Friday, January 24, 2020

My 2020 Seed Order

I finally got around to doing a seed inventory, and it doesn't appear that I need to order any veggie seeds at all - I'm well stocked! 

However, recently Park Seed had a 10 for $10 sale, where select seed packets were on sale for just $1 each! 

You know I couldn't let that one go by, don't you?
I decided at that price I could experiment with a few flowers I have never tried to grow from seed. 

Here's what I ordered: 

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Just look at those pretty Violas! This is the Viola Admire Spring Fling Mix - these are actually perennial violas (we'll see about that up here on the mountain top!) 

I love, love, love both Pansies and Violas for my early spring garden. I usually try to put them out as early in April as I possibly can, mostly in pots so I can take them in as necessary. 


Last year I started Pansies from seed and they were honestly the most healthy Pansies I have ever had the pleasure of growing!  I figured with that kind of success, why not try Violas? Perhaps I will have the same luck? 


I still have some Pansy seeds from last year and perhaps I'll grow them again this spring....I need to make up my mind asap since they need to get started very shortly! 

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I also ordered Lobelia, which I adore....this is Lobelia Fountain Blue and I'm praying it will be as vibrant and gorgeous as the Lobelia I get from my local garden center. 


I think the one I generally use is a little more of a royal blue, closer to purple....I guess I'll just have to wait and see! 

Don't you just adore Lobelia? It's such a hard working little flower, and softens any container or window box with those tiny trailing flowers. 

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Another flower that I use consistently every single year is the old reliable standby, Impatiens. Someone asked me last year why I don't start my own Impatiens from seed, so when I saw these seeds were part of the sale options, I grabbed a packet! These are called Impatiens Accent White Hybrid.

It will be interesting to see how easy it is to grow Impatiens from seed...stay tuned on that. I usually just pick up a flat from the garden center, but if I can grow a flat of Impatiens for about $1 it would be silly not to! 

I did something very smart this Autumn, right before the first frost. I snipped a bunch of healthy stems off my white Impatiens and stuck them in water in my kitchen window. Well guess what....they have all rooted! So even if these seeds don't work out, I've already got a bunch of FREE Impatiens ready to put in potting soil! (Note to self....buy potting soil!)

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While I was at it, I picked up a packet of pink Impatiens as well! These are Impatiens Accent Pink Hybrid.

I just adore the combination of white and pink Impatiens, and love to use that combo up at Papa's Garden


This photo was from August 2018, and the combo of so much white and pink in Papa's Garden really compliments the brown tones of the garden cottage perfectly. I think I'm leaning towards a similar color scheme this year. There was also accents of blue up there....after all, Papa's Garden can't be all pink, can it....so the Violas and Lobelia will join the pink and white this season. 

What else did I get? Take a look at this beauty: 

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This is called Iberis Umbellata Purple Rain, also known as an annual version of Candytuft. 

I  have never seen this flower before, hopefully it's happy in my garden this season. 

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Here's another that's new to me - Phlox Pomegranate, an annual Phlox that blooms all season. The description says it has a wonderful sweet scent....and I'm all about the scented flowers! 

I'm not sure where this will go yet, but for $1 for 30 seeds I'm certainly willing to give it a try! 

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I had fabulous luck with starting Poppies from seed last year, so I'm giving these beauties a try this year. These are Poppy Parks Peony Mix - isn't that combo just gorgeous? 

I guess I was in kind of a pink mood when I was looking through the available seed options! 

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I did manage to sneak in a little orange/red while I was at it, with this gorgeous Celosia Arrabona Red -  if you have a small garden you want to be a little more careful about keeping a color scheme going, but I have so many gardens scattered here and there, I don't worry about that at all. 

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I haven't grown Celosia in many years, honestly I'm not sure why not - it's always impressive, especially when grown en masse as in the photos above. Again, I have no clue where I'll put this....but I always find a spot! 

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Excuse the fuzziness of this photo....when I blew it up to be the same size as the rest it distorted the image. 

This is something that's new to me....Alyssum Compacta - it's perennial in zones 3 - 8 and apparently quite easy to grow. I guess it's related to Sweet Alyssum, which I have grown many times....but I never saw it in this bright yellow color! I picture this trailing over the garden wall that borders the lower parking area. Fingers crossed! The soil there is poor and shallow, and only the hardiest plants survive. 

Like weeds. Lots and lots of weeds. 

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With these next few, I went completely out of my comfort zone.....look at this gorgeous ornamental cabbage!!!  This one is called Ornamental Cabbage Color Up Purple Hybrid - isn't it lovely? 

I always think ornamental cabbages are so pretty in the fall, and they last past the first few frosts I believe....but they are always so pricey in my garden center!  This will be a trial run for me, and I'll need to do some research on how best to grow these, but at $1 for 25 seeds, I think I can splurge! 

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This is the same, but in Color Up Red - it's just beautiful! I can see these in my whiskey barrels on the garden well, and perhaps at the bottom of the steps to the kitchen door, along with some mums. 

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Last, but certainly not least, I got seeds for these beauties - Ornamental Kale Yokohama Mix - another autumn plant that will go beautifully with the cabbages and mums. 

