On Thu, 5 Dec 2002 14:25:06 -0000, "MC Emily"
wrote:

To pull all the points together here, if I sow the seeds in compost in a
tray, cover it with glass and put it somewhere where it will get very low
temperatures but be protected from being eaten, am I on the right track?
How low does the temperature have to get? I have a shed with a south facing
window it could go in but I have to have a frost beater on at night because
my washing machine and dryer are in there (we're in the middle of renovating
our house). Would that be OK for the seeds or would it be too warm? And
what about watering? Do I lightly water to start with and the moisture will
be retained because of the glass? Blimey, I'm sounding veeeery amateurish
here, aren't I?

Not amateurish, just someone at the start of a serious gardening
avocation. There's lots to learn, and a large proportion of it
has to be learned in the hardest way imaginable, by making
mistakes that kill the plants. It's very humbling, when you stop
and think about it.

One recommendation: do *not* keep the labels of plants that have
died!

Turning to your specific situation, if you think that sowing seed
of hardy plants (not necessarily cowslips) might become a regular
event in your life, then maybe it's time to cobble together a
coldframe. Use an old window sash as the cover and cheap lumber
for the sides. Site it where it gets good light but not a lot of
direct sun, esp. in summer -- you don't want you plants to bake.

A coldframe is the perfect place to germinate things like
cowslips that do best with winter chilling.

The single most important thing about coldframe design (imho, of
course) is the front-to-back depth. Be sure that when you are
kneeling in front of the thing you can *easily* reach a plant at
the back and lift it out. A coldframe suitable for someone tall
and strong man will be deeper, front to back, than one for
someone short and weak. There is something to be said for a
two-fronted design, btw.

--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada