*FIRST SOWING*

34 comments

When I purchased the new green house last year, Ive been adding bits and pieces, like lights, heating, insulation and just generally getting ready to sow seeds earlier than I usually do. There are various reasons why Ive decided to do this, mainly to get a head start and plant out earlier, save money spent on plugs and also to sell some plants at boot sales come the spring, this helps to pay for some of the overheads spent on heating lighting etc. during the winter. It also gives me great satisfaction seeing my efforts come to fruition.
I have recently purchased some light reflectors for the greenhouse and I intend to keep these on 8-10 hours a day.

I’ve bought loads of seeds this year and was also given some as Christmas presents. They are all simple to grow, and include…
Verbena Hybrida, mammoth mixed
Petunia,Nana compacta stars mixed
Cosmos, Bipinnatus daydream, sensation.
Gazania, Sunshine hybrid
Zinnia, whirligig. (from U.S.A.)
Salpiglossis, blue stained glass. (from U.S.A.)
Zinnia, Queen red lime. (from U.S.A.)
Rubeckia, cherry brandy.
Gaillardia
Fhygelius (cape fuschia)
Coleus, mixed.
Marigold, french naughty marietta, petite, double french drawf petite, gems mixed.
Morning Glory
Mesembryanthemum, mixed
Sweet pea, giant waved.

Now, there are approx. 3200 seeds there alone, so where do I start ?
I decided to sow the Petunias first, as these are probably the best sellers at boot sales, and the smallest seeds out of the lot.

I prepared the seeding trays with multi purpose mixed with perlite, and emptied some seeds on a piece of white paper. Well what a carry on!
I couldn’t pick the seeds up with my fingers, as they were to small, so I “borrowed” Julie’s tweezers and they done the job, but I only managed to do about 160 seeds , because I only have the one propagator.
I’ve got a heating mat on order.
I’ve put the tweezers back in the bathroom, just hope there’s no seeds left on them, I will check Julie’s eyebrows in a couple of weeks.
Back in October I planted peony corms that I bought In Majorca, 5 out of 10 have emerged, not bad I suppose, don’t know what they will finish up like, but they only cost 5 Euro’s.

I digress, after fiddling about with the seeds,I originally intended to put one seed into one cell, I ended up sprinkling them over the trays. Then put a thin layer of vermiculite over them.

I only managed to do about 160 Petunias and 30 sweet peas because I think its best to wait for the heating mat to arrive.
I switched the propagator on and sat back listening to the dab.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m in my own little world when I’m in the greenhouse and I can just sit in there for ages, just relaxing thinking and planning.
Sometime before Christmas I got some bargain Salvias (inspired by Spritz), and I kept them in the greenhouse since, mainly because I did’nt have time to plant them out down the bowling green. I know I will probably have to harden these off a bit , before I plant them out this year, but I don’t know if I should cut back this one. Icing Sugar.

This is one of my other Salvia’s, one of three, Arriba I think they are called. They have been flowering since I got them. Is this good for the plant or do they actually need a period of rest ?

Meanwhile, I checked the propagator to make sure it was working, it hasn’t got a thermostat, couldn’t afford one at the time. Then I realised it does help if you plug it in, Doh. Oh well never mind, another half hour sitting about, dreaming.
Thankfully it was in good working order and all seems OK.
I only saved one Geranium from last year, don’t ask me why, but I should have taken loads of cuttings. Something to do this year. Its never stopped flowering.

I planted loads of daff’s out the front back in November, but they are not showing their heads yet, even though the snow has been gone for some time now, I’m sure they will come when the time is right. Which reminds me of a story I heard last week, please bear with me.
A lady down the road went into our local fish and chip shop and amongst other things she got 2 pickled onions.
The onions turned out to be daffodil bulbs ! She’s in hospital but she’s OK and due out in the Spring!!!!
Sorry about that.
Anyway, I was sitting in the greenhouse and I had a Eureka moment. I decided to experiment and planted this. How deep should it go ?

I think I’ve got the temperature right.

Hopefully it will turn into this!

Happy gardening all !

• 9 Jan, 2011
• 7 likes

More blog posts by littlelegs