itching to get back outside and start 1st minibog

[ahortman]

I just got another bunch of CP seeds and am so ready to get back out to my garden. I was planning a pond, but I got addicted to CPs these last few months. I have some seed out of strat and (hopefully) germinating. My new seeds are like the others, so I thought I'd experiment with these and build a few bogs.
Has anyone started a bog from seeds? I've looked at all of the beautiful bog pictures of the mature plants (and I have some to put out, too), but I'm going to try starting the seeds outside instead of in the fridge. I have S. alata, S. leucophylla, S. purpurea, D. filiformis and VFT seeds.
I live in Memphis (7b), so it's still chilly and will continue to be long enough to match the indoor strat reqirements. It'll probably freeze a few more times, but I'm doing small minis, so I can pull them into the garage on freeze nights. And the last forecasted freeze dates are thru mid-March.
My first garden was last year, and everything I started inside died when I tried to move it outdoors, if it even grew at all. But everything I planted outright came up beautifully, much to my surprise and delight.
I've read all the threads and then some about bogs, so I have an idea what to do.
Does anyone have experience with this? I'm gonna give it a go, but wouldn't mind some advice/comments/joyous shouts of yes (or no). I've just started (probably too early in my CP life) trying seeds. Been growing CPs for (wow) only six months now, but have been mostly successful. Thanks ahead.
Angela

[elgecko]

Angela,
CP's are definitely addicting aren't they? LOL

I have started many of my temperate seeds by placing them in the damp pots and letting them in my unheated garage for 4 - 6 weeks. Temps are usually around 50 degrees with really cold nights getting to the lower 40's. These temps seem to work perfect for the seeds.
I then move the pots upstairs to the south facing window. After 3 weeks or so the seeds start to germinate. I have some Sarr's just sprouting now this way.

As for you little seedling you moved outside and they died, I hope you did not just drop them out in full sun.
When I move small seedlings outside for the first time they get placed on the north side of the house. They get a short amount of direct sunlight early morning and a little late evening in this position with bright indirect light the rest of the day. I may keep them there for over half a season to a full year till they are bigger and stronger before moving them to full sun all day.
You must be very careful with seedlings, keeping them wet at all times. If they dry out a little most if not all will be lost. I know. I lost several location data Sarr's I start this way. Letting them get larger gives the plants time to get there roots deeper in the soil in case of any drying that may happen.
Hope this helps and good luck with your seed.

[ahortman]

Thanks again. I was just going to plant them in pots in their future locations-on my sunny porch-and let them go from there. But the garage idea is better and I will do it that way.
Just so you know, I did NOT just dump a bunch of babies out into full sun last year. Most of the seedlings came in very weak and leggy, so were unhealthy to start with.
Do you think it would be a good idea to mulch with some chopped live or dried LFS once they are out of the garage? I was reading some of the threads about birds, so I know I need to keep a screen over the minis for a while. Although my cat killed so many birds last year I'm not sure if they'll come back:(. We put a bell on her and everything. Then just started a kill chart on the fridge when that didn't work.
I'm glad you mentioned the three week or so germination time. I couldn't find that anywhere. Also, with the seedlings that I already have started inside in peat and sand, with a bit of just sand on top, I'm starting to get some algae on the surface. Just in one of the containers, though. It seems to be spreading and is very thin, but I have no clue if this will hurt the emerging seedlings. Any ideas?
Angela