Seed Talk #2 - Cool Flowers Indoor Seed Starting FAQs, Part 1

Ready to start your Cool Flowers seeds but still have some lingering questions? Join Lisa and Layne as they discuss some of the most frequently asked questions about starting cool-season hardy annuals indoors from seed. They discuss heat mats, light requirements, germination troubleshooting, and more. Listen to the podcast and help set yourself up for Cool Flowers seed starting success!
The video version of Lisa and Layne’s conversation featuring a slideshow of the questions discussed will be posted to our KZbin channel. If there is a question or topic you would like to hear discussed on a future episode of “Seed Talk”, please fill out the form linked below. We would love to hear your suggestions!
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The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
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#flowerfarming #flowerfarm #flowertips

[@AndreaDamascceno]

Nice tips. And I like the calm atmosphere.

[@Hayley-sl9lm]

I would love it if you guys would do an episode on seed dormancy and treatments like scarification & cold stratification.

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Great idea, Hayley! Putting this on my list of potential future episodes - thanks ☺

[@cindygearhart1206]

I did this last year and I was very successful now people want me to give class on this I saw its all available on Gardeners workshop thank you for all you guys do

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

So happy to hear you had success, Cindy! Your cool flowers garden must have been beautiful 😍 Thanks for watching, and I hope next year's garden is even more spectacular! 🤗

[@cynthiagustafson2541]

Thank you, ladies. This was so helpful! Now I see that I shouldn't have been putting my seeds on heat and light at the same time.

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

So glad you found the video helpful, Cynthia! Thank you so much for watching 😊

[@kimwatts1373]

Great information! I can't stop watching y'all.

[@brendabriggle178]

Thank you I am learning so much from you two!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Thank you, Brenda! So happy you are enjoying this series 🤗

[@theadley774]

Thank you, looking forward to next Saturday

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

So happy you enjoyed it 😊Our next "Seed Talk" episode is scheduled to be released on Thursday. Thanks so much for watching! 🤗

[@juliegunderson7250]

Lisa and Layne work so well together! Every show has me going back and taking notes!

[@clairegill7891]

Listened to this on the podcast and had to leave a comment to say thank you! looking forward to part 2! 😍🌸🇬🇧

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Thanks for taking the time to come over and leave a comment on KZbin, Claire! So happy you enjoyed it 🤗

[@lisar9847]

Layne, I very rarely comment but I needed to let you know you are such a wonderful resource and a wealth of knowledge. I love listening to you. Seed talk is such a great idea you had. You were made to do this show!🌻

[@cindanelson2690]

So thankful for all this information!!!!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

So thrilled you found it helpful, Cinda! Thank you for watching 🤗

[@rachelle3445]

Thank you

[@daiseegray9110]

Great explanation, I watch Northlawn flower Farm , she always refer to your book and suggests viewers purchase the book. I have it and get info! 🌼🐝

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

So glad you are enjoying the book and this podcast series! Thanks so much for watching 🤗

[@allenbeachy3511]

I learned about cool flowers last year. I can't wait to hear what you have to share! Anne

[@laurengardner4398]

Me too! It was too late to start any last year, so this fall will be my first attempt!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Thanks so much for watching! If there is ever a topic you would like to hear discussed on the podcast, please feel free to let me know! ☺

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

@@laurengardner4398 Congratulations on planting your first official cool flowers garden, Lauren! I would love to know what you are growing 😊Thanks so much for watching!

[@allenbeachy3511]

Thank you! I always enjoy the podcasts.

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

@@allenbeachy3511 💚☺💚

[@lani_lucia]

LOVEEEE

[@cbak1819]

Great tip on the misting soil blocks.

[@christinegunzel57]

This was great information! Thank you for doing this

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Thanks so much for watching, Christine! If there is ever a topic you would like to hear discussed on the podcast, please feel free to let me know! 😊

[@cbak1819]

I have learned in my growing space any seed that is surface sowed and or says needs light to germinate it's put under LED grow lights after seeding. No significant heat from those. Legginess is gone as well.🎉

[@veronicaotero2885]

I use a dry popsicle stick to lightly press surface sown seeds into the soil.

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Great suggestion, Veronica! Thanks for sharing ☺

[@carolleimbach6407]

Thank you!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Thanks for watching, Carol! 🤗

[@user-im4zw2tw9s]

Excellent information!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

So happy you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching 😊

[@judithweaver3179]

I'll have to try that with my Ammi Majus! It's not peeking at all yet and I so badly want to grow it this year! Thanks!

