Project "Summer flowers 2009" has launched. This year I'm trying to cultivate Blue Mink (Ageratum houstonianum), French marigold (Tagetes patula), Jasmine Tobacco (Nicotiana alata), Painted Daisy (Chrysanthemum carinatum), Wallflower (Erysimum linifolium).

I started cultivating the seeds by putting them on wet toilet paper and then sealing them in plastic boxes. I'm did this so I can see which seeds will start growing before I put them in any soil.

I wasn't sure this technique would work for all five flowers, but it didn't take long for four of the flowers to start growing in the boxes. So far (three days in) only the Jasmine Tobacco hasn't sprouted. Hopefully it will within a week.

As soon as I discovered the seeds had sprouted I replanted 12 seeds of each plant in their own pelt pieces. This will hopefully give me more than enough flowers for the summer.

This year I will also not be putting a transparent lid over the pelt pieces. I don't want the plants to get accustom to a warm and moist environment. Earlier years when I covered the pelt pieces the plants were visually shocked/distressed by the climate change once the lid was removed. I want them to be accustom to a "harsh" environment from the beginning.

A little French marigold sprout.