I did a little experiment of starting seeds off season contrary to the advice given by the senior gardeners. No offense but there were 2 basic reasons for going against the advice. Firstly it might be my last season of such active gardening in near future because of professional commitments so i was impatient to make use of it ASAP. Moreover to see if these seeds would sprout and survive the hot/off weather.i.e defy the weather. My first attempt in May failed badly may be because of damping off or hot weather. This time the conditions were same, however i tried few new things which are proving beneficial till now. Weather at my place is Between 32(night)-41(day) Celsius. Very dry with only 1 moonsoon rain till now.
Sowing Medium
I sowed in pots on south facing shaded area. For two reasons. I wanted to avoid the extreme temperature/drought of the ground and more profoundly because when it rains here quite a bit of sandy soil of my garden goes with the water. meaning by washing away of seeds.
Medium i chose was two parts fine sand, one part coco peat, one part compost. but that was the body. i sowed seeds in a 1 cm film of compost layered at the top. Thinking that compost would most probably be sterile and soft. i used the internet for sowing instructions for each seed variety. after sowing seed i sprinkled cinnamon powder as anti fungal. i am watering very lightly and put the pedestal fan on after watering for quick evaporation of excess water and also in very hot part of the day.
Seed Varieties sown. (20 Jul)
Failures caused by seed bank to expand quite a lot. for initial experiment i sowed 50 variates that seemed appropriate. Because of large number of varieties i sowed in the style nursery people sow due to space limitations.
Seed sprouted and doing well
Zinnias different cultivars, Roslina pnaca creeper mix, Mina Lobata/Spanish Flag, Ipomoea purpurea, Pelargonium, Ornamental Pepper, Dahlia, Calendula sherbet fizz, Blue Diadem corn flower, Gillardia Lorenzo, Gillardia unknown cultivar, Sweet Williams, Echinacea pallida, Madia fruits, Celosia fresh look, Echinacea White swan, Mexican hat, Lupin, Gomphrena, Sunflower Russian giant/Mulan rouge, Rudbeckia, Tegetes French/African, Calico flower, Amberboa muricata, Cosmos bipanthus, Verbena, Phlox cecelli, Coleus Black KEW, Hollyhock, Geranium, Pea, Lemon Grass
Not Sprouted as yet
Coreopsis, love in a mist, Pansy, Marvel of peru, Aquilegia, Cobaea Scandens, Alyssum, Amaranthus, Delphinium, Hosta , Banksia and Traffic lights.
Will keep this topic updated with pictures of the seedlings......will be grateful for any tips
The setting
Huge false leaves of this unknown vine (roslina pnaca)
Mina Lobata/Spanish Flag
Ipomoea purpurea
Celosia Fresh look(T& M) and calico ivy sown a month ago
Surprise box with lot of seeds......i think its geraniums sprouting
Dahlia
Zinnias
Cornflower blue diadem
