Seed Talk #4 - Cool Flowers Direct Seeding FAQs, Part 1

Interested in growing larkspur, bachelor buttons, or bells of Ireland? Did you know that some of spring’s most coveted flowers - including these beauties - actually prefer to be sown directly outdoors rather than started indoors as transplants? Join Lisa Mason Ziegler and Layne Angelo as they cover some of the most frequently asked questions about sowing seeds directly in the garden. They discuss some of the advantages and challenges when direct seeding, tips and tricks for sowing this group of plants in fall and very early spring, succession-planting bupleurum, and more. Listen to the podcast and prepare to sow some of your Cool Flowers seeds directly into the garden!
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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[@shomap8747]

This is my night time podcast which I sleep to ❤ ASMR and my passion 😊

[@GinaBDeeming]

Really appreciating Seed Talk series!

[@hadassahjones1025]

You ladies rock my world. I am learning so much from you two.

[@kathyfunk3585]

Hello friends just wanted to say this channel is so good and trustworthy. I have been, binge watching for over a week and absolutely love all the different videos. Iv been a home gardener for 40 years I love flower gardening. I’m hoping to start a small cut flower garden. I wish all of you the best. I hope to be able to take Lisa’s course in the future. God Bless Kathy F.

[@joannho4k]

I love you two gardening smarty pants!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Oh my goodness - you are too kind, JoAnn! 😂 Thank you so much for watching and commenting! 😊🤗😊

[@julesboonen5337]

Amazing. Every video is so full of incredible information. I’m in a zone 9 and am learning so much in my home cutting patch. I just wanted to say Thankyou 🙏💫

[@judyrobinson2282]

I am LOVING the Cool FLower Book! As a zone 8 gardener in the PNW I should be doing them ALL so this fall will be such fun trying some of these, which normally have gone into my spring planting. Who knew they could be planted in the FALL. So can't wait!

[@elizabethmarchesani]

Thank you so much for this episode. I really needed to hear that.

[@user-ev6fi5xu1f]

Love love love all the info!! Thank you for sharing all your knowledge and experience

[@carlaadams8317]

What a great and informative podcast! This sort of question and answer format is spot on for amateurs like myself. Thanks 🙏

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Thanks for the positive feedback, Carla! I think the question and answer format is so helpful, as well. Thank you so much for watching and for taking the time to comment! 🤗

[@josiecantu7518]

always so informative. not sure how i keep missing this live

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Hey, Josie! You are not missing a live event - we actually record our conversation for use as a podcast and post the video version to KZbin 🙂So happy you are finding the "Seed Talk" series informative - thanks so much for watching! 🤗

[@thisisatrium]

Thank you as always Lisa! I have your book Cool Flowers and I watch your videos whenever I can.

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Thanks for watching - glad you enjoyed it! 😊

[@traceyrigney8742]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

You are so welcome, Tracey! So happy you enjoyed it. Have a great day, and thank you for watching! ☺

[@marthaduffy8386]

I was so excited when I saw the title of this podcast. You answered so many of my questions. I can't wait to listen to part 2. Thank you this podcast was really great!!!!

[@marthaduffy8386]

I just went back and saved this video to watch again and again.

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Thank you so much for the kind words, Martha! 🤗 I am thrilled to hear that we answered some of your questions and that you saved this video to reference again in the future. We will be giving a lot of practical tips and tricks in Part 2, so be on the lookout for that next week. Thanks again for the positive feedback, and have a fantastic day! ☺

[@Samantha-ps2vv]

This is great..thank you so much!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Thank you, Samantha! You are so welcome 🤗 Have a great day!

[@trishferrer8209]

Loved this!!! Thank you for the info, esp the bachelor buttons. Now I know why mine never bloomed. Will try agn.

[@lisafeck1537]

Layne. I love this Seed Talk podcast. I am learning so much. Much I have been learning is being reinforced with details. You need to shout out that in the show notes the entire conversation is transcribed. If I want to go to a certain detail, I go to the show notes to read the transcript, I can make clear notes from there, such as lists, or specific suggested steps. Thank you to all at TGW. 🌻🌻

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Such a good point, Lisa! I will try to remember to mention that in the future 😊 Thanks for sharing! 🤗

[@gardengypsy70]

This was great thank you so much ladies!!! Glad I got to catch up my life is taking a bit of a left turn, but I’m not gonna let that stop me from moving forward with my dreams of being a flower farmer!!!! Just a bump in the road😊😊😊

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Thanks so much for watching, Gabrielle! 🤗 Wishing you a very happy 2023! 🥳

[@carolom8411]

Loving this series. Thank you 🙏

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

So glad you are enjoying the "Seed Talk" series, Carol! Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment 🤗

[@mjdawes2980]

Thanks so much!💕🌸

[@karenschwartz5209]

Wow! Thank you!!

[@gr8gardn]

Love this podcast! It takes me a while to watch each one since I stop & put my notes on a big block calendar. Then I can figure out WHEN to do WHAT in my garden as I listen along :) A question I have is whether it is OK to always store all cool flower seeds in the freezer or should they only be in the freezer for a few weeks?

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

I am so thrilled to hear that you are putting the information we are sharing to such good use! 😊 I just answered the question regarding storing seeds in the freezer in your other comment thread, FYI. Thank you so much for watching and for applying what you are learning! 🤗

[@Sarahbalsley]

Hi Layne! I’m a huge fan; I listen to every episode. Great job! Here are a few questions I’m still confused about after listening. 1. Once my seed germinates, and I move it under the grow lights, do I leave it on the heat mat or remove the heat mat? 2. For spring outdoor direct sowing, what is the optimal soil temperature and day and night air temperature for germination? 3. What is the optimal soil temperature and day and night air temperature for indoor germination? These questions are all for cool hardy annuals. Thanks!!!

