Growing from seed

On some seed packets it says "can be sown into open ground where they are to flower" so would i be able to sew them in trays in a cold frame or would i be wasting my time, i only want to grow some flowers from seed .

 

I tend to grow all seeds in trays, where you are in control. I suspect thay have a better chance of survival than out in the open, where they can get eaten, overwatered, or underwatered. If it is growing in your tray, you know what it is. But in the open there is always an element of doubt. However it is a bit more work.

 

Thank for that peter, any suggestions on what plants would be suitable to be grown in trays in a cold frame without any heating, when grown they are to be placed in my borders and patio containers for summer flowering, sorry if its a bit hard to understand but im new to the cold frame lark as i usually grow from seed in a greenhouse but that has sadly gone to make way for other things. thanks again

 

Take care, some plants do not like to be transplanted. We sow a lot of different things in cells and plant that out without disturbing the roots.

 

Robbo. The simple answer is that I do not know. What I do know is that the temperature, even within a cold frame, will go below freezing at some point over the next month or so. So that rules out half-hardy plants. I would think even hardy plants, once germinated, may not be too happy below freezing. However if the packet says you can sow seeds outside now - that is obviously OK. Is it not possible to use a windowsill inside the house?

Palustris. Can you transplant difficult plants early before they have developed tap roots - or are some difficult from day one. I have just sowed a number of cells of Adenophora (a difficult one) with several seeds per cell - and ever single seed has germinated. I know I can kill off all but one per cell. But I cannot resist the temptation to transplant some at least.

 

For summer colour, by mid april you can sow pretty well any of the half hardy annuals, and you can sow herbacious perrenials now. Some suggestions - antirhynums, salvia, pot marigold, aster,dalia, - consider also getting dalia tubers, and summer flowering bulbs, like nerines, and lily then theres the rhyzomes of iris. All can be started in cold frame mid april, for planting out at the end of May.

For adenorpha - try sowing in situ rather than in cells. Mine self seed quite happily.

[ 02. April 2006, 10:47 PM: Message edited by: Fran ]

 

Hold your horses Robbo. Think about buying trays of plug plants from your local GC or B&Q in three or four weeks time. Given the current price of seeds, the compost required and the time involved in pricking out etc it could work out cheaper and more reliable.
As PeterS says it's too cold at present for a cold frame sowing.

 

Agree with you Dave, I can't believe the price now of a packet of seeds. I have local nursery where they do it all for me and I just buy quantity I want.

Having said that I do plant common reliable stuff straight into borders when soil warms up - Nigella, cosmos, Californian Poppy.

 

Thanks for all the help, will wait till they hit the garden centres. cheers