Zone 5

[vicki]

Perennials are my addiction! I can't say no to a new one. :)
Alot of my flowers will be 1 and 2 yrs. old this year. I started a bunch of perennial seeds last year, winter sowing, and plan to start more this year. I'm usually an 'instant gratification' type person, prefering plants, but. . . . you just can't beat the number of plants you get from seeds for just pennies. Although I'm in zone 5, I won't say no to a plant just because someone says it zone 6 or 7, LOL! :)

[Glen in BCz7]

Vicki and all--keep trying those plants not supposed to grow in your zone...it's amazing what will and won't grow no matter what the theory is on it.

I saw a TV show about a wonderful garden in Quebec, probably a zone colder than you...full of a huge variety of perennials like himalayan poppies that should be way too tender there. Their secret is something you might also have...snow. And also the cold...there they will pretty well freeze and stay that way thru most of the winter without thawing over and over.

It's that thawing that really hurts me, along with way too much rain all winter. I lost many of my hellebores in containers last winter, after a cold snap they had to sit unprotected thru several months of rain, and the roots gave in to something like phytophthora (brown rot) and they collapsed one after another. Once our current cold spell here is over, I hope to have time to move all my containers under cover, so they can be just nicely moist, not drowning.

Glen

[william.b]

Vicki,
Do you have a green house,hoop house ?I used to start a lot of seeds indoors with good results.I've still got my lights and heat pads set up,just don't have time anymore.I wish I had more time to get back to the basics.I'II retire in two years,then look-out.
Thanks,
William B.Z-6

[vicki]

William,
No greenhouse or hoophouse, . . . . . . . .yet. But starting seeds by winter sowing is EASY! No room indoors either.
Take a deli container, like donuts or cookies come in from the deli.
Poke holes in the top and bottom.
label container
Fill with soil (2" or so is plenty)
lighty water
sprinkle seeds
put cover on
sit in a protected spot outside
when spring comes prick out and transplant in individual cell trays or pots.

Of course not all seeds can be started this way, but the hardy perennials for my zone do well. It doesn't take much time, try it you might like it. If you live an in area with lots of winter rains, try putting something over the top of them to keep the excess water out.

:)

[william.b]

Vicki,
Thanks for the tip,sounds simple and fun.I'II have to give this a try.
William B.Z-6

[3girls]

Did anyone else get the new Wayside Catalog? I went out and bought another lottery ticket. I gotta have some of those echinaceas.

It is hard to hold myself back. The plans for my new quarters are at City Hall and soon ground will be broken. So--things this spring will be harried at best. I need to order a bunch of plants for my tiny nursery, and planting those takes a lot of time. I want to start a bunch of seeds for perennials, but have very limited space in the house, and the greenhouse is unheated. By fall, I should have all the bits and pieces in place and can really get going. Can you believe that it is almost time to plant the seeds? I haven't even ordered yet!

SIGH--------------

[Glen in BCz7]

Sandi and all--yup it's as cold as it's been all winter here (-7C this morning) and I was just thinking I've got to get those seed orders figured out!

With my new greenhouse also still unheated, it's a bit of a walk of faith to start things assuming there's going to be room to keep them growing in another month or two out there.

Never got Wayside's catalog, but just found the Jelitto book in the mailbox yesterday, should I open it? Just more temptation, any enablers out there to help me solve the dilemma?

Glen

[vicki]

Boy Glen, sure hope you get some good I ideas for your dilemma, I'd be insterested in some solutions myself! :) I have a lot of different perennials now, been looking and there are so many more I NEED! :)