Hi, I just spent time purchasing seeds - from online. This is my first time doing this since renting the community garden. I generally start w/ starts purchased at the garden store... Well, heck, for the same or less money, I can buy a whole pack! Well, and like I mentioned before, I still think seeds will grow when they grow, fast or slow (hey wait, that rhyms) when the conditions meet the plants needs, etc. So I guess this will be an experiment year... I'll be sure and report back. I'll put out a list of what seeds I have in the seed swap forum when they arrive - as of now, i kinda forget half of them GardenDimples, I purchased some open faced/star zinnias if you want some (referring to your note that spouse dropped the shoe box w/ the seeds in it. I purchased about 4 packs, and 2 are a variety pack.) so i went a little wild: made a point to get funny stuff: purple carrots those little round ones black krim maters new zealand spinach, because i've heard it doesnt bolt and such - in fact, the notations on the seed site said it's not really spinach... got some purple celery! what the heck, you only live once, right? umm... i forget what else
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Posts: 731 | Location: 7b Willamette Valley Oregon | Registered: September 16, 2009
Thanks anyway, Red, but he spilled the packets. The seeds are secure. They were originally sorted into annuals, perennials, vines, houseplants, sow in, sow out and so forth. Now they are just alphabetical and I have a feeling it will work better that way. Planning to get a new mantis and redo my whole garden plan. Need to make one plot for a cutting garden and dump in all the elderly flower seeds to see what grows.
Abigail, all 9 kids grown and 14 little gardeners: what a harvest!
Posts: 2807 | Location: Far Rockaway, New York | Registered: July 17, 2002
GardenDmpls - I have a certain fondness for exactly the approach you described: dump in the seeds to see what grows!! It's like those old time grab bags - you have no idea what you're gonna get, but it is fun to find out.
_________________________ Gardens, Horses, Chickens, Sheep, Cats, Dogs - it's a wonderful life
Posts: 1083 | Location: Charlotte, NC - Zone 7/8 | Registered: March 01, 2010
GD, you probably already know this but I just discovered this year that many flower seeds need light to germinate.
I bought a bunch of discounted flower seed packs 2 years ago and planted all of them near my veggie garden. I covered them lightly with soil and I am thinking that maybe they did need light because I hardly got any germination.
Maybe just sprinkling them on the surface would have been a better idea. I am going to do that the next time.
Posts: 4344 | Location: Southeastern PA, Zone 6b | Registered: May 17, 2010
A few years back, I was up in Southern WA. I bought some seeds from that nursery in WA. right across the border from Oregon. They are extra fresh seeds that I bought. I wish they would do mail order seeds. You must know, which nursery I mean.
The seed can be costly. To try to save some $$ on seeds, save some of your own, swap on the forums, and shop eBay. Look for sellers who pay the postage for the best deals.
For sure avoid some of the Seed Catalogs which have gone sky high in price and gouge you on shipping.
The local garden store here has bulk seed at a very good price. Look around in your area.
Have a great gardening day!
Posts: 1858 | Location: Utah 5000 ft elev. Zone 4/5 | Registered: April 02, 2003
thank you james for the tips. i have such a small garden, and starting from the dirt up, just last spring. I have managed to grow my own soil in 5' x 15' feet so far. one of my challenges is deciding what to leave out!
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Posts: 731 | Location: 7b Willamette Valley Oregon | Registered: September 16, 2009
should i purchase leek seeds? or should i just buy the starts locally? i would love some leek tips from phossel, i remember the pics of his leeks in the winter!
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Posts: 731 | Location: 7b Willamette Valley Oregon | Registered: September 16, 2009
I have grown leeks and onions both from seeds and from starts. The starts get you there a little quicker and if you are going for large onions the starts are a must. Grown for green onions though the seed works fine. If you want leeks to eat soon try some starts.
Have a great gardening day!
Posts: 1858 | Location: Utah 5000 ft elev. Zone 4/5 | Registered: April 02, 2003
Probably the starts would be the way to go. Just planted some leeks today from seed sown in late Fall. Here they will grow pretty well thru the winter, they're tough so should stand a fair bit of frost. One of my favorite veggies and expensive to buy.
Posts: 175 | Location: Riverside, Southern California zone 9b, sunset 19 | Registered: October 07, 2010
Originally posted by James_1: I have grown leeks and onions both from seeds and from starts. The starts get you there a little quicker and if you are going for large onions the starts are a must. Grown for green onions though the seed works fine. If you want leeks to eat soon try some starts.
so last spring, I started some leek seed winter sown method. They did not get too big, but I was out there the other day, and there is a bit of green poking out.... so will they take off when it warms up?
Posts: 3066 | Location: SW South Dakota | Registered: June 10, 2008
