Quote:
Originally Posted by rhines81
For the past several years my flower beds have sat mostly empty. I have 5 different beds in the middle and surrounding my driveway so I though what the heck - I should start my flowers from seed this year.
I know el-zippo about flowers. I have been reading up a little, but not really finding some of the information I need - maybe someone here can help.
The main questions I need to know is what size inserts I should be using in my 1020s and should I plan to pot them up once before transplanting outside?? I hope to grow right from the insert to the ground without having to pot up. I have a variety of mixed 36, 48 and 72 cell inserts.
Here is what I am planting:
Alaska Shasta Daisy
Calendula (Mix)
Columbine (Mixed Colors)
Coreopsis (Early Sunrise)
Gaillardia (Arizona Sun)
Gloriosa Daisy (Double Gold)
Lupine (Mixed)
Morning Glory (Mix) [for around elevated front deck steps and landings]
Pansy (Mix)
Snapdragon (Mix)
Sunflower [several types, for bordering my veg garden - jap beetles love these and leave my peppers alone]
Zinnia (Forecast)
I have already gotten my seed and will start the pansies in about 3 weeks, most of the others in mid-March, sunflowers & zinnias end of April and morning glories mid-May.
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I cannot speak for zone 5A, but here in zone 8A Texas - what I have found is there is no need to pot up any flowers that I have grown myself.
I have grown from your list:
Alaska Shasta Daisy, sow seeds in ground.
Lupines, plant them in ground.
Morning Glories, plant them in ground. They are very invasive and will take over an area quickly when let go to seed. They are beautiful though, and might invite some bees to visit - especially bumblebees.
Sunflower, sow seeds in ground.
None of those four like to be transplanted, but it can happen.
Marigolds are ones that can be started in seed cell flats that do very well when transplanted - no need to pot them up.
Ivy and mint are a couple that like a mix of sun and shade. Once you get them started, they'll spread on their own or you can take cuttings and start them in ground = tada, a new plant. Both will flourish in full shade, and are good plants to grow around shade trees.