growing herbs and flowers from seed

[Ma's_Garden]

Which herbs and flowers are easy to start from seed indoors or in a greenhouse? Which of the easy ones need to be grown in peat pots?

[GreenZone]

Most herbs and virtually all the annual bedding plants are easily started from seed, though of course some are definitely easier than others. In herbs the main exceptions that come to mind are true tarragon and some of the odder mnits like chocolate mint, apple mint and so on, which are usually propagated from cuttings since they don't reliably breed true from seed. That is also true of named varieties of roses, lilies, fruit trees and many other plants.

The ones that really do better in peat pots are any that can't tolerate disturbance of their roots. Quite a few answer that discription though. Did you have specific ones in mind?
--Randel

[the_pumpkin_queen]

For me, it seems it takes awhile longer for them to germinate. My Parsley (2 varieties) took almost a month before it sprouted!
It definately takes patience with herbs :p

[elentari8]

The hardest herb I've grown from seed...well not grown from seed actually, since it didn't work...was rosemary. Has anyone else had luck with rosemary? Basil and nasturtiums zoom out of the ground in my experience.

-Annie

[terrianne]

I did start Rosemary from seed. The packet actually stated a 30% germination rate...I felt it was higher around 50% so I was happy. This is a tough herb to grow here in Vermont...it needs to be a house plant most of the year...and still tough for me to keep for the winter.

I direct seed most of my herbs including parsley. I have on section of my garden as the herb and seedling bed for herbs, annuals and perrenials. I transplant later. Being a working Mom I let Mother Nature help me with caring for the plant children as much as possible :)

Terri Anne

[Grozit]

So much depends on your location, soil,likes and type of seed. I soak my parsley and direct seed, direct seed basil when soil is warm and started thyme & sage inside and have never had to replant. Rosemary is a challange but have new plants that self seeded. Trial and error, patience, research and you can grow darn nearly anything but there is no simple general answer.

[elentari8]

What's your process for using part of the bed as a seedling bed for herbs? I have read suggestions about surface sowing the seeds in a small trench, watering them in and covering them with a board until they sprout. Haven't tried it myself but it would be nice not to have to devote peat pot space to herb seedlings when I have so many other seeds to grow! Have you found any herbs that refuse to transplant well?

-Annie

[terrianne]

I have a space about 6 X 8 ft in my herb garden just for seedlings. After Memorial day (it's cold here in Vermont) I go out one morning and loosen the soil and rake the area smooth. I then mark of a grid pattern, with each seedling bed about 1 X 2 ft. I only leave a small path to walk in between. Kneeling in the row I begin planting seedlings and mark them with garden stakes. I sprinkle the seeds into the area (within the 1 X 2 ft area) and cover with soil and wait for the babies to arrive. I really don't make it too hard on myself. I grown them in my herb garden because that is the one place that stays pretty constant. Depending on what you are growing, you can soak the seed to speed up germination. Last year, I started three colors of allysum, several varieties of marigolds, Anise, Borage, onions, several varieties of basil, parsley, thyme.....I love growing things from seed! It is economical too. When the seedlings are big enough to transplant (usually when I get time! :) ) I move them about where I want them. I also share them with friends and neighbors. I potted up some herbs and perenniels and put out next to the drive with Happy Mother's Day on it. :)

[TomatoLover]

The hardest herb I've grown from seed...well not grown from seed actually, since it didn't work...was rosemary. Has anyone else had luck with rosemary? Basil and nasturtiums zoom out of the ground in my experience.

-Annie
I didn't have any luck at all growing rosemary from seeds, but I did find that it was easy to grow from cuttings. I started four or five cuttings as an experiment and they all "took."

TL

[eskinola]

I didn't have any luck at all growing rosemary from seeds, but I did find that it was easy to grow from cuttings. I started four or five cuttings as an experiment and they all "took."

TL
DId you root the rosemary in soilless mix (what kind) or in water?

[eskinola]

I have found that germination rates of seeds and cuttings are dramatically higher when I use a heated seedling mat. I put the planted seeds in a ziplock back and leave 2-3" open for ventilation, and put glass jars of cuttings on the mat, and voila! I've found that it works better than willow water and rooting powder. It cost me $20 but has paid for itself in practicality.

[TomatoLover]

DId you root the rosemary in soilless mix (what kind) or in water?

For the rosemary, I dipped the end of each cutting in rooting powder and then stuck it in a small pot of potting soil, the kind that already has plant food in it. I made sure the soil stayed slightly damp and didn't disturb the cuttings until they showed new growth. I didn't cover them in any way.

I've used the ziplock bag method for rose cuttings with good success. I like that method because you can see the roots at the bottom of the bag, which makes it easier to know when to transplant.

TL

[Ms.Lefty]

Re: rosemary from cuttings -

A few years ago, I made my mom a flower arragement that included a few rosemary sprigs. They rooted for her in the vase! So you may have luck rooting them in water.

[wildseed2u]

Hi, I just thought I'd stick my nose in here for a minute, I have grown Rosemary from seeds also, and have had various luck, most of the other herbs that I have grown have not cause me to have fits, although I have grown some rare wild peppers that required me to soak the seeds in bleach to soften the seed coat. I use a seed germinating solution now that really helps to get old and hard to germinate seeds to sprout.
George W. Z5 Mo.

[annindalas]

:confused:

help - for the first time i have two leafs on my seedlings that i am attempting to germinate on my heated mats under lights. i carefully lifted these two or three seedlings out and transferred them to a 3" pot and put them back under the lights. please tell me i did right.

[deb65802]

basil, dill, garlic, chives, onions are all very easy to grown in a sunny window.

I read recently that you can grow allspice. It is a small bush from Africa i think. Has anyone ever heard of doing this?

[dirtundernails]

Hi, you weren't asking me, but I have prostrate rosemary that my baby dumped a handful of gravel on. The pile of gravel held down one stem. We had just moved, so I didn' t look at it for a week or so. When I did, that spot where it touched the dirt was firmly rooted. Cut from momma plant and dig out, voila!