By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON
Master Gardener

SYRACUSE — It isn’t too late to plant annual, perennial and biennial flower seeds for summer blossoms, maybe not this summer, but the following for sure. Why is it necessary to start plants before it’s warm outdoors? Well, for some species, it isn’t too early, directly sown seeds into the ground will remain and sprout when the soil warms to 75 degrees. The danger is if they are super tender, the freezing dew may damage the leaves. We all need a jump start and growing seeds inside gives us that satisfaction!

Some easy to grow inside are marigold and zinnia. They can be started much earlier than April 15, but six weeks is a good amount of time to give them strength to be transplanted after danger of frost which is May 15, when the soil is warm. Select your seeds from the garden center or the seed exchange, sponsored by master gardeners, or garden club friends. The directions for how many days to bloom are listed on the back of the seed package.

forget-me-not and hosta lily seedlings

Potting soil is not recommended for starting seeds inside. Use soilless, or seed start mix and amended, with worm castings for fantastic results. The recipe is 1/3 castings and 3/4 plant mix*. Pour growing mix into a large bucket and moisten with warm water. Fill your containers to just below the rim. Plant your seeds according to direction on your seed packet. The seeds need 75 degrees constant temperature, moisture and lights. Cover the soil with a hood of plastic wrap. Once they have germinated and have a second leaf, they can be moved to a southwest window sill or outside into a cold frame. They will still need constant warm, moisture and lights, white cool fluorescent 40W, or “gro lights” at close range 4 inches.

Forget-me-not

Forget-me-not or Myosotis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. This is one of my favorite plants and the blue lacy flowers are just perfect for the Indiana Bicentennial theme. These are cold hardy and may be used as a ground cover. These sometimes bloom again with cool fall weather. After they bloom let the seeds fall to the ground, for natural direct sow. The seeds will germinate during the warm summer months, if kept moist and in part shade. They are a wonderful companion plant to lilies. They like the shade from the leaves of the lily and moisture that lilies need as well.

Under my homemade, square open frame with screen covering, are forget-me-not and hosta lily seedlings and next to the frame is a ground cover of forget-me-not. Some frames are buried a little in the g round, but this area next to the house with southern exposure gives the perfect protection seedlings need.

The display area for seeding may be made of discarded materials that have been assembled to protect the positive seeding environment. The emphasis of the project is to start seed growth, not a formal finished esthetic setting. This philosophy is based on “use it up, make it do, or do without”. This process creates its own décor, some may call it recycling.

ground cover

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Corson is a graduate of Adams Central High School, Manchester University and Ball State University. She and her husband, Ron, were married and enjoyed many years of traveling before they settled at Lake Papakeechie to raise their family. Soon after moving to the Syracuse area, Corson joined the Syracuse/Wawasee Garden Club and then became a Kosciusko County Master Gardener in 2002, the same year she retired from teaching.

“Early on my interest in gardening came from a lineage of farmers and their wives, including three generations of generosity, giving me an enormous collection of heritage trees, shrubs and flowers. History and traveling has given me special interest in native flowers, hosta, the art of bonsai and many plants that have been naturalized.”

Individuals who wish to contact Corson for further information or questions may email her at [email protected].