A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2007 propagating winter fun!

Actually I am an entomologist but also have a degree in horticulture. I am in and out of nurseries helping them solve their problems so I get to see a lot of real world stuff.

I will be at the Philadelphia flower Show next month answering bug/plant questions if anyone is going to be there.

you should post that in members interaction!!!
i live way on the otherside of pa, by the wv border, but there are lots of members close to philly

And then there's the Nomad Method:


Sieboldiana hosta seedlings

A recycled pastry box, some dampened vermiculite, and a warm location inside the house is all I need. This picture was taken yesterday, and the seeds were started early November. It now sits on a sunny window sill.
No damp-off, mildew or what-have-you; has worked for me for years. Now I have more hostas than I know what to do with.

In addition to this, I have some peony seeds incubating, using this method, but it'll be months before I see any development there -- doing that just for the challenge.

What's the nomad method? I've been trying to get my hosta seeds to sprout but still nothing in three months! I guess seeing all your sprouts is a good sign, eventually mine should sprout! LOL Just noticed you're from Kingston, I'm in Markham!

Check out my reply at Planting Flowers From Seeds Some of the pictures have been deleted, but you can get the drift from my narrative. That's the Nomad Method. As I mentioned above, my hostas didn't require the stratification step. They'll need hardening off later on, however, but they'll be potted by then.

If you're space-challenged as myself, this is a neat way to start perennials small-scale.

The gentians should bloom this year.

Hope this is helpful...

Happy Ground Hog Day-- Wiarton Willie's prediction is encouraging. :rolleyes:

I didn't see him on the news yet, maybe tonite! LOL I am definately space challenged, with very little lighting (my mom doesn't like me starting plants in the kitchen next to the backyard glass sliding door!)

kenny you need a set up in your room like calcongirls!

Nomad, enjoyed your tips and pics:-)

The only bad thing about growing hosts from seed is you do not know what you are going to end up with. Good old genetic variation, but you might end up with a cool chimera. My mom just got one in all the cucumber seeds she planted.

I finally started my wintersow lol. I have Egyptian walking onions, Banana peppers, Tomatoes "Sweet William", and Madagascar Jasmine "Stephanotis Floribunda". I'm thinking that the last one isn't a true Jasmine. Anyone know this plants lieage? My packet says it is from New Zealand but that doesn't tell me much. Although I do remember Longy saying that there soil is way different than ours. So I'm wondering if I wasted my money on these seeds.

Okay - question here!

I'm in North Dakota, can I start seeds indoors already? I had on my calander to start, you know, the 6-8 weeks before last frost thing. If you start then this early, and say they have a summer bloom time- won't they bloom in spring if they are already big?

I want to start - can I?????

PS - Left the house this morning - first time in 5 days....know why???

As we left for my son's basketball game this morning at 8:30, the temperature was 28 below zero - that was the temperature, 40 below windchill.

If you want to start something indoors this early for you, your going to need lots and lots of space and the necessary lighting to supplement your natural light.

I started my peppers and tomatoes to early last year and boy howdy what a mess. I have very limited space and they took over my living room. And moving them outside was a nightmare. They did produce earlier than the year before but the amount of produce was disappointing for all by the tiny tim tomatoes.

I'm not sure what affects bloom times. The mum that I over wintered this year has bloomed alittle pretty much all winter long. The blooms are scraggily and don't last long but they have been consistant. I'm going to start cutting the plant back now so it can store up it's engery for next fall.

Any good seed supplier will tell you how soon before the frost date you should plant. Then find your local frost date on the calendar and count the weeks back.

here is a helpful plating table Spring planting

Did I mention that I finally got my Egyptian Walking onions, Sweet William Tomatoes, Banana peppers and Madagascar Jasmine planted indoors? I am excited. I just love the start of the planting.

Of course right now I can't find my dinningroom table and I'll have to get it cleared away for the spring Fling Round Robin seed Exchange. I just posted the rules in the seed Exchange and I hope everyone will join.

Today I planted the Aster 'Matsumoto Red Stripe' 6 seeds since they are suppose to get between 2 and 4 feet tall. I love the picture of them in the parks catalog. Now the question is will the flowers live up to the picture.

Of course this means that my table is cleared off for the spring Fling yet lol.

my last frost date is around may 10!
i still think you should move into a green house tammy!

i started my batplant seeds, they can take 1-9 months to germinate!

I think I belong in a greenhouse too.

That's a long time for the bat plant. The lentil roses could take up to 18 months so I know exactly what you mean. I ended up giving away the seeds because I just didn't have the patience.

If they had been peonies I'd have figured a way I'm sure. I'm nuts about those flowers.

i'll have to keep some peony seeds next year for ya. mine are white. dont know if the pink are gonna bloom this spring or not.

Thanks Sibyl,

I do love peonies.

Tammy, I might divide my peony up cuz we might be moving, I can take off a few extra corms for your if you' like

Thanks Kennyso,

But since I'm moving too I couldn't store the croms correctly. But it's a lovely thought just the same. Maybe when we are both settled in our new place we can do something with peonies.

i checked on some i had up on the shelf! HLC! theres somthing growing and its big! i cant remember what it is, i know what its not, cause lilies and iris look pretty much the same, now just have to see what it is,

just found out!!! it was one of my ginkgo seedlings! wow! didnt think they would grow that fast! dont know how that lone one wonderd off, but its back with the rest of the ginkgos,

Sybil,

I don't have time to read this whole thread tonight -- just now saw it, but the great solomon's seal and the beautyberry bush probably need cold stratifying before they'll germinate. Can you put them outside, planted in a pot, protected from heavy downpours or stick them in the refrigerator? They both self sow here, so I know they are totally cold-gardy to zone 5/6.

I want them to do well for you since I believe they might be my contributions from the fall seed exchange.

they did come from the fall seed swap! thank you!

i have a cold green house, got clematis in there now, i'll pot the rest of the solomons seal and beauityberry bushes seeds and put em in the green house. thanks!!!!!!!


i always wanted a beauityberry bush!!!!