When do you plant spring containers and what concerns are there about frost?
I usually hold off on spring containers until nighttime temperatures are hovering right around 32 degrees Fahrenheit, right around freezing, nothing too much lower than that. The range between 28 and 32 degrees is considered a light frost, and anything 28 and under is a hard frost. Most early spring plants like hellebores, pansies, violas, and primrose can handle the cold and even a light frost. With a hard frost, I would use frost cloth to protect the plants.
Are pansies and violas efficient for spring containers?
Yes, violas and pansies are one of the most efficient and inexpensive ways to fill spring containers. They can thrive in sun or shade, handle the cold well, and provide long-lasting blooms, offering a great option for spring displays without a significant investment.
How do you prepare window boxes for planting without replacing all the soil?
If the potting soil in the window boxes is fairly fresh, you can simply top them up with compost and mix it in to recharge the soil instead of fully replacing it. This approach can allow you to get a couple of seasons out of the same soil by refreshing it before planting new flowers.
What is the recommended timing for starting annual seeds indoors?
It's recommended to start annual seeds indoors four to six weeks before the average last frost date for your area. This gives the plants a head start and ensures they are strong enough to be transplanted outdoors once the risk of frost has passed.
Do all seedlings need a dome or extra humidity when starting seeds?
Not all seedlings necessarily need a dome or extra humidity. For example, the paper pot trays mentioned do not require a dome. Generally, it's advisable to dome trays until seeds germinate, and then the dome can be removed once most seeds have sprouted, especially if the environment is humid and warm. However, seedling heat mats are not used except for specific plants like geraniums in the Hartley.
Which annual flowers were being started in the greenhouse?
Among the annual flowers being started were Limon talinum, marigolds (Cracker Jack and White Swan), Cherry caramel phlox, Bronze Queen nicotiana, minionette, clarkia (Elegant Salmon and Gray Shell Pink), Sweet Annie Artemisia, pincushion flowers (Merlot Red, Salmon Rose, Black Knight, and Star Flower), silene, and various types of stock including Quartet Rainbow, Cinderella White, Iron Marine, and various colors of Cats stock.
How do you handle thinning out seedlings?
If there are multiple seedlings per cell and there is a desire for more of a particular plant, the seedlings can be separated and transplanted into individual cells or pots. However, if space becomes an issue, seedlings may simply be thinned out by removing the excess and leaving the strongest plant to grow. For example, snapdragons that have come up very thick will need to be thinned out.
