It’s that wonderful time of the year again; the snow has melted (finally!), the perennial flowers are just starting to poke up through soil, and I’m feeling the urgency to get things started in the greenhouse. I decided to try winter sowing again to get some seeds sprouted, and then I’ll transfer seedlings into the 4″ pots in the greenhouse. I tried some little clear plastic clamshell containers this year for winter sowing, and I’m not sure it was the best decision. I think they’ll turn out to be a little too shallow, but I did what I did, and we’ll just see what happens.
This year’s winter-sown seeds and their current germination status are:
- Indian Blanket Flower (Gaillardia grandiflora) – sprouting
- Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) – sprouting
- White Alyssum – sprouting
- Shasta Daisy ‘Alaska’ – just starting to germinate
- Hibiscus moscheutos (a white variety with red centers) – just starting to germinate
- Japanese maple (atropurpureum variety – red leaves in the spring and fall, green in the summer)
- Lavatera tauricensis (doesn’t really have a common name — this is the rare Crimean pink perennial I’ve posted about on this blog many times)
- Purple Wave Petunia
So, here are my winter-sowing containers, and the 4″ pots in the greenhouse that I’ve started to water (and gave a shot of organic fertilizer) to get ready for the seedlings.
Thanks for the reply, Steve. I am envious! What a fabulous gem.
Hey, Linda. Sadly, I don’t have a good option to share with you. The greenhouse was built by an old friend who worked for years in the glass business. He’s getting on in his retirement years and doesn’t make these anymore. This one was $800, and it’s solid as a rock! Well, except that glass can break. :) Not only does it have thick aluminum framing and real glass, it also has a built in fan and vent system that cools it down when the sun gets too hot for it. It’s been fantastic.
Hello!
I was just wondering where you bought that cute little greenhouse. I want one! Linda
As I glance back at my post from eight years ago about the lavatera listed here, I see that it was listed as a zone 7 plant. It thrived in my zone 6 garden down in Utah Valley, but I wonder if it will make it up here on the ridge. It could be a zone 5 up here, but then again, having been up here for several years, I haven’t seen winter lows worse than -8 F, which would still be a zone 6a. The snow certainly lasts longer up here, and late freezes are common. Time will tell!
It’s years later, but I just want to mention that the Lavatera did very well up on the ridge at 6200 feet. It is hardier than a zone 7 plant.