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Re: Thistles, dandelions

Hello.

Uh, oh, someone said Milk Thistle... Dandelion collector should have
been fair warning! :-)

I used to grow this, and got little (less than 2%) from surface sowing
and light covering, I've planted it as deep as 1/2 inch and got
consistent germination, although irregular and much prolonged. I've
seldom failed it in covered trays or pots/cups although it needs air
immediately much worse than many plants, like most of the composites
I've tried that way. 

I don't know where it gets it's reputation for weediness, I've not seen
it be aggressive, it isn't perennial and it did have much trouble
reseeding itself. Also there is nothing on the seeds capable of causing
them to be airborne. They are actually rather heavy.

Milk Thistle is increasingly sold as a medicinal, due to occurance of
rare flavonoid neo-lignans like Silymarin. That's in fact where I got
the seeds, in a healthfood/ vitamin store for medicinal use. Christopher
Hobbs I think it is, has a book devoted to the subject.

I am interested to know what anyone might be expecting Galactites or
Ivory Thistle in these respects, and of Silybum marianum "Adriana", the
white form of Milk Thistle, these are not technically resticted by law
in WA, unlike S. marianum. 

Galactites tomentosa overwintered last winter in Zone 5, and lived to
produce seed the second year.

I am interested, though, in what Silybum marianum does in a more
Mediterranean climate than here, will it flower more continuously if cut
back (and/or well-watered?) Would Galactites do this also? 

Good gardening!
Rob 
ChroniAbaloni@webtv.net
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