SUMMER BASKETS AND WINDOW BOXES - "BITS AND BOBS" - 2015

Just had a 100% failed germination on some miniature Cosmos seeds , bought from a Californian supplier . They must prefer Beverly Hills to Wigan ! Tad upsetting as Cosmos must be one of the easiest seeds ever to germinate . For a quick replacement , I ordered on Premier Seeds Ebay site . Now I know we sing their praises on here , but for one packet off seeds £0.99 + £0.40 postage no matter how many packs you buy. Delivered in two days in a tin foil sealed pack , 180 seeds ! Easily enough for 3 years planting ( if I like this type - Pink Fizz ) How good is that !

PS; any newbies , as this is a basket thread , Cosmos are not good in baskets they are a big plant !

 

It's strange you should say that Harry. My first lot of Cosmos came up and galloped away, being too leggy I dumped them and started again with a second lot, they failed! I'm about to start a third lot tomorrow, the odd thing is these seeds are all from the same packet.

 

It is peculiar for Cosmos Sheal - hope your third go works !
Update on my Premier Seeds Cosmos Fizzy Pink , sown Thursday afternoon . Just checked this morning 8 have germinated

 

I'm growing Begonias for the first time this year and have started the corms off in small pots in my heated propagator. I've removed the first one today as there is a shoot appearing and it's now sitting on a window sill waiting for it's friends to join it. Can somebody tell me what the procedure is from here on please?

 

I just asked you about these Sheal on the other thread but I'll watch from here,
Jenny

 

Haha Jenny! I just read that post and come straight here. Hopefully we'll both learn something shortly.

Yes, I actually started them on a window sill some weeks ago, but with space in the heated propagator I decided to give them a boost in there. It's taken two weeks for the first shoot to show.

 

The first 3 ( Apricot pendula) took 4 weeks to show but are now on the windowsill.
The next were big showy type in pink. They are taking AGES and are now on the top of a low heat radiator . I'm hope bottom heat will kick start them into action. Its not giving them much light but hoping this will be a preferred alternative....

 

The light won't be an issue until they show themselves and by then you'll be moving them from the radiator. It seems by what you are saying Jenny that different types take different lengths of time to develop.

 

Bloomin Begonias !!!!
http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/begonia-blues-o.94050/#post-921850

 

Hi Sheal

When you see roots appearing its time to move on to the next size pot up DONT put it in to a large one it wont help it root properly, are they going into baskets or a tub ?

 

Whoooop whoop whoop! One of them has broken the surface ( or it's a lily beetle larvae lying on the top)...
Jenny

it has been whisked off to the sunny window sill to join the others

 

When visiting Newport, Oregon, USA, couple years ago, was so impressed by the window boxes on the shops windows, and some homes. Getting a closer look I discovered that the plants are kept inside pots and then put in the box, so no actual soil is in the box. That makes sense, then if one plant goes bad, it is so easy to just remove that pot, or take it somewhere to try to revive it, and not disturb the soil. So here is a picture of one of them.

 

Here's a quick question...... are there any good looking window boxes on the market?! I'd love to have them on our bay window sills but don't recall seeing any quality looking ones for sale?

 

scrap that, have found some!

 

My Begonia corms have been in for a few weeks now, as have the Cannas and Dahlias. i'll plant straight out in May when they've grown on a bit. They are all on a windowsill and have germinated there, and have taken quite quick just on that, no extra heat, just the sun coming through the window.