Re: helleborus
- To:
- Subject: Re: helleborus
- From: M* T*
- Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 14:47:15 -0400
Elle, know what you mean as I have tenderly cared for pots of dead
seeds for years. Reason I know about this is that I did a post to
some list a few years ago about Hellebore seeds, something along the
lines of your instructions, and received a reply from none other than
Graham Rice, co-author with Elizabeth Strangman of 'The Gardener's
Guide to Growing Hellebores' (a must have if you're interested in the
genus), setting me straight. Since following his advice, have had
virtually 100% germination in several species. There are garden
myths that never seem to die and you can't believe everything you
read:-)
Seems that drying induces a strong dormancy in many species/hybrids.
Sometimes stratification and soaking and several years will bring
them out of it and sometimes not. I did have 2 seeds of H. corsica
germinate after two years - old seed that I soaked for several days
(with a drop of diswashing liquid - changing water daily) and H.
foetidus 'Wester Flisk' germinated readily from dry seed - no
soaking, but I once bought just about every color form that Chilterns
offered and not a one of the hybrids germinated - those were the pots
I finally gave up on after 7 years! Now, I tend to soak just about
all seeds for at least a day and it seems to aid in germination.
Bagging flowers is about the safest way to actually get seeds, since
they tend to drop when you're not looking - even if you check daily.
Plant them in pots right away and put them in your frames...should
work just fine, esp. in your climate. I use granite grit topping on
my pots - about 1/4 inch or maybe a bit more. Helps keep the soil
from washing in rains and seeds seem to like it. I put the seeds on
the top of the medium and cover them with the grit. Have a theory
that all seeds love any type of grit or gravel product to germinate
in (witness the bounty in my gravel driveway).
The only caveat on bagging that I've read is that you have to be very
careful with Hellebore stems as they are quite sensitive to pressure
and can turn black and die on you if they get squeezed. Rice and
Strangman say never handle seedlings by the stem or you'll get, at
best, misshapen plants and at worst you'll lose them. Have found
this to be true.
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
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> From: eleanor <eleanor@easystreet.com>
> Date: Wednesday, May 17, 2000 12:38 PM
>
> Marge-thanks for correcting me on when to plant the seed-I was
following
> directions from a seed planting guide and they said "Plant in fall
in
> light potting medium, cover with glass and leave to overwinter,
bring in
> to warmth in the spring"
> I have one of my cold frames on the north side of the house and
here I
> have tenderly cared for most likely dead seeds for several years
after
> collecting them!
> AARGH!!!
> So what about bagging the flowers as I do to collect and them
planting
> into pots right away. I want to spread the wealth as I have a lot
of
> shady garden to deal with (but not a much as you) and are creating
more
> as the years pass as I am planting trees for privacy and shade as
well
> as perennials.
> And I will check your website-as I have before-
> elle
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