Oh my do they always bloom this early? We won't have ours until April. The temperatures really have the plants guessing this year. It was 65 yesterday and it will be in the teens tonight. Hope most of mine decide to wait until it stays warm, but I do have some daffodils with leaves about 4 inches above the soil.
Posts: 2587 | Location: Ohio | Registered: Feb 25, 2006
Oh my! One of my hyacinths has a bud but they haven't bloomed yet. My early daffs are close to being done but there are buds on the next ones due to bloom. Love that smell!
Isn't it strange...you are so far north of me and yours are blooming already & mine aren't. We are supposed to get down to freezing tonight!
"The soil is the source of life, creativity, culture and real independence." David Ben-Gurion
They're gorgeous VE! Very early but a welcome sight all the same!
But we had one neighbor whose early daffs, a small white cluster type, mostly bloomed in Dec and are almost all gone now. There are also flower quince and a whole line of white irises blooming at one house in another part of the neighborhood. Hope the trip down to the mid to low 20s tomorrow night doesn't kill the remaining iris buds, since I'm sure enjoying seeing them each time I go that way.
Luv R Pups ~ It's our relationships, with God and with each other, that really count in life. ~ ~~ Gardening, a healthy addiction! ~~
Posts: 4296 | Location: NE Metro, Atlanta. GA, Zone 8 | Registered: Apr 22, 2004
Thanks girls........we took a trip down into the low 20's ourselves last night. The blooms I left on the plants are still ok, I checked when I braved the nawth wind to fill the bird feeders.
Yes, these are a wee bit early..usually mid to late February....but then, our weather has been so erratic..poor plants just don't know what to do.
Azaleas are starting to bloom around here, my lorapetalums are blooming, the Indian hawthornes are putting out new growth in prep for blooms. Yep, everything is confused. We're back to normal winter weather but that's pretty warm.
Vera, Love Daffys! First signs of spring around here and love seeing them pop up!! What is the normal outside planting time for you if you want to plant seeds directly in the garden? I can't wait till I start to see seeds for sale in the stores. Love it when I see 'signs of spring" in stores, like seeds, bulbs, pots, soil, mulch, etc. for sale in the stores!!! Then I know for sure SPRING is around the corner!
Wavy, direct sowing depends on soil warmth. With us, like everywhere else, it all depends on the weather. If we have an early spring and the soil warms, then we can direct sow by mid March.....if not, then you wait. I think I read somewhere that you need sustained nights above 50° for the soil to warm.
I trust we are talking about flower seeds and not cold hardy veggies like peas, onions, cabbage, etc, right.
I'm sure this isn't exactly as precise as you wanted, but it's the best I can do. You have to have sustained warm days & nights for good germination. Go out and take a handful of soil.....if it feels damp & cold, forget it. Try again after several warm days & nights..if the soil feels good in your hand, then go for it.
Vera, I know seeds germinate when the soil warms up! I was just curious when ya'll down South start your usual outdoor planting. I know your spring comes earlier but I was curious when do you start "happily planting away"? Around my neck of the woods, it doesn't warm up until about the first week of May.... A couple of yrs. ago we had a very, very warm Easter week (80's!). So I planted lots of seedlings in containers outside. The rest of the month of April was so cool out, they didn't do too well and I felt bad for planting so early. When do you plant outdoors? I bet you don't even have to bother with starting seeds indoors weeks ahead, right? Sunflowers take FOREVER for the seeds to form. OMG, it's way into Oct., a terrible long wait. If I plant Sunflowers, I will start them Early! I CANNOT WAIT THAT LONG! Summer is long gone by Oct. (Now do you understand my question?!)
Well, VE isn't as far south as I am but right now, you "might" be able to put seeds in the ground. Personally, I'd wait another couple of weeks at least to see how the weather does. I start lots of differnt things early. Since we have had such a mild winter this year, I have bunches of volunteer sunflowers coming up in the yard from the bird feeders. And today.....I saw some hosta tips pushing through! This is WAY early for my hostas. I'm going to plant a few veggie seeds next week I think. Stuff that can take a cold spell like radishes & lettuce. Tomatoes can be planted out in about a month, but might need some cover if a frost happens.
"The soil is the source of life, creativity, culture and real independence." David Ben-Gurion
Lucky you!! It snowed a little bit yesterday and the day before, but it will melt today. Predicting a Heavy snow this Friday. This will be our first heavy snow this yr. Can't wait for Feb. to be over, literally counting the days! This is typically the coldest/snowiest month of the year. I never have any 'volunteer' Sunflowers. :-( You and Vera are so lucky!!! I love to see anything come up the following spring!! (besides weeds that is!) I am going to plant some sunflower seeds nice and early this yr. Want to see them in bloom sooner rather than later!!! Happy planting!!!This message has been edited. Last edited by: Wavy,
