. Fine with me. I checked my covered David 'verity' earlier this afternoon and they have not been burnt. Also the little salvias that have come up were not hurt either. I could not believe this.



Dianne
Southeast Alabama
Heat Zone 8
Sunset Zone 31