There weren’t as many seeds started this month.
On November 11th, I direct-sowed a few seeds because I had cleared one of my 8×2 beds in the lower garden and had planted some other seedlings I’d started previously. I don’t like direct-sowing. I don’t usually have the best of luck when it comes to direct-sown seeds, but I thought I’d give it a chance with these. The direct-sown are on the far end, and I marked each spot with a blank plant tag so I would know where to water until the seedlings emerge. I have to put the netting in place now to keep my 2 indoor/outdoor cats from using the area as a litter box. This has worked well for me so far, for those of you who also garden with cats.
Here’s the list I direct-sowed:
- Bachelor Buttons: White Ball / Blue Boy
- Saponaria – Pink Beauty
The transplanted seedlings you see are bupleurum, Persian cress, clarkia, and sweet peas.
I also direct sowed some cat grass (hard red winter wheat) in a container on the front porch on Nov 11th for the cats. I use wheat because Pandora is allergic to barely. These were quick to germinate. The picture below was taken on 15th.
I also direct-sowed some of the hard red winter wheat seeds in a 2×2 foot section in my lower garden on Nov 15th. I’ll be using these for bouquets in early spring hopefully. I’ve never grown this and overwintered it, so we’ll see. I just tossed seeds in a 2×2 foot area, covered, sprinkled and raked in fertilizer, then watered. The plant markers/tags let me know where the seed area starts since I will be planting other hardy annuals to the left of this area later in winter.
On November 15th, I also sowed the rest of my November seeds in the deep 6-cell packs.
Here’s what I sowed:
- Nigella – Albion Black Pod
- California Poppies – Thai Silk Pink Champagne
- Stock – Iron Pastel / Katz Cherry Blossom / Katz Purple / Ki No Mai
I will be transplanting the nigella (love-in-a-mist). Most sites say to direct sow this, but last year I started these in cell packs and transplanted them out – and they bloomed! They looked rough for a little while, but they did bounce back, so I’m trying it again with another variety of nigella. California poppies are okay to start in cell packs and transplant out. It’s the breadseed poppies and Shirley poppies that must be direct sown.
And I am experimenting with the stock for fall and overwintering. Last year’s experiment didn’t go well, but I plan to cover these and see if they overwinter better. So, the stock might end up being a bust, and that’s okay. I had the seeds leftover from last year, so I thought I’d give it a try.
