Well, I thought I had put a lot of planning into my first winter sowing adventure. I planned the plants, containers, where they would sit for the winter etc. Something I didn't bother to put much thought into....labeling!!! I planted everything from gaillardia and zinnia, to echinacea and calendula. Over 30 containers in total planted between Jan 31 and Feb 16 '08.
I waited and waited for them to start popping up...and to my surprise (I don't know why I was so doubtful of success...just used to relying on indoor planting) 25 of them were up. Over the course of spring it dwindled to 18....but nothing had a label anymore. Every single one had washed off, so I was left with nothing but unknown seedlings.
Months go by...I'm caring for these new seedlings, trying to identify them by their first true leaves. Some were fairly simple, but others were just baffling. Then, one day in early june, I see my "brute" of a husband bent down by my containers sifting through them...and to the side of him, a pile of empty containers! I dashed outside and screetched " WHAT ARE YOU DOING???" He innocently answers " I'm just pulling the ones that are just weeds." I could have cried!! Not only had he dumped the containers into the garden...he first plucked the "weeds" out and threw them away. After the "massacre" I babied the ones that were left, and just this week finally planted them in the ground. Will keep posted as to the success of these seedlings and if I ever can be sure on my identification.
A definate success were the petunias. I planted two different hybrids and both germinated and are now blooming beautifully. (Shown at top of page Dolcissima Flambe and Rosy Dawn Hybrid)
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