Foxglove Garden Club

Hello Garden Club!

Just checking in to see how you all are doing. I've looked ahead in the weekly forecast, and I don't see any frost in site. So I've started hardening off some of my first succession and plan to plant them out slowly over the next week. I've also started more seeds this week indoors for succession 2 & 3. And finally FINALLY see some life from my ranunculus.

If you have any questions as you get out in the dirt let me know! And just a gentle reminder, if you haven't started any seeds, don't worry. You can always start direct sowing, or being a few indoors now. Also I'm going to roll out some info on my favorite cut flower perennials in weeks to come.

Have a lovely day!

-Elizabeth

I would love to hear how people's growing is going! You too Elizabeth:). Any lessons or stories? Please share!

Most of my seedlings are doing really well. Some seem to want to outgrow their soil blocks. Is it best to keep them in those blocks until they go into the ground?

The seeds I've been having trouble with - no sprouts- are a lavender munstead and dacus carota. I did get more Dacus seeds to direct sow. Any advice for these would be great! My blue shower forget me nots have some yellowing in the leaves.

Feverfew and jewels of Opar are probably my favorite seedlings this year:). Love the leaves.

I put my ranunculus out straight into the ground about a month ago. :0 I am in 5b midcoast Maine. They definitely got a chill and some flooding. It is still cold here. They are still kicking but a little yellow and wilty. Someone sent me more corms. Should I start them or save for next year?

Also - if anyone has a good source for bulb crates - please LMK!!

Hello!

Thanks for checking in with us, Elizabeth!

I am also zone 5b. I *think* all of my seedlings are doing well. I have gotten a high percentage of germination on everything I've sown, but I am a little concerned about their size. They all seem a bit small with only one or two sets of true leaves so far. Is this normal? I'm new to all of this, so just trying my best and trying to trust the process! I did not use the soil blocking method, but I absolutely will for next growing season. I do think I was overwatering them (I let them sit in water in the trays--oops!). I ended up making my second succession of snapdragons my first succession due to stunted growth from being oversaturated I think. I guess that's the benefit of starting seeds on the earlier side!

I'll start hardening off my first succession of Snapdragons soon to plant out interplanted with Calendula (thanks, Elizabeth!). This week I planted Bachelor's Buttons and Calendula (both from seed and some seedlings from winter sowing), Bouquet Dill, and Cilantro. I hope it's not too early! I also have Marigold, Zinnias, Gomphrena, and Feverfew started inside; Cosmos I'll direct sow; and Yarrow and Scabiosa I'm growing to add to my perennial landscaping. Are there any recommendations for spacing these perennial seedlings? I'm trying to make more of a "cottage garden" feel in my landscaping.

Hi Elizabeth... and everyone!

Nice to hear the updates.

This weekend is my transplating weekend! Somethings look further along than others, but I'm just sticking to my calendar and hoping all goes well. Plus, we have had wonderful weather! I'm zone 6b down here in Massachusetts.

My marigolds, cosmos, zinnia... they are all sprouted in the blocks and seem to be doing well. My cosmos are very tall.

My ranunculus I transplanted into pots some time ago and they do continue to grow however only one of them has a bud. I hope my pots are not too small. And I"ve debated putting them in the ground. But at this point I think I'll just let them be and hope more start to bud. There are a ton of leaves on them.

My Aster and Gomphrena are also growing. I also tried to do Lisianthus by seed.. which I was expecting to be a disaster and I'm stilll not sure what to make of it. I definitely have Lisianthus plants! They are small and have about 4-5 leaves...but kind of squat. We will see....

I also have stock seed and scabiosa which look awesome!

Let's hope my transplanting goes well this weekend!
Sometimes I wish I could upload some pictures for you so that you guys could tell me if things are looking a bit off. hah.

Talk soon
Christina

Well, lessons upon lessons already!

I opted for direct sowing in my raised bed here in zone 8. I did some “organized” planting by flower type but I also have areas of mixed wildflower blends. Despite my efforts to sow evenly, my seedlings now appear to be rather clumped. Not sure if this is due to pooling during waterings or relocation by birds/animals. I have re-seeded a couple areas and also put up some netting to protect my seedlings. But, I am wondering if I should attempt to separate the seedlings that are packed together as a means of thinning out, or trim some…or leave alone? Open to suggestions!

My sunflower seeds were decimated by either birds or perhaps slugs… have attempted a second round and I have a few sprouting, but not as many as I’d like!

I have done two attempts to seed marigolds and haven’t had a single sprout! Not sure where I’ve gone wrong with them.

While the wildflower bed is what I’m going for, one downside to direct sowing and not transplanting is I have no idea what each seedling is, save for a few that I recognize.

It sounds like everyone is doing great!!! With most of us in the cold northeast, I find that my seedlings go from looking teeny tiny in the garden, to shooting up toward the end of June. So I wouldn't worry if things still look small in the garden, just keep at watering them. It can also help to take a photo, and then look back at it a week later. Sometimes it is difficult to notice the change of something when you see it everyday, like a parent not realizing how big their child is growing!!

Julia, I wonder if there is something like voles in your soil that is going after certain area. But, as you suggested, I would try thinning them out a bit and moving them around. Better for the flowers to spread them out if they are super close. Have you seen any slugs? if so, I suggest sluggo, its organic I believe.

Also re: what seed is what, I do this all the time in the garden! It is a fun surprise later on!