seeds to start now

I was havinf a bit of a sortie in a garden centre yesterday and was looking at flower seeds- foxgloves, hollyhocks, lupins and noticed that they are perenials so wont flower till next year but one pack said they flower in the first year so should i start these off now?havent got agrrenhouse so will a spare unheated bedroom do?

 

If the only place you have is an unheated bedroom you'll have to start them there but they could do with a little heat to get going and now is ok.

 

Yes go ahead - its getting warmer all the time. I have started mine in a virtually unheated room. Some have germinated and some haven't yet.

By the way there are plenty of perennials that flower in the first year. If you can get hold of a catalog from Mr Fothergill or Thompson & Morgan, they usually identify first year flowering. For instance from T&M :- Achillea, Agastache (perhaps not that hardy), Armeria Bees Hybrid, Catanache Caerula, Centranthus (very long flowering), Coreopsis Early Sunrise, Gaura Lindheimeri, Delphinium, Echinacea, Eupatorium, Knautia, Linum Heavenly Blue and Campanulatum, Lychnis Chalcedonica, Lupin (need to prick and soak seeds first), Malva ....and more. And don't forget Verbena Bonariensis - a must have (seeds can be slightly tricky - may need to go in fridge for 2 weeks - but well worth persevering with.

 

Well if i actually blled the radiator there probably would be heat in there I havent bothered as its never used so may do that!! sounds like there are loads for me to try. will have a look at the weekend

 

hi lazygardener, i grew hollyhock last year from seed in our spare room and had flowers right up until up until the back end of the year when i eventually cut them back.it said on the pack 2nd year flowering also,so just goes to show.i read somewhere that theyll only flower 2nd and 3rd year but friend over allotment told me hes had his for years and always gets flowers.only trouble with them is rust.

 

Just to add, plenty of natural light otherwise they will be leggy by planting out time.

 

T&M do a mixed pack of "first year flowering perennials" - I know - I got some! Just google Thompson & Morgan. Chances are the other on-line seed companies do too - and most don't charge for P&P for seeds (but I think T&M do??) Wortrh checking.

 

I remember Geoff Hamilton's solution to light problems for seeds grown on a window cell - a reflective box. i.e. a box with one side and the top removed - lined with foil or other reflective covering, pots placed in box.

 

good idea - very practical! Ta, Fran!

 

Most garden centres offer T&M seeds even our pathetic Wyevale do.

 

even our little gc here does that - but the range isn't great - on-line is handier for me for most things (or B+Q - they're pretty good!)

 

Woolworths have some great deals on bulbs shrubs and trees just now.