Planting seeds indoors

Snowbird

In an effort to be frugal, I am thinking that instead of buying flower plants for the garden this year, I shall buy seeds and start them off indoors.
Am I too late for this now? I have read that they should be planted indoors for six weeks before planting outside.
Also, my garden is very shady and small. As well as this, I am not very good with plants etc.
What would be the best choice for beginners for both a small shady garden and hanging baskets/containers?

unrecordings

Depends on the species. For instance I'm just about to sow cornflower, teasels and a few other odds & ends. Most seed packets (and/or their online descriptions) should summarise sowing times. In short, I don't think you're too late

silverwhistle

To be honest I bet most of us here will admit to planting seeds optimistically _too_ early. Here on the south coast it is milder and generally brighter but I've had my share of over-optimism!


I'd certainly give it a go. Ask around and somebody might even have a few self-collected seeds and seed heads they can let you have. Most gardeners are helpful. :-)

Mnd

You are not too late, I sowed my marigolds early, 4 trays and got about 6 plants! I've had to resow them all. My asters came up OK.

Do you mind if I'm a little bit pedantic on your terminology, sow seeds and plant out plants
Mark

Apodemus

Mnd wrote: »

Do you mind if I'm a little bit pedantic on your terminology, sow seeds and plant out plants
Mark

Hmmm... but you plant bulbs or potatoes... I would draw a distinction between the individual and the collective action. If I was making a single hole, into which I was dropping a single seed, then I would use the term planting. If I was using the crease of my hand to sprinkle seeds along a row, then I would say I was sowing them.

unrecordings

I was thinking the same :-)
But I get the sentiment and so should the OP - it's just about settling into the correct nomenclature for any given endeavour, especially in the keyword driven internet age - you have to ask the correct question to get the correct answer (and by jove I've learnt that in my [STRIKE]journey[/STRIKE] pathway through the NHS)

Farway

unrecordings wrote: »

I was thinking the same :-)
But I get the sentiment and so should the OP - it's just about settling into the correct nomenclature for any given endeavour, especially in the keyword driven internet age - you have to ask the correct question to get the correct answer (and by jove I've learnt that in my [STRIKE]journey[/STRIKE] pathway through the NHS)

A bit OT, but correct in dealing with mainly Government / civil service departments, you do need to use the "trigger words" to elicit the useful answer from them

unrecordings

Back on topic - I'll be sowing cornflower, teasels & comfrey today. Maybe some radishes if I can get ahead of the game

FabFifty

If you want poppy seeds, which will do well in a shady garden, send me a private message and I'll pop some in the post.

Mnd

Apodemus wrote: »

Hmmm... but you plant bulbs or potatoes... I would draw a distinction between the individual and the collective action. If I was making a single hole, into which I was dropping a single seed, then I would use the term planting. If I was using the crease of my hand to sprinkle seeds along a row, then I would say I was sowing them.

Agreed about the potatoes etc, but the op was specifically talking about flower seeds

black_cat

I'm just starting on my gardening journey so this is my first time on the gardening board. We moved last year and have enjoyed watching the garden through the seasons - previous owner planted a beautiful year round garden. We just spent the year pruning, dead-heading and mowing. I'm now ready to be more pro-active in a frugal way, so I'm interested in growing from seeds and cuttings (have recorded a few successes on my Mortgage-Free Wannabe diary).

I've started with cuttings and "babies" from existing plants and seeds from bought fruit. Last year I collected and dried some poppy seeds but didn't know what to do with them. In the end I was going to throw them out so I'm afraid I just sprinkled them in the garden where a couple of poppies had come up previously - you never know what might happen! I hope to be more knowledgeable this year!

FabFifty - any change of extending the poppy seed offer?

Interested to learn the correct terminology!