tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.comments2024-03-17T05:30:42.919-04:00The Gardening MeMargarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comBlogger6618125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-55771159341829106702024-02-20T19:51:31.671-05:002024-02-20T19:51:31.671-05:00Good for you, Margaret! I need to follow your lead...Good for you, Margaret! I need to follow your lead and grow more perennials from seed. :) BTW, I do have Asclepias exaltata growing in mostly shade/dappled shade, and it's doing quite well. I had to cage it from the rabbits, though, to get it going. Best wishes for the gardening season ahead!Beth at PlantPostingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10473637655960119672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-33597553730763015962024-02-19T21:44:17.932-05:002024-02-19T21:44:17.932-05:00I do know what you mean about sowing outdoors vs i...I do know what you mean about sowing outdoors vs indoor sowing. I did do a bunch of winter sowing last year and was finally successful enough at it to continue trying it out with a bunch of new perennials this year - definitely a lot less maintenance than sowing indoors. Oh, a cold frame - that's been on my wish list for a long time and would make for a great way to start seeds, especially if it has one of those automatic venting systems. Hmmmm - I think you have me thinking about pushing that up a few notches on the list.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-57317953140458020232024-02-19T00:18:57.410-05:002024-02-19T00:18:57.410-05:00I have to admit that, while I grow a number of ann...I have to admit that, while I grow a number of annuals from seed, I've never grown any perennials from seed. I also rely almost exclusively on seeds I can sow directly in my garden as opposed to those that require special support to germinate. I purchased a seed-starting kit some years ago but I don't have the space to grow much of anything inside the house and I don't have space for a bonafide greenhouse, although I've been thinking about purchasing or making some kind of cold frame...Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-17922224577815037162024-02-06T19:14:32.839-05:002024-02-06T19:14:32.839-05:00I guess a 'lot' of seeds is relative, lol!...I guess a 'lot' of seeds is relative, lol! P.S. I LOVE shade gardening - I'm actually looking forward to some of my new beds maturing and giving me a few more shady spots to plant up :)Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-66616516953783423092024-02-04T19:09:40.891-05:002024-02-04T19:09:40.891-05:00Wow, that's a lot of seeds considering you'...Wow, that's a lot of seeds considering you're on a seed "diet." But I have so much shade, so I'm mostly a perennial gardener. When I do order seeds, however, Fedco is one of my favorite sources. :)Beth at PlantPostingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10473637655960119672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-39607722280474034442024-02-03T09:54:28.146-05:002024-02-03T09:54:28.146-05:00Thanks Donna :) Whether your garden is big or smal...Thanks Donna :) Whether your garden is big or small, growing a few plants from seed brings a lot of joy!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-34156742654414996632024-02-03T09:28:57.916-05:002024-02-03T09:28:57.916-05:00That is great that they ship to you. Since moving...That is great that they ship to you. Since moving and downsizing I haven't had need of many seeds, but I forgot they ship flower seeds too which I do plant. So thanks for the reminder. I love their nostalgic looking catalog. Enjoy those seeds. Donnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13420133886162844400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-58958389566184601412024-02-02T20:56:08.076-05:002024-02-02T20:56:08.076-05:00I need to follow your example and go on a seed die...I need to follow your example and go on a seed diet myself, Margaret. In terms of sweet peas seeds alone, I purchased more than I had space to sow (again). Ditto with larkspur and Nigella. And I don't even want to talk about dahlia tubers or zinnia seeds ;)Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-16535807399492564592024-01-05T14:10:37.402-05:002024-01-05T14:10:37.402-05:00I'm glad you found it useful!I'm glad you found it useful!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-1022543673928764412024-01-05T01:36:08.614-05:002024-01-05T01:36:08.614-05:00Thank you for this. I have several of these but am...Thank you for this. I have several of these but am considering adding the hose and one other. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-44445418418387804372023-11-13T08:04:29.913-05:002023-11-13T08:04:29.913-05:00Thanks Beth! I had heard other gardeners rave abo...Thanks Beth! I had heard other gardeners rave about their hori-hori's for so long and finally decided to give it a try; it ended up under the Christmas tree last year 'To Me, From Me', lol 😉Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-66833407894683495762023-11-12T19:28:53.311-05:002023-11-12T19:28:53.311-05:00This is an excellent post! I wasn't aware of s...This is an excellent post! I wasn't aware of several of these particular items (the brands but not always the items). I will consider them for the future (holiday list ;-) ). Love my hori-hori...it's my favorite tool of all. And I almost always use snips, often instead of pruners. Again, thanks for some of these new ideas.Beth at PlantPostingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10473637655960119672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-44420938011656275242023-11-12T10:58:03.259-05:002023-11-12T10:58:03.259-05:00Thanks Kris! You would think that finding a good ...Thanks Kris! You would think that finding a good quality hose in this day and age with all of the choice out there is easy - finally getting one that I actually liked was what got me thinking about creating this post! Maggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16405493302816709940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-11127176913548131712023-11-11T23:13:04.109-05:002023-11-11T23:13:04.109-05:00Very comprehensive, Margaret. Thanks for the surv...Very comprehensive, Margaret. Thanks for the survey. I have several of the tools on your list already but I'm going to take a look at that hose! Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-42803982828911262422023-10-10T12:44:47.498-04:002023-10-10T12:44:47.498-04:00That's a great process, Beth! Yet another rea...That's a great process, Beth! Yet another reason for the 'Why we need a Sunroom' list to help nudge my husband in that direction 😉Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-84284367385229382252023-10-09T17:10:33.503-04:002023-10-09T17:10:33.503-04:00This is a great, informative post, Margaret! I don...This is a great, informative post, Margaret! I don't grow as many plants from seed as you do, but I tend to keep my pots out on the screen porch over the winter. I think it's cold enough (below 0F/-18C some days) to kill the fungi, etc. Then, just before I'm ready to plant, I line up the pots in the sunroom where they bake for a couple of days (actually a similar technique). Happy dreaming of seed starting in 2024!Beth at PlantPostingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10473637655960119672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-86869175942573656262023-10-09T16:26:25.041-04:002023-10-09T16:26:25.041-04:00Ha - with everything you do around the allotment, ...Ha - with everything you do around the allotment, the last thing I would call you & Martyn is lazy! Fingers crossed your luck continues! :)Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-64939818743886758112023-10-09T16:21:47.289-04:002023-10-09T16:21:47.289-04:00I would consider washing out pots important, espec...I would consider washing out pots important, especially for seed starting supplies as those little seedlings are so fragile. But having said that, I often do things that are 'not what is normally done', simply because I prefer a different way - so long as it works for you, that's what's most important!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-25553509802347079972023-10-09T16:16:54.561-04:002023-10-09T16:16:54.561-04:00Yes - having to use bleach is such a royal pain! ...Yes - having to use bleach is such a royal pain! Being able to do the cleanup in smaller chunks throughout the season also makes this task so much less tedious :)Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-19483516541521440582023-10-09T06:29:21.832-04:002023-10-09T06:29:21.832-04:00WE are lazy gardeners and just brush out our pots ...WE are lazy gardeners and just brush out our pots and trays, Surprisingle we don't seem to have any problems raising seed. Famous last words!Sue Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164518448098182276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-51850213516560690112023-10-09T04:15:01.943-04:002023-10-09T04:15:01.943-04:00I wash my pots and trays throughout the year in ba...I wash my pots and trays throughout the year in batches. I put them in a big trug of water and leave to soak for a few days to loosen the dirt. Then I tackle them with the hose pipe and a little pot brush and leave them out to dry. It's a job I hate doing. I know some people don't wash pots, just leave to dry out then brush the dirt off, but I prefer my way.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08979390044895652899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-23024271119966675262023-10-07T08:39:50.534-04:002023-10-07T08:39:50.534-04:00Since downsizing and moving I have no room for see...Since downsizing and moving I have no room for seed starting, sadly. But I used to do the bleach method which was not a great alternative but what choice do we have sometimes. I love this sunlight method and will keep it in mind if I ever get the chance to seed start again.Donnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13420133886162844400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-14515228828824713692023-10-06T20:49:44.329-04:002023-10-06T20:49:44.329-04:00I think that the outdoor environment somehow keeps...I think that the outdoor environment somehow keeps damping off at bay as I've never heard of outdoor seedings being affected. When it comes to cleaning my outdoor pots for annuals, I'm usually a 'down and dirty' cleaner too (i.e. doing the bare minimum). I've never had an issue so far so I'll likely keep doing that until I do!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-83581980690131779562023-10-06T18:06:55.616-04:002023-10-06T18:06:55.616-04:00Thanks for the tips! I've been sloppy of late...Thanks for the tips! I've been sloppy of late in cleaning out my pots but I'm generally using them for cuttings as I generally sow seeds directly in the ground, or not at all ;)Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-8145926755868605442023-09-16T17:31:13.766-04:002023-09-16T17:31:13.766-04:00Thanks Beth! Oh boy...I absolutely can't wait...Thanks Beth! Oh boy...I absolutely can't wait to see you too - I think this is going to be one EPIC fling!!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.com