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Growing From Seed - Page 2

© Marge Talt

Bienniels germinate and put on a bit of growth the first year, live over the winter as rosettes of leaves and flower, set seed and die the second season. Most of these are pretty hardy. They are best started in late spring or summer for transplanting to their permanent homes in late summer or fall. You can, of course, start them earlier, but there's no real need to do so. Most of them will germinate readily in warmth and also need bright light to grow on well.

Perennials live for more than two years, generally dying down to a crown or roots each winter. Most perennials will need at least two growing seasons to reach flowering size, some require more time than this. A few, if planted early enough, will flower late in their first season. Growing perennials from seed is where it starts to get interesting because different species have specific requirements that must be met if the seed is to germinate. Some have ephemeral seed that needs to be sown immediately it is ripe for best and fastest germination because drying causes complex changes in the seed, inducing germination inhibiting chemicals. Using dry stored seed does not mean it will never germinate, but it reduces the percentage that will germinate, in many cases, and increases the time required considerably; often meaning additional periods of cold stratification, soaking or other extra efforts.

Some Genera With Ephemeral Seed
Aconitum Anemone Asarum Colchicum Corydalis Cyclamen Dicentra	Eranthis Erythronium Galanthus Glaucidium, Helleborus Hepatica Jeffersonia	Mertensia Ranunculus Salix Sanguinaria Shortia Thalictrum Trillium

Woody Plants (trees, shrubs and vines) are often a bit tricky, some having extended dormancy and requiring long or double periods of cold stratification...or a trip through some bird's gut. As they say, "challenging". For instance, Cornus florida, the common native dogwood, needs at least one hundred forty days at 40F (4.44C). If you have cold winters, it's best sown in beds or pots outside. If you can't guarantee this temperature outside, sow in damp media or damp paper towels in the refrigerator. It should germinate in a week or so once brought into warm temperatures.

Two Perennials With Different Needs

Seeds come in all shapes and sizes, from large, like Acanthus, which can be a half inch long (1.27 cm) to dusty fine, like the chaff-like seed of Bletilla striata. Some germinate like mustard and cress with no real effort on the part of the gardener. Some have more exacting requirements. Both of these require more than just poking them into the soil.

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