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Re: Propagation of Camassia Leichtlinii


From: Jackson <JACKSONB@BrandonU.CA>

>Can anyone tell me if the
>above bulb can be grown from seed.  All of my books don't mention
>propagation from seed.  It produces copious amounts of seed which I hate
>seeing go to waste.  Anyone have any experience???

C. leichtinii germinates in 5 to 14 weeks @40ºF according to Norm
Deno.  After hypogeal germination, the seedlings must be kept @40ºF
for 2 months.  Selecting you sowing date will require careful thought,
in order to meet the second requirement.

The only one I have tried is C. quamash.  Here is the entry from my database:
Camassia quamash, Camass, blue, orn, o/i spec 5 sow @ 39ºF,
germ. erratic, often many months, -12, hhb, fsun, favorite of grizzly bears.

To translate:  sow the seed @39ºF about 12 weeks before last frost.  Check
the pots for germination every week after about 8 weeks.  Development
of the seedlings is a long slow process, and you might have to carry them
over the winter indoors until bulb formation is sufficient to insure survival,
similar to Allium albopilosum, for example.

Mine were sown on 2/7/98 and germinated on 5/8/98.  At this point, the
seedlings are like blades of grass, and while they are outdoors, I don't
think they would tolerate setting out.  In fact, I plan to reflect this info in
the database by changing the sowing date to 18 wks blf, so in future,
I will be assured of their readiness to set out by fall.

If you could duplicate their home environment, outdoor sowing should be
more productive.  C. scilloides and C. angusta are species native to the
Midwest.  Flowering in the spring, I  think that their seeds germinate the
following spring.

manytimes,
tom
zone 5a, NE Illinois, -21ºF Min
http://www.anet-chi.com/~manytimes
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