Re: harvesting hosta seed pods was: hostas blooming
- Subject: Re: [SG] harvesting hosta seed pods was: hostas blooming
- From: P* H*
- Date: Sun, 21 Oct 2001 02:39:49 EDT
Most Hosta seeds are ripe after 90 days fro pollination, since 'Frances
Williams' blooms in late spring the seeds can be collected now if they are
still in green pods. Like Marge says-they are black when ripe-you can check
one of the pods and see if the seeds are black-if so they should be safe to
collect. If they are still a little white then its not time to collect yet.
What I do is collect the scapes by cutting just below the last seed pod and
if they are green I put the in a large box in a well ventilated area and let
them dry-the pods will split open when the seeds are fully ripe and dry
enough for safe and easy handling.
The seeds can be then collected and dried for a week or two under dry
conditions out of direct sunlight and then sown or stored.
If stored at room temp they should maintain good viability for a year or so.
If stored in the fridge you should have good viability for three years and if
stored in the freezer 5 or more years.
Hosta can be started inside under 24 hours of light with very good
results-the plants will germinate in 7-25 days at F. 70. They are one of the
easier plants to grow all winter and plant out in the spring. The foliage
does not become overly large and leggy like many plants do when started
inside and grown under week light for a long time.
'Frances William' seeds produce large green leafed plants, most will be
smaller though than "Frances Williams' if you like large interesting
leaves-add Hosta 'Montana' to your bed with the 'Frances Williams'- they
bloom around the same time and the offspring from the cross of the two can be
very attractive landscape plants -- with large rounded leaves and attractive
veins.
Paul
