I'm about ten weeks away from my last frost date, so I thought I had better review my seeds and see what will be going where. I am starting many more plants from seed this year.  All it takes is some time and patience.  Here's a good article on starting seeds  Starting seeds
 
Flowers
White Moonflower-vine which has creamy white flowers which open at sunset.  This is going on the fence to the west of the property.  I also may put a few to climb the brick at the front of the house.
 Start 6-8 weeks before transplanting outside.

Crystal Palace Lobelia-from Burpee. I have started a few of these already for a topiary.  These will be for containers.  Why pay a few bucks for an annual I can grow myself?
  Start 8-10 weeks before.

“Cherry Rose” Nasturtium-from NK.  I planted nasturtiums last year, and they took a long time to get to bloom.  But when they bloomed, they stayed for a long time.  So I am going to try these red nasturtiums in the front garden.

Blue Bedder Salvia-from NK-the annual salvia. Start 6-8 weeks before last frost.  For the blue and white garden.

Heavenly Blue Morning Glory-start 4-6 weeks before transplanting outside.  My morning glory last summer did not do anything until about August. Then it went crazy, had tremendous wonderful blooms, that lasted past the first frosts of October.  I think I finally cut it down in November.

Strata Salvia-Annual-from NK  Tall, blue and white bicolored flower spikes.  Start 12 weeks before transplanting outside.  May be directly seeds into the garden.

Alaska Shasta Daisy-from NK.  A perennial.Start seeds early in spring or direct seed in garden.

Giant Greystripe Sunflower-from NK.  I know they say sow directly outside, but I think I will start a few in seed pots in order to get them going quickly.  That worked just fine with the sunflowers last year.

Dahlia Flowered Mixed Colors Zinnias-form NK. Start 4 weeks before planting outdoors.  I will start some inside the house and direct seed others.

Gloriosa Daisy-from Burpee. This was my biggest success last year.  These daisies have big shaggy heads resembling dahlias more than daisies!  They also stay in bloom forever.  They started blooming in August and lasted into October.   Start ten weeks before outdoor planting.  Seedlings emerge in about 21 days.

Royal Carpet Alyssum-a red alyssum-from NK.  I will try starting these inside this year.  Start indoor 3-4 weeks before planting outside.

RosieO’Day Alyssum-from NK-another red alyssum.  Ditto.

Carpet of Snow Alyssum-from NK.  A white alyssum.. Ditto

Birdhouse Gourd-from NK.   These are the big gourds.  Hopefully they will be as easy to grow as my prolific little gourds, which spring up everywhere in my gardens.  Start 4 weeks before transplanting outside.  Harvest when tan in color, before frost.  Dry thoroughly in warm dark place.

Scarlet Cardinal Climber-from NK.  This is another first for me.  Hummingbirds are supposed to like this one.  For the front garden.  Start 6-8 weeks before planting outside.

Sonata White Cosmos-from NK. For both front garden and the blue and white garden.  Start 5-7 weeks before transplanting outside.

Bluebird Forget-Me-Not-from NK.  Start seeds indoor 3-6 weeks before transplanting.

Gaillardia Grandiflora Mixed Colors-from NK.  Direct seed outdoors or 6-8 weeks inside.  These are for the cutting garden (wherever that may end up)

Strawberry Fizz Hybrid Impatiens-from NK.  I am going to try growing impatiens from seed again.  I don't want to pay ten dollars for a flat of these when it may be feasible to do it myself.

Blue Lace Flower-Didiscus caeruleus-from Shepherd's Seeds. “Start these slow growing seeds in a flat or container of seed starting mix 6-8 weeks before last expected frost date. Germination takes 14-21 days.  Keep seed flat moist but not soggy, and provide strong light as soon as seedlings emerge.”  These look like they will be blue Queen Anne's Lace flowers.  For the blue and white garden by the fence.
 

Vegetables and Herbs
Principe Borghese Tomato-Heirloom Tomato from Shepherd Seeds.  These are supposed to be the best tomatoes for sun drying.  Start 8-10 weeks before last expected frost date.

“Francisca” Orange Habanero-from Shepherd's Seeds.  Supposed to be the largest, hottest orange habanero. Well with a claim like that I had to get a packet.  Start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost date.

“Firecracker” Piquin hot pepper-from Shepherd's Seeds.  I grew this one last year and very satisfied.  Very small peppers that are a rich purple color.  Plants grow to about two feet in height, and are very bushy.  The peppers turn a bright organe and red when fully ripe. Nice hot pepper!
 Start 8-10 weeks before last frost date.

“Thai Dragon” hot pepper-from Shepherd's Seeds.  Start 8-10 weeks before last frost.

Long Slim Red Cayenne Pepper-from Burpee. We are getting low on cayenne.  Time to grow some cayenne and maybe baby them along.  We have not had a good cayenne crop in a few years.
 Start 8 weeks before transplanting outside

Lemon Basil-from NK.  Start 6-8 weeks before planting outdoors.

Spicy Globe Basil-from NK. Start 6-8 weeks before planting outdoors.

Chives-from NK.    Start 6-8 weeks before planting outside.

Lavender-from NK.  I am not a big lavender fan.  But these seeds were free, so I will probably direct sow these outside, probably in the left over garden, by the bird feeders.

Long Island Mammoth Dill-from NK.  From my previous experience with dill, all you have to do is throw these seeds out side and watch them grow!

Jalapene Chili Pepper-from NK. Start 6-8 weeks inside.  Harvest in 70-75 days.

Large American Flag Leek-from NK.  First time for these. Harvest in 150 days.  I don’t know ifI can even grow these in Zone 5.

Gourmet Salad Blend Lettuce-from NK.  Harvest in 45-50 days.

Bloomsdale Longstanding Spinach-from NK.  Sow early in the garden as possible.  Harvest in 45 days.

Baby Bear Pumpkin-from NK.  Start inside 3-4 weeks before planting outside.  Going to put these in the old compost pile.  Harvest in 105 days.

Yellow Pear tomato-from NK.  Start 4-5 weeks before transplanting outside.  Harvest in 78 days.

Big Beef Hybrid Tomato-from NK.  May or may not grow from seed.  Tomato plants are so plentiful from everywhere from the gas station to nurseries I may just buy some healthy plants and plop them into the ground.

March 17 1999

I started the Francisa Habanero, Cayenne, and some of the Thai Dragon hot peppers from seed.  I planted these in the Jiffy Peat Pots, t hen found I had used up the fifty peat pots that I had bought.

March 22 1999 (The First Day of Spring)

It's snowing here in Ohio on the first day of spring. (Just thought I should mention that.)  I started some more seeds to germinate.  These were more Thai hot pepper,  and Firecracker Piquin.  The way I started these was the pre-sprouting method.  I damped coffee filters, dropped the seeds onto it, and put in a zip lock plastic bag.  Right now these are downstairs on a heating pad.  But I am a little leery about leaving the heating pad on twenty-four hours a day, so we will see.  I also dampened some seed starter mix with water.  I have left this in a plastic bag to suck up all the moisture over night.  Tomorrow I think I will start the blue lace flowers and lobelia.
 
 
 
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