do you wintersow?

[daisy08]

do you use wintersowing to start seeds?

[Two_Sheds]

how do you mean?

[Marthaclematis]

Daisy, do you mean can you sow seeds now, indoors? Because if so I would like to know the answer too. I have Flax, Rudbeckia and Cosmos and am itching to get started with my paper pots (I am going to make my own from newspaper). Can someone tell us when we should sow and then when we can transplant outside. I have fairly sheltered south facing garden. Where are you Daisy? I think it makes a difference.

[Rydeboyz]

Here's what I've come up with:

Flax (Annual):
Sow them outside where you want them to flower in Spring (March onwards)

Flax (Perennial):
Sow indoors from February. (Can take 2-4 weeks to germainate)

Rudbeckia (Annual):
Sow indoors February to March.

Rudbeckia (Perennial):
Sow indooors from February. Some types can take up to 4 months to germinate and others might need chilling in the fridge for between 2-13 weeks. You will have to research your specific variety.

Cosmos (Annual):
Sow indoors in March.

January is a bit too early to start sowing seeds due to the lack of light. The seedlings (especially annuals) will just overstretch themselves trying to reach for the light and end up looking weedy and collapsing under their own weight. I myself have lots of different random seeds to sow this year and I'm going to wait until that last week in Feb. Just be patient!

[Marthaclematis]

OK Rydeboyz, I will try !! Thanks for the detailed advice, it would have taken me ages to find that, I will write it down so I don't forget. I will stay indoors (what else to do in this awful rain?) and get to making me paper pots.

[Two_Sheds]

Thanks for the detailed advice, it would have taken me ages to find that.

Google knows everything (use google.co.uk though, not google.com). Just type in "grow rudbeckia" or "grow flax" and you get the answers. Happy hunting.

[Rydeboyz]

No problem! Hope you have lots of nice plants to look at this summer.

As Two Sheds said, google finds you almost any information you may need. I just looked at the Thompson & Morgan website and averaged the results.