Best flowers to grow from seed

[nancyruhl]

Ginny, hope it is helpful.

Also wanted to mention that I noticed that the beautiful orange cosmos I mentioned in a post above is on the seed racks and is being sold by Burpee as "Cosmic Orange".

[uno]

Thanks for all the great suggestions Worth, AlittleSalt, Linda, nancyruhl, Nattybo!, roper2008, guruofgardens, bjbebs, KarenO ,clkeiper, and Ginny.

I remember as a little kid growing Zinnias, Petunias and Marigolds. None were in grown in containers though.

I'm looking forward to starting some off and hoping my Mom will like them!

Jim

[TexasTycoon]

Last year I started an annual cut flower mix from seed indoors in February, and a couple of the flowers are still alive today. The main ones that came up were zinnia, celosia (cockscomb), and a few bachelor's buttons, so I'd recommend those. The celosia aren't really all that flowery looking, but they have beautiful height and color to them (burgundy and gold and pink and purple) and would still look great in a vase.

This year, I've apparently gone mad and am starting oriental poppies and black hollyhocks indoors. I have no idea if they'll work out, especially in containers (hollyhocks get 5-6 feet tall!), but I'm determined to try! Seeds are so cheap that it's fun and easy to experiment a little and take more risks than you would with transplants.

[nancyruhl]

This is the root system that developed on my cuttings of sweet potato vine made about 10 days ago using the clear plastic container. I am potting them up today to make room for more cuttings in the box.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by nancyruhl

This is the root system that developed on my cuttings of sweet potato vine made about 10 days ago using the clear plastic container. I am potting them up today to make room for more cuttings in the box.

Mine are still hanging from the potato.
Worth

[nancyruhl]

Cute, Worth. But it does bring up a good question. I have tried to make "starts" from sweet potatoes unsuccessfully. I try to get them started in flats at the one nursery I know that carries them. But you have to be at the right place at the right time to get them. Last year I plopped myself at the door to grab a flat as they came off the truck. Wonder if I made some cuttings from the vines "hanging from the potato" i could get more plants. Sounds like an experiment for this summer.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by nancyruhl

Cute, Worth. But it does bring up a good question. I have tried to make "starts" from sweet potatoes unsuccessfully. I try to get them started in flats at the one nursery I know that carries them. But you have to be at the right place at the right time to get them. Last year I plopped myself at the door to grab a flat as they came off the truck. Wonder if I made some cuttings from the vines "hanging from the potato" i could get more plants. Sounds like an experiment for this summer.

I'm going to give it a try I have seen folks start the slips in water.
Once I get a stand going I wont have to do it anymore here in the south.

Worth

[Worth1]

Okay I'm back and it works really fast.
Here they are.
And more on the way I have three sweet potatoes going.

To answer your question yes you can keep starting sweet potato plants from the vines.
Any place they hit the soil they take root or you can cut the and replant in moist soil.

Once a person gets these things going there is no reason to have to ever buy them again.
Where I live if you leave some potatoes in the ground they will keep coming back.
These potato/plants have been out in the cold all winter.

Worth
IMG_20160127_9505.jpg

IMG_20160127_0271.jpg

IMG_20160127_23147.jpg

[nancyruhl]

Great to know. Thanks for the info.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by nancyruhl

Great to know. Thanks for the info.

Your welcome also every place they take root they grow sweet potatoes all along the vine.
Crazy plant.

Worth