Re: seedlings
- To:
- Subject: Re: seedlings
- From: M* T*
- Date: Fri, 9 Apr 1999 00:22:34 -0400
Nancy,
If they have just germinated, you need to wait until they have developed
true leaves before you do much at all with them. If your six packs are the
divided kind, you can leave them in there until you start seeing roots at
the drain holes and then pot up to a 3.5 inch pot. If they are the kind
that are one oblong deep tray, as soon as your plants have true leaves,
prick them out and pot on. I find that pots smaller than 3 inch dry out
too fast, so have quit using them for anything, no matter how small the
seedling.
If it 'twere I, I would pot them on once they have true leaves and keep
potting them on as they outgrow their pots. Some may get large enough for
you to plant out this season, but my experience is that if you have an
already going border with mature plants in it, seedlings and young liners
can tend to get swamped while you aren't looking, so are best held in pots
if you have no nursery bed, until they are sturdy enough to fend for
themselves.
Digitalis should be ready to set in place in early fall for bloom next
year.
Agastache, as I recall, grows pretty quickly, too and may be ready to set
out where you want them to grow this summer.
Anything labeled as slow or erratic can be exactly that and sometimes take
a year or more to germinate :-) Don't give up on them yet. In fact, with
perennials, I will hold pots for at least a couple of years before giving
up on them.
If they don't germinate in the next month or so, they may need a cold spell
and you will need to leave the ungerminated pots outside for the winter in
a protected place, preferably covered with screenwire, and kept moist if it
doesn't rain.
Cimicifuga, for instance, needs two wintering periods before much
germination - you can get a few the first year, but most will wait until
the second.
If in doubt about what your particular seeds need, check out Tom Clothier's
site - he has a long list of perennials in his germination database...
http://www.anet-chi.com/~manytimes/page52.htm
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
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----------
> From: Nancy Lowe <nlowe@hotmail.com>
> Date: Thursday, April 08, 1999 11:21 PM
>
> Okay folks. I planted my perennial seeds, now what?
>
> I planted them in six-packs, and most of them are up. I've been told
that they should go into a "nursery bed" for the first year, but I really
don't have a good place to do that. Would it be better to go ahead and put
them out in their intended spots, or put them up into bigger pots and hold
them until next year? Should I wait until they are somewhat rootbound in
their little pots to mess with them?
>
> Germination has been interesting. Has ranged from nearly 100%
(agastache) to about 5% (one digitalis variety). I'm wondering whether
some of them just haven't come up yet (supposed to be "slow and erratic")
or if I should replant.
>
> Today, I saw the first blooms on our Zepherine Drouhin roses. My dogwood
is in bloom, along with bletilla, late daffodils and tulips, wood
hyacinths...the iris and hyacinths are about done. I believe spring is
here!!
>
> Nancy Lowe
> Arkansas, zone 7
>
>
>
>
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