[@marycain7424]

So many of my questions were answered. Thanks!

[@camillewilson642]

So so helpful...THANK YOU!

[@marcydobbs1653]

This helps.

[@jennduncan4773]

Thank you for the detailed germination timeframe of buplerum! I’ve grown frustrated that I’m just not doing it right but more than likely I’m not recognizing the sprouts since they aren’t as easily visible! Gives me courage to try again!

[@gr8gardn]

Exactly! Me too!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Hello, Jenn! Many people struggle with bupleurum, which is why I wanted to make sure we had a thorough discussion about it in the podcast! You are exactly right - people are often led astray by the sprouts being difficult to see plus the long germination time and preference for cooler temperatures. Please do try again, and let us know if you have better luck this time around. Thanks so much for watching and for sharing your experience! 🤗

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

@@gr8gardn Let us know if you have better luck with your bupleurum going forward! So happy you found this discussion helpful 🤗

[@s.barlow7062]

I’ll be looking for those little weeds coming up among my zinnia seeds. I like to just plant patches here and there to add color to my garden. I envy your blocking process. Bad knees keep me from planting plugs.

[@torihickok649]

Could you share the specifics of turning over your beds between successions?

[@lauramunderloh547]

Hoping I can get an answer. I’m in zone 5 and wondering when I can direct seed the ones you listed for very early spring? Can you go by soil temp, night time temp? It’s a very cold spring and night temps are usually in the lower 20’s still., do row covers help before germination?

[@vanschermerhorn7167]

Just started planting seeds . Is there any book or pamphlet about what seeds prefer direct sowing outdoors verses indoor planting ? I am in zone 9a . Appreciate your help .

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Hello, Van! Yes - Lisa's book "Cool Flowers" lists many of the flowers we talk about and their preferred planting methods. The book is currently out of stock most places while more books are being printed, however I believe an electronic Kindle version is available on Amazon. Another option is to reference our website (The Gardener's Workshop), which lists the preferred planting method for each seed we sell. If a seed can be started either way, the planting method listed first is the generally preferred planting method. Hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any additional questions. Thanks so much for watching, and have a great day! 😊

[@gr8gardn]

Do most cool flower seeds benefit from 2 or more weeks in the freezer? Can they be stored there indefinitely?

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Hello, Barbara! Yes, cool flower seeds do benefit from some time in the freezer, however it is important to make sure you are using desiccants properly prior to placing the seeds in the freezer to ensure your seeds are not damaged. Lisa actually stores her cool flower seeds in the freezer year round, but we recommend two weeks in the freezer prior to sowing if you normally store them otherwise. I would highly recommend listening to our episode of “Seed Talk” titled “Seed Talk: Cool Flowers Indoor Seed Starting FAQs, Part 1”. Starting around 07:32, Lisa and I discuss putting seeds in the freezer and the proper use of desiccants. Hope this helps, and thanks for watching! 😊

[@gr8gardn]

@@LayneAngeloTGW Thanks so much! I have the dessicant and will follow the steps for freezer storage and use. I think I'm going to sort them into 2 freezer packages: start indoors and direct sow. You & Lisa ROCK!!!!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

@@gr8gardn Awww - thanks, Barbara! You are too kind ☺ Great idea to separate your seeds into groups based on how you will be starting them - I do the same thing! Thanks again, and have a great weekend! 🤗

[@moniqueshacklady5057]

Do you cover Larkspur, iv covered with soil and sugar cane mulch. Is that to much?

[@janellnerida8239]

When are you harvesting your fall seeding? Fall or is this wintering over for spring?

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Hello, Janell! I just answered your question on the "Seed Talk: Cool Flowers Direct Seeding FAQs, Part 2" episode, but will post the same response here in case anyone else has the same question after viewing this episode 🙂 Amazingly, these are fall plantings that will winter over and bloom in the spring 😃This group of annuals is called cool-season hardy annuals (aka "cool flowers"). These flowers survive (and actually thrive) in cool to cold conditions. Each of these cool-season hardy annuals has a hardiness associated with it. Which cool flowers you can plant in the fall depends on your hardiness zone. In zone 5b, for example, you can fall-plant cool flowers hardy to zone 5 or cooler (i.e. 5, 4, 3, etc.). You can also plant any of the cool flowers in very early spring (although if you live in an area that moves from cool spring weather to hot, humid summer weather very quickly, the success of very early spring plantings can vary). I would highly recommend you watch our very first "Seed Talk" episode called "Seed Talk: Cool Flowers FAQs", as we took an in-depth look at the entire cool flowers concept in that episode and discuss what to plant and when. Hope this helps, and thanks so much for the question! 🤗

[@janellnerida8239]

@@LayneAngeloTGW thank you Yes.. I will go watch that. Thank you for your feedback

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

@@janellnerida8239 You are so welcome, Janell! We appreciate your feedback, as well - we should make a point of emphasizing that these fall plantings will actually bloom in the spring ☺

[@lisafeck1537]

@@LayneAngeloTGW Layne - *Amazing* is the word to describe the the concept of cool flowers/cold hardy flowers. That we can fall plant for blooms through spring, (or for some with long cool spring temperatures/weather, not me) very early spring plant for blooms throughout spring, IS AMAZING! My gardening world has been changed forever. Great podcast, thank you all at TGW.

[@sherrylubbers8185]

Where is this located, or the zone?