Identifying seedlings- more newbie questions
Redpaint59
we planted a seed mixture with about 14 different wildflower varieties. They
are getting to be about 1/2" to 1 inch tall at this point.
Part of the fun is going to be learning to identify them. Are plants typically
identifiable at this stage? If not, how long should I wait? Can anyone
recommend a book or other resource which might have information that would
help? I'd like to start working on that pretty soon, as they're growing fast!
Thanks again; this group has been just terrific so far with all my little
newbie questions, and reading the group is really helping to inspire me.
Best,
Elle
Zhanataya
wrote:
> Can anyone
>recommend a book or other resource which might have information that would
>help? I'd like to start working on that pretty soon, as they're growing fast!
The best source for me is the WildSeed Farms catalog.
Zhan
Underwood Gardens
they may be identified. At that point, you'll have to find books that have clear
pictures of the plants in the seed mix you sowed and match the seedling leaves to
the pictures. I don't know if you're growing vegetables, herbs or flowers,
however, one of the best books for identifying herbs is "Culpepper's Color
Herbal", edited by David Potterton. It covers a pretty good range of plants and
actually includes some vegetables.
I have to warn you - starting plants from seeds is addictive! That's how I got
into the seed business.
Keep growing,
Mayo Underwood
Underwood Gardens - heirloom seed specialists
http://www.underwoodgardens.com
Redpaint59 wrote:
> I have a bunch of new seedlings coming up, and I have no idea what they are, as
> we planted a seed mixture with about 14 different wildflower varieties. They
> are getting to be about 1/2" to 1 inch tall at this point.
>
> Part of the fun is going to be learning to identify them. Are plants typically
> identifiable at this stage? If not, how long should I wait? Can anyone
> recommend a book or other resource which might have information that would
> help? I'd like to start working on that pretty soon, as they're growing fast!
>
D. Michael McIntyre
>identifiable at this stage? If not, how long should I wait?
With enough experience you can identify some things at that stage. I
can recognize zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, love-in-a-mist, four
o'clocks, calendulas, marigolds, perhaps a few others from the shape
of their seed leaves alone.
In most other cases it's easier if you wait a bit to see what the
first set of true leaves looks like.
Experience is your best friend here. Take notes, see what happens,
and next year you'll know what to expect.
---
D. Michael McIntyre | mmci...@swva.net | USDA zone 6a in sw VA
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/index.html
Have you hugged a tree today?
Jeff
Underwood Gardens wrote:
>
> After the first 2 leaves that appear, seedlings get their "true" leaves, by which
> they may be identified. At that point, you'll have to find books that have clear
> pictures of the plants in the seed mix you sowed and match the seedling leaves to
> the pictures. I don't know if you're growing vegetables, herbs or flowers,
> however, one of the best books for identifying herbs is "Culpepper's Color
> Herbal", edited by David Potterton. It covers a pretty good range of plants and
> actually includes some vegetables.
Hey awesome, that's what mine are doing right now, my cataria plants.
They had two roundish kinda leaves at the top of a string like stem, and
now they're getting two more leaves that are not roundish, it's more
like a real catnip leaf. Then I guess they get three, etc ? :)
> I have to warn you - starting plants from seeds is addictive! That's how I got
> into the seed business.
No doubt - I planted my first seed a few weeks ago and now I don't have
room in the house for all the fluorescent lights LOL.
Jim Lewis
"Redpaint59" <redpa...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000407094903...@ng-fw1.aol.com...
> I have a bunch of new seedlings coming up, and I have no idea what they
are, as
> we planted a seed mixture with about 14 different wildflower varieties.
They
> are getting to be about 1/2" to 1 inch tall at this point.
>
typically
> recommend a book or other resource which might have information that would
> help? I'd like to start working on that pretty soon, as they're growing
fast!
>
> Thanks again; this group has been just terrific so far with all my little
> newbie questions, and reading the group is really helping to inspire me.
>
> Best,
>
> Elle
>
Well usually these "wildflower" mixtures will list each flower type and the
percentages of each in the mixture. Then you need to get a general
wildlflower book -- the library will do for a start, and look for info on
each of the listed plants. Chances are more than good that the
"wildflowers" in your mixture were not native to your area of the world
(someone gave me a wildflower mixture for Christmas this year and more than
half of the so-called wildflowers were European imports!) I still planted
it and am enjoying it, but wildflowers they ain't -- at least not around
here.
Next year you might check in at a nearby "native nursery" and see what mixes
they may have. That way you have a better chance of getting wildlflowers
that belong in your neighborhood.
Jim Lewis - jkl...@nettally.com - Tallahassee, FL