Re: Germinating Paeonia seeds
Eva asked:
<In September 1999 I sowed some seeds of Paeonia suffruticosa in a seed
starting mix in ziplock bags, planning to alternate them
between 70 and 40°F. I started them at room temperature. Today I noticed
that a couple of seeds have already germinated.
Should I transplant them into separate pots immediately or let them stay
in the bags during the cold period? I believe they need a
cold period in order to send up a leaf.>
You need not be in a hurry to get them in the fridge. I often wait for a
while until more germinate; often once they start, more are not far
behind. There is absolutely no harm to leaving the already germinated
ones in the bag, while you wait. They will not do anything else anyway
at this stage, and they will not die, so don't worry. I have been down
this road many times.
If you are keen to get the cold period started, you could prepare
another ziplock with barely moist seed starting mix and start
transferring the germinated ones into it and continue to add to the bag
as more germinate.
To clarify. All the seed does at the initial warm is germinate (send out
the radicle). Absolutely nothing further. You could keep it at the warm
stage for months (and I have done this) after germination, and it will
proceed no further. It requires the cold period to form a rather
extensive branching root system. This can take anywhere up to 3-4
months. So what you will be doing at the next stage is keeping an eye
on the zip-lock in the fridge. Once you see that any of the seeds have
formed this kind of root system (it will be VERY obvious) then take that
seedling out, pot it up and put it under lights in warm. It is only then
that the first true leaf appears (at this final warm stage)...The
seedlings will be huge, and quite satisfying to grow on.
I spent most of today dealing with a large variety of species Paeonia
seedlings that have been in zip-locks at various stages since last
winter. Some were left almost the entire summer (as I did not have time
to deal with them) in their zip-locks and yet are as healthy and
vigorous as if they only needed to be potted yesterday, instead of
months ago.
Some plants are very forgiving, and the zip-lock bag method forgives
those of us with more seedlings than time on our hands.
Good luck, Eva. More importantly. Enjoy!!!!
--
Kristl Walek
Gardens North Seed
5984 Third Line Road, N.
North Gower, Ontario
Canada K0A 2T0
Phone: (613) 489-0065
Fax: (613) 489-1208
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