Re: seeding perennials now
- To:
- Subject: Re: seeding perennials now
- From: M* T*
- Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 23:27:29 -0500
> Most nicotiana seeds around generously and does fine all by itself, even
up
> here in cold country. The problem may be that germination takes place
around
> the fourth of July. You may have cultivated all the seedlings away if
you
> are a tidy gardener. I have a group of nicotiana alata (very fragrant)
that
> are perennnial. Before you challenge that statement let me say that they
are
> seeded and rooted into the house foundation, a warm wall due to garage
heat.
> Every spring they are up and blooming with the irises. Seeded plants do
not
> bloom until August. This would indicate that these plants are tougher
than
> you think. They will take some frost in fall as well.
I don't doubt your N. alata at all, based on my N. sylvestris experience.
A sheltered foundation wall would be just the place. I think these two are
fairly similar, aren't they? Large, fleshy roots? I, too, find that those
who return from roots bloom quite early while those from the copious seed
don't bloom until late summer.
Do you find those sold as annuals reseed for you? Those were the ones I
was talking about - with colored flowers - who very occasionally self seed
for me, but not generally. Don't think 'tidy' enters into it in my case:-)
OTOH, N. sylvestris wants to cover the world with seedlings.
> I hesitate to speak to seeding in the warmer zone where the questions are
> coming from as my experience is in the Northeast.
Seems to me that self-seeding should happen more in warmer zones than where
you are??
>
> A large number of reseeding tender perennials and annuals want to be sown
on
> site. Nigella is one, cosmos is another, lavatera demands it. The self
> sown plant is always happier than the transplant. Poppies can be pressed
> into the surface or can be raked in. Poppies will remain viable in the
soil
> and can germinate many years later when the soil is disturbed. Some
> germinate in a random pattern throughout the season. I have opium
poppies
> germinating and blooming all summer. I never plant any of them.
I will agree with you here - my point was that if you haven't grown
something that does not resent transplanting, you will generally get more
plants the first time around with some control over the situation, unless
you have a goodly amount of seed. I have tried to seed Poppies for years
with zero luck....both fall and very early spring and on top of snow in
winter (after reading about that someplace). Have determined they do not
like my garden - likely not enough sun and perhaps too much other
competition...frustrating, however....color green=jealousy:-)
> The thread on winterizing recently did not mention the gift of self-sown
> seedlings. When all of the season's top growth is frosted and most of
the
> garden brown it is best to leave it alone until spring. Learning to
> recognize seedlings of your favorite plants and when they emerge will be
the
> reward for patience and <G> not be too tidy.
You are so right! Although I have been known to bitch and moan about some
self-sowers while dealing with thousands of seedlings in the wrong place
each spring, I would hate to not have the self-sown. Heck, bet 1/3 of my
garden is self-sown:-) Half the time, they put themselves in a much better
spot than I could have ever chosen. I particularly like what Digitalis
purpurea does...never know where my best stands will be from one year to
the next and it's always a treat to see them and think...gee, I couldn't
have done better on purpose....same with the ever-changing stands of E.
amygdaloides 'Purpurea' ('Rubra').
The truly tidy-minded don't know what they miss:-)
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
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