EARLY MARCH SEEDS & FIRST SIGNS OF SPRING
Happy first “big” round of seed starting! It’s not quite veggie starting time but I was able to start some of my 10-12 week before last frost date annuals and perennials:
Annuals:
Helen Mount Viola Seed (Pansy)
Sorbet Formula Mix (F1) Viola Seed (Pansy)
Petunia 'Old Fashioned Climbing' Organic
Perennials
Cheyenne Spirit Echinacea Seed
Colorado Mix Organic Yarrow Seed
Saponaria 'Graciella Pink'
I used my usual 6-count trays for all of these seeds, knowing I might need to increase the pot size for my Echinacea and Yarrow in a few weeks, per the seed packet’s directions. Also, the Saponaria was a new one to me. These seeds needed to be wrapped in a damp towel and chilled in the refrigerator for 2-4 weeks (I opted for a little more than 4, oops) before sowing. Note to future self: the towel stays damp for an entire month. You don’t have to keep checking on it!
Otherwise, my seed starting process was the same as it always is. I dampen the seed starting soil in a bowl, adding enough water for the soil to hold together when squeezed but not enough that water starts to drip out. I then fill up the seed trays, lightly packing the soil into each cell, and plant the seeds to the depth indicated on each seed packet. I plant multiple seeds per cell (if I have extras) and will thin them out after a few weeks. Some seeds need light to germinate and others do not, but all were placed under a humidity dome with a grow light after being lightly misted, which helps settle in the soil. I’ll keep my eye on these guys and gals and will spray lightly with water if the soil begins to dry out. After they all germinate, I will remove the humidity dome and use one of my grow light methods to lower the light.
Also on the docket for early March is my first round of shelling peas! I’m very excited to plant these. The vegetable garden isn’t up and running yet so I purchased a large terra cotta pot that I can use on my patio.
The snow has finally melted and we have our first signs of Spring in the yard - bulbs! Most of these are daffodils but I’m hoping my Giant Snowflake Leucojum bulbs (similar to Snowdrops) weren’t nibbled on too much by deer in the last few weeks. Fingers crossed! More daffodils, tulips, iris, and glory of the snow should hopefully be popping up soon as well. I also went around and sprayed all the bulbs I could find with a liquid deer repellant, just in case. I hope the deer have plenty of other things to snack on now that the snow has melted but you can never be too sure. They snacked on all of my tulips last Spring and I only got a handful of blooms - that was my fault anyway since tulips are not deer-resistant but I didn’t even think to check! Now checking for deer-resistance is #1 on my list. I’ll happily buy non-deer resistant plants but I now know I might have to do some deer prevention on my own and even with that, it’s a risk.