[@michaelandlyndsey5415]

Thank you for the info! Love the explanations. So listening a couple of this dawned on me. My aha moments. 1) it’s called a GROW light not a germination light. I just always assumed you started seeds under a light. 2) It seems the soil block size would be determined based on how deep you would plant a seed which is based on seed size! Thanks y’all!!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Excellent point regarding it being called a "grow" light versus a "germination" light! 💡Regarding the soil block size, yes - the seed size determines the block size to use, with larger seeds (such as sweet peas) requiring the 2" blocks. Interestingly, Lisa does not typically cover seeds planted in the 3/4" blocks. Instead, she just pushes the seeds down into the blocks to varying degrees based on their requirements. Thanks so much for watching and for sharing your aha moments! 🤗

[@itsbloomingflowers]

Thank you 😊 am doomed 😂 I started my sweet peas too early lol

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

😂We recommend starting sweet pea transplants 2 to 3 weeks before you intend to plant them out into the garden. Hopefully you are not doomed and there are some beautiful sweet peas in store for you in the spring! Thank you so much for watching 🤗

[@gardengypsy70]

Thank you for this following along and enjoying all your wisdom! I’m wondering if either of you ladies have any experience sowing Viola seeds? If not can you point to someone who has experience in sowing Violas? Any fellow followers have any suggestions?

[@lisafeck1537]

I believe, even if you are not a commercial grower, you can join ASCFG, Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers, if I am wrong about that, hopefully someone will correct me. I am a new member, & I am not sure. Seems to me, the abundant teaching, research, experience, could be shared with regular gardeners. Go to the website, call them, they are easy to contact, you can get a quick answer about membership. Yes, there is a membership fee. A human answers the phone. A very kind, considerate, knowledgeable person answered the 1st time I called. IF, ASCFG is not for gardeners, I would then search How To Grow Viola from seed/extention. Searching all publically available extension publications, sometimes video conference type information. Depending on whether you get what you need from that search, I would next call or email your closest extension office. In my experience so far, they will answer with what they personally know, direct you to another personand usually a link to a publication. I hope you find what you need for success growing.

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Hello, Gabrielle! Pansies (Viola x wittrockiana) are included in the "Cool Flowers" book and are listed as winter hardy to USDA zone 7. Sowing indoors is recommended, as is lightly covering the seed. As always, make sure the seed is in firm contact with the soil when sowing. There are many varieties of violas, and your seed packet should provide additional information regarding days to germinate and the number of weeks ahead of transplant to start the seed indoors. Hope this helps, and thank you so much for watching! 🤗

[@franlepine3206]

I love your channel 🌺. Thank you so much for all the amazing help😊 I’m wondering about mallows? Malva and lavetera in particular. Ar they cool or warm flowers?

[@cherylheard1969]

First starting of cool flowers. How do you plant the scabiosa seed? It is so big! Which side goes into the soil?

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Hello, Cheryl! Are you starting in plug trays or soil blocks? 🌱

[@lisafeck1537]

Never planted scabiosis before, I will be though to fall plant. I'd like to know some details too.

[@lisafeck1537]

@@LayneAngeloTGW I have both options.

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

@@lisafeck1537 Lisa plants her scabiosa seed pointy side down in 3/4-inch soil blocks. Hope this helps! 🤗

[@cherylheard1969]

Thank you Layne. I kind of did them all ways and they came up each way! Nature is amazing. I am doing soil blocks for the first time and loving it!

[@hollypetersen1588]

This was so helpful! Quick question- what type/kind of compost should be used in the 50/50 seed starting mix?

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Hello, Holly! Any type of compost is fine to use, as long as it is finished compost. Thank you for watching, and so happy you found this video helpful! ☺

[@edyhendrix4087]

Do you add the same nutrient amount to plug tray mix as you do in the soil block mix?

[@cbak1819]

Is it 6-8 wks. or 4-6 ? Ok..better wet, is it 6-8 BFF in Fall and 4-6 BLF in Spring ? I heard Lisa say 6-8 in a video, 5 seed starting mistakes. Pertaining to Spring planting .. I'm confused. Thank soo much Layne❤

[@cbak1819]

QUESTION🎉 Ok.. When you say "very early" Spring is that actually when Spring begins as a general rule?

[@cyhomer]

Can you tell me if Saponaria ‘Pink Beauty’ and Mignonette are both considered cool flowers? Ty

[@judyandrews1605]

Do you use the berlap instead of lightly spreading vermiculite as I see some do on KZbin?

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Hello, Judy! Yes, Lisa places wide weave burlap over her soil blocks rather than vermiculite to help with moisture retention at the surface during germination. I actually use both under different circumstances. For most seeds, I use wide weave burlap, however I do use vermiculite to cover certain seeds that I expect to take a very long time to germinate (I sow a variety of seeds that might take up to a month to germinate). Hope that helps, and thanks so much for watching! 😊

[@jjgumba]

Hello! Ordered your book via Amazon a month or so ago, was hoping to receive it in time for Cool Season seed starting. Any advice or knowledge about when it will ship?

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Hello! You will need to contact Amazon regarding your book shipping status. We only sell products through our website (not through Amazon), so we cannot assist you with orders placed on Amazon. Hope you receive it soon! 😊

[@petalacres3686]

I ordered mine as an ebook. Maybe you can cancel your hard copy and order it as an ebook instead on kindle or apple book. Also on her website, under her cool seeds, all of the information regarding growing the flowers in the book is also on her website. I found the book helpful, but I also think I have gained the same information from her website and watching her videos. She really does share all of her knowledge with us each week. Good luck with your cool flowers!!!!