Re: Starting seeds outdoors
- To:
- Subject: Re: Starting seeds outdoors
- From: M* T*
- Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 04:38:51 -0500
Well, Val, dunno if this is going to help much, but as I read your
post, I had an idea (dangerous)....
I don't start many seeds in the ground anymore, but I do put pots of
seeds outside over winter. I set them in flats and made screenwire
covers for the flats to keep out debris and critters and it works
quite well.
My "idea" was that you might consider making screenwire covers for
your seedbeds. Would probably have to make several if the beds are
very large as they wouldn't be self supporting if too big (would sag
on the top), I think, but they are easy to make. If you made them
the width of a standard flat, should think you could make them at
least twice as long - maybe longer - without sagging.....would need
experimentation.
____________
Mine are shaped sorta like this | | just
4 sides and top. Sides made by bending the wire and folding the
corners and tacking them in place with some fine wire - you need to
snip the corners so they will fold which can be done with scissors.
They weigh next to nothing, so you might have to bury the sides a bit
to keep them from blowing around, or drive an earth staple through
them. The screen (this is aluminum window screening) allows water
and light to pass through, but keeps the squirrels and toads (in
summer) out of my seed pots, so should keep the birds out of your
beds.
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
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----------
> From: Moorman@teamzeon.com
> Date: Thursday, January 06, 2000 2:51 PM
>
>
> I'm going to start a new thread here...
>
> Does anyone have a sure-fire way of starting seeds outdoors of
> annuals/perennials? My method (after much failure) is to work up
the
> ground and scatter the seeds. Sometimes I cover with some dirt,
but mostly
> I cover with a smattering of either hay or mulch to keep the ground
moist.
> Now here's the hard part... once the seeds germinate, I'm having a
hard
> time keeping the birds from picking off the seedlings. I used to
think
> that it was cutworms or other insects, but I've seen robins and
jays
> snipping off young seedlings and flying away with them. For what,
I don't
> know!
>
> I've tried floating seed covers, but they seem to be too heavy
because my
> poor fledglings bow over from the weight of the cover. Once I take
it off,
> they will right themselves.
>
> What does everyone else do to ensure that seeds sown outdoors
survive the
> tender first stages? I've resorted to starting everything indoors
in peat
> pots to minimize root shock. I've run out of light and space.
>
> Val in KY
> zone 6a
>
>
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