Shell91 wrote:

I have started some seeds, red sunflowers, which I got from my aunt and
morning glories along with various fruit seeds (tangelo, nectarine, peach,
and pluot, and orange I think) I live in zone 9 and it's a long way from
getting cold here. Has anyone ever started seeds in the fall and kept them
going through the winter so they were ready to plant in the spring? I plan
on keeping them in the garage until it gets cold, then bring them inside. I
also plan to start some coleus seeds the same way.
Any advice and help is welcome
Shell

Shell, sunflowers and coleus are an annuals . . . now, it might
be warm enough in your zone that they'll grow all winter; but,
once they bloom, they're done. Some morning glories are annuals,
some are not. The annual ones will do just like the sunflowers;
the pernnial ones aren't going to be happy with the light levels
in an house. The fruit seeds should be OK if you can give the
plants lots of sun . . . however, you need to be aware that the
seed of a fruit will not necessarily -- indeed, usually does not
-- match the parent. In addition, many citrus have sterile
seeds. Finally, fruit trees can take up to ten years to become
productive when grown from seed.

Typically, I recommend that, unless you have a true greenhouse,
you not try to get into the project of moving plants in and out
of the house. Most plants that do well outdoors don't do well in
an house . . . it's too dry and dark.

If you want to plant seeds for the following year, the two schema
normally followed are to:

1. Plant out perennial [and very cold hardy annual] seed in the
fall or late winter. It will start growing as soon as conditions
are OK in the spring.

2. Start annual seed in flats 6-12 weeks before you plan on
planting it out. This generally requires a dedicated
growing-space with appropriate lighting, heat, and air
circulation.

Chris Owens




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