I dont know how or why but i got attracted to flowers and greenery lately with out any knowledge of-course. Searched the net and found this wonderful forum about two months ago. Been reading it like syllabus since then almost one hour daily. Grasping concepts and clarifying what it is all about and how to go about.
I really admire the way people guide here and the in-depth knowledge they have, the years of experience they have gained and how easily they put into words for newcomers like myself.
People like Sir Muhammad Arif, Khabbab, Izhar, Farhan, Tahir, Umer, Rafique, Javaid, Hammad and all those who have guided and nurtured this forum all along through thick and thin. I have all the respect and admiration for you all.
At last after two months of reading and pondering this is what i have gathered for my start in this passion or obsession i would say.
Purchased seeds of sunflower (teddy bear & florenza red) , cosmos (sensation mix, double click), zinnia megallen mix, Vinca pacifica XP, Mirabilis Jalapa Mix, rudbeckia indian summer from sky seeds and some coco peat (These all are the easier ones and are in right temps to be sown from what I've gathered)
1. I plan to sow them directly in flower beds. The temperatures in sargodha are still below 15 C at night should i wait till first week of march ? (If yes then should i keep them in fridge till use ?)
2. My place is north facing and sun doesn't comes till 11 am due to shadow of house and huge sumbal, jaman, sufaida and kikar trees. Again after 4 pm it gets shadowy. In summers it might get around 6 hrs. Should i still try? Its my first try of sowing seeds after getting lots of inspiration from you all
3. I am preparing beds by digging 1 foot deep and then mixing manure with native soil half - half to a fine grainy composition. The native soil has salt deposits on it. But my petunia, dianthus, pansy, button daisy, snapdragon, salvia red are doing ok after same treatment. All seedlings from nursery transplanted in beds (jan 3rd week) are doing well, dianthus have started blooming after initial deadheading, button daisy almost 8-9 blooms while i am deadheading first blooms of petunias, pansy, and pinched snapdragon and salvia (grown bushy). Really, i can't believe i am using all these names and terms
4. After going through the seed sowing guides i have drawn the following seed sowing conclusions. Pl guide me if wrong.
5. Sunflowers : 1/2 inch deep
6. Cosmos : surface sow with light coco coir barely covering
7. Zinnias : 1/4 inch deep covered by coco coir
8. Rudbeckia: surface sow with light coco coir
9. Vinca : 1/4 inch deep and coco coir layer of seed thickness
10. Mirabilis: 1/4 inch deep with coco coir layer of seed thickness
11. All are to be kept moist by spraying till germination (7-14 days for all)
12. Spacing as per their spread and weeding all the way !
13. Fertilisers and insecticide etc queries once seedlings emerge
In Shaa Allah Tips and prayers are requested please. Anxiously Waiting.
May Allah bless you all with whats best for you - today and always !
Best Regards from a distance learning student of yours. Shuaib