I guess I have some homework to do, don't I? I'm guessing I will start these seeds after everything else has been moved outdoors already...but maybe I'm completely wrong? 

Anyway, I'm excited to get started! The first seeds are going in by February 1st, two weeks earlier than last year....and that's only about a week away! 

Time to get the workbench in the utility room cleared off and the grow lights set up! 

Here we go!

20 comments:

  1. Have fun with your seed planting! You chose some great ones!

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    1. I'll be starting next weekend, Penny!!! I'm going to get things ready this weekend!

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  2. That's all very exciting! It's the anticipation of what might be! Do you have a cold frame? I am thinking of asking hubby to build me one with old windows for mother's day. -Jenn

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    1. I had my sweetie build me one last spring out of old windows also, Jenn! I'm looking forward to taking advantage of it again this spring. Here's the link if you want to check it out: http://www.mountainmamaonline.net/2019/04/building-cold-frame-other-spring.html#more

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  3. I think it's so awesome how you grow all these beautiful flowers from seed. How I can't wait to see flowers outside again!

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    1. Same!! I know it's a while away for us, so I have to be contented with forcing bulbs indoors, and starting seeds. At least I'm getting my hands in the dirt!

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  4. I love lobelia too, growing them in blue like you, but also white. I have to restrain myself from planting inside too soon. This year I'll try to be better with getting the light source closer to the plants so they don't get so leggy. We'll see!!

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    1. It's definitely a learning curve, Carole! I learn a little more each year....and I also learn what doesn't work up here and what I need to give up on.

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  5. If I had the space you do, I'd buy a lot more seeds. I've been pondering what colors I want to have this year. Last year it was purple and yellow and I'm thinking maybe shades of purples and blues, and then shades of yellows with orange.
    Brenda

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    1. Purple and yellow is always a lovely combo, Brenda - so happy and cheerful. My colors are all over the place....some beds are just a mad jumble, some a little more restrained.

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  6. I am so excited to see that you have started your seed purchases. It makes me happy to scroll down your blog post today and see all the pretty flowers. Ahhhhhh basking in your post. Let's hope we get an early Spring. That would be soooo nice. I cannot wait for warm weather and putting in my flowers. Happy Saturday.
    Hugs,
    Kris

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    1. I'm worried, Kris....we had a crazy snowfall early on, but then not much....and our season has been warmer than normal. Plus, last year we had an early spring....it's doubtful I could get that lucky two years in a row!

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  7. Your excitement is contagious! I want all the blues and purples you show here but no room here for starting from seed so will just have to be dependent on the local nurseries. I'll sure look forward to seeing the progress of your little seedlings when they get planted and of course seeing how they flourish in your beautiful gardens. I am so in love with all the pretty cabbages, can't wait to see how they do for you because yes, they are so expensive and sell out quickly.

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    1. I honestly have no idea when I should even start them, Dewena - I'm going to have to do a ton of research!

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  8. Your emerald thumb is just amazing. I saw a few crocuses peeking out from the snow. Let the countdown begin!!

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    1. No sign of crocuses here, Kim, not yet....but you are two zones warmer than me, so I'm not surprised.

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  9. there is bunches and bunches of the ornamental kale and cabbages in a garden post I did a few posts back, they were so pretty and I had fun photographing them! We've had luck with a few of the cabbages here but not the kale. There are alot of pretty flowers on this post and most of them I've never heard of!? Love to learn new things from my blog sisters! I love love love that blue stuff, I wonder if it would survive out hot humid summers here? I've never had any luck with the impatiens. My go-to workhorses are always marigolds and petunias, geraniums, and begonias as well as sweet "tater" vines etc. I've planted and tried sunflowers over and over and the squirrels always get them!!--even covered they find a way, darn it, ha ha LOL. Last year my moonflowers and morning glories were a bust as well, but I will try again this year as those are my usual "always grow and be pretty" things. I'm giving clematis another try as well, hopefully THIS YEAR I will finally have some. Mr Front Porch has been out getting our beds ready and digging new ones for me and we've been shopping for seeds and bulbs ready for the soon spring planting. I've bought cannas and hollyhocks so far. I always grow four o'clocks too. I love reading about what all you're planning and what you're growing!

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    1. It sounds as if you have a wonderful garden, Debbi - I don't remember you actually taking photos of your own garden, I'd love to see it! the critters love to eat my sunflowers also, it's so frustrating. And my moonvine grew last year, but not one flower, so sad. Four o'clocks are new to me, I had to look them up!! Too bad about the impatiens, they are so wonderful. You would need to plant them only in shade in your warm region. I'm not sure the Lobelia would like your hot summers - it does better in cool weather I think. Can't wait to see your garden!

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  10. Buying seeds is so stressful for me because I have limited space, and just cannot decide! I am totally impressed that you grew pansies from seed, and am definitely going to try this. Thanks, as always, for the inspiration.

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    1. Just remember you can use some of your seeds from last season, as long as you kept them in the fridge. If you didn't, I'm not sure how viable they will be. I can understand how hard it would be with limited space....but then again, with limited space you're not spending as much at the garden center as I would! If I didn't start seeds I'd spend an absolute fortune every spring!

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