Re: Seeds
- Subject: Re: [SG] Seeds
- From: G* B*
- Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2002 07:59:38 -0600
Hello Wendy,
The woodland seeds you mention are mostly seeds that require patience
and working with fresh seed. By fresh I mean the seeds have not been allowed
to dry out between collecting and sowing. The seeds matured in the garden
this past July or so depending upon the area where they were collected. They
should have been sown at that time and placed out in open cold frames to
ride with the weather for following spring germination.
Dodecatheon is an easy one and drying out does not effect this one. I
sow my seeds sometime during winter and they germinate in spring. I find
jeffersonia germinates best if sown in a special bed with lots of leaf mold
included. I belied there may be a relationship between the seeds and
something in the soil... anyway it works better for me than sowing in a
sterile medium in pots. Polygonatum and trillium you definitely want fresh
seed and even then most will take two years before you see something above
ground. Mertenisa work best form fresh seed, but stored seed will work for
you. Again, patience is required, for it may take two years, then a few
years to bloom size.
I do not mean to discourage, just prepare for patience in your project.
If you begin now then five years for now you will have some very nice
inexpensive plants to play with. I do it here all the time....
Gene E. Bush
Munchkin Nursery & Gardens,LLC
genebush@munchkinnursery.com
www.munchkinnursery.com
Southern Indiana Zone 6
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wendy" <wendydc@MEDIAONE.NET>
Subject: [SG] Seeds
I am attempting to start some woodland plants from seed, including
dodecatheon, jeffersonia, mertensia virginica, polygonatum and trillium. I
thought I had read somewhere that certain seeds should not be frozen, but I
do not remember which types. I have these seeds planted in flats, can I put
them in a sheltered spot outside, or should I give certain types more
protection? I do not have a cold frame, but I could place them in an
enclosed, unheated porch or even in the fridge.
Thank you for any help you can give.
Wendy Coughlin
Zone 6, north of Boston, Mass.
