Growing From Seed

Top 2. Mar 24, 1999 4:34 PM

» HollyT - Great job, Marge

That's a great article--I'm printing the whole thing off for future reference.

I started doing seeds a couple of years ago, and find it quite addictive. Love to see those little guys sprout, and marvel at how they know what shape their leaves are supposed to be!

My challenge for this year is to try to get a packet of agapanthus going. Any coaching would be welcome.

-- posted by HollyT

Top 3. Mar 25, 1999 4:46 PM

» Marge_Talt - keep on seeding

Thanks! Emily. I'm so glad you've enjoyed this article.

Don't be discouraged with seeds..just keep at it. I've killed many a seed and even more seedlings in my day, but it's so neat to watch them grow that I just keep trying. You'd be surprised, after a time, it isn't so tough to do anymore.

-- posted by Marge_Talt

Top 4. Mar 25, 1999 4:53 PM

» Marge_Talt - agapanthus

Holly, thanks for the kind words! It is so nice to find what I've written is useful!

Yes, it's always a thrill to watch a seedling poke through the soil. I'm always amazed that some of the microscopic seeds have enough wherewithall to actually produce a plant.

As for your Agapanthus. I grow the plant, but have not tried it from seed. However, looked in my stashed files of posts on lists and one from a gardener in S. CA says they reseed with abandon there, sprouting where they fall, in filtered light when the temperatures are in the 70sF. So, sounds to me like a warm temperature germinator. The Seed Germination Database says 30-90 days at 60-65F in well drained mix, just cover seeds...shouldn't be a tough one. Will be interested in your experiences with them.

-- posted by Marge_Talt

Top 5. Mar 29, 1999 3:05 PM

» dayan - summer sowing

Hi Marge:

You should move up north and then you wouldn't be behind on the seeding at all. Ours are just going in as the last frost date is May 20 or so :-)

I was actually just writing to say that I would be interested in a future article on procedures and appropriate candidates for summer planting because I have more time then and I need both woody and herbaceous perennials. I find that garden magazines etc. are woefully short on information about summer planting unless it's about vegetables.

Great article

Karyn

-- posted by dayan

Top 6. Mar 30, 1999 1:39 AM

» Marge_Talt - summer planting

Hi Karyn,

Well, right season or no, I still sow seeds when I "get around to it" :-)

As for summer planting. Well, you can actually plant just about anything container grown in summer. You can even plant B&B shrubs and trees, but you have to pay a lot of attention to them in the watering department.

The reason, I think, that most magazines and books don't talk about summer planting of ornamentals is that it's a bit trickier to bring them through simply because their need for water is so much greater; they suffer more from loss of roots while in full top growth. And, your average Harry or Sally Homeowner simply sticks whatever they buy in the (generally ill prepared) "dirt" and gives it a drink and forgets about it. Then, the plant dies and they haul the remains back to their local nursery and want a refund.

There are, of course, species of plants that resent disturbance of any kind at specific times in their growth cycle, including summer. But, your basic ornamental plants can be planted as long as the ground isn't frozen.

If you do buy balled and burlaped shrubs or trees in summer, check them carefully and only get them from a nursery that you are certain takes proper care of their plants before sale...this means watering and protecting rootballs with mulch, stuff like that.

Container grown plants don't care when they get in the ground as long as it's soon. They can be a bit rootbound by mid summer, so you have to either check for this before you buy or be prepared to loosen the roots and possibly cut back top growth to compensate. And water - more than you think possible ;-)

-- posted by Marge_Talt

Top 7. Mar 30, 1999 4:44 AM

» dayan - summer sowing

Hi Marge:

I didn't explain myself very well there. I was refering to sowing seeds in flats/beds in the summer, presumably for transplant the following year. I know the nurseries start a batch of seeds in late summer for sale the following year. But I don't know what kinds are appropriate nor how you deal with them over the winter ie. keep them inside under lights or protected outside or what.

Karyn

-- posted by dayan

Top 8. Mar 30, 1999 5:15 PM

» Marge_Talt - summer sowing

Well, Karyn, the only seeds I know need to be sown in summer are bienniels. Early flowering perennials would also be sown then, sort of following nature's way.

If they are sown in nursery beds, they would simply be left there because they would have to be the sort of plants who either need a cold stratification period and wouldn't germinate until the next spring or, in the case of bienniels, their overwintering leaf and crown would be hardy.

Actually, when you get right down to it, there probably isn't any time of year that some seed can't be sown to good effect.

Annuals are generally sown from about January to March, depending on whether they are slow growers, need cool germination or fast growers wanting warmth.

As I said, bienniels are generally sown in late spring or summer so they can form large enough crowns to overwinter for bloom the following season.

Perennials would really depend. The early spring flowering plants with ephemeral seed need to have that seed sown as soon as it's ripe - anywhere from May on, depending on the plant. This also goes for summer flowering plants like Monkshood, whose seed is also ephemeral. Plants like hellebores, whose seed isn't ephemeral, but which develops germination inhibitors if dry stored too long, should be sown anywhere from June to July.

Some perennials germinate readily in warmth so their seed would be sown in spring.

If they need cold stratification, the seed can be sown from fall through about January and left outside or refrigerated.

Guess what I'm meandering on about is that sowing time really depends on the plant:-)

Probably still haven't answered your question..

-- posted by Marge_Talt

Top 9. Mar 30, 1999 6:44 PM

» dayan - Question answered

Hi Marge:

Thanks for the clarification, you provided more than enough for me to do the research. What I should have done in the first place is quote your article, "Most real seedaholics have pretty much finished sowing perennial and woody plant seeds until late summer begins the process again." I always thought that it was just cuttings, annuals and the like that were done at that time of year and I wasn't sure if you were suggesting that "perennial and woody..." could also be started then; hell, I'm excited that it's anything but radishes :-)

Karyn

Sorry to be so dense in suggesting a future article--hubby is on Kosovo tour so I am having trouble stringing coherent thoughts together

-- posted by dayan

Top 10. Mar 31, 1999 8:58 PM

» Marge_Talt - summer seeding

Hi Karyn,

Well, I probably should have been more explanatory with that "late sumer begins..." statement..sorry!

What I really meant is that by this time of year, most perennial and woody plant seeds would have been sown to take advantage of winter's stratification or because their seed had ripened in summer, etc.

If, like me, you don't get around to doing things when you should, you just have to compensate by using the refrigerator and dealing with seedlings that might have been large enough to winter outside, had they been sown and germinated earlier, by protecting them inside or in a greenhouse their first winter...you know, having them running behind normal schedules.

If you know when the seed normally ripens on a plant, you can figure sowing shortly thereafter - no matter what time of year that is, if you see what I mean. I have read of some species whose seed germinates better with some dry storage - can't call which to mind right now, but there are some.

The variations in seed germination requirements are seemingly endless, which is one of the reasons the germination databases, compiled and offered on the web by people like Tom Clothier, are so incredibly valuable to us would-be seed growers. Takes a lot of the guesswork out of the process and removes a lot of the frustration.

Good Grief! If your hubby is in Kosovo, I can well understand your mental state. I do so hope he returns safely soon!! Will keep my fingers crossed for you!

-- posted by Marge_Talt