Propagation: Germination of Aquilegia Seeds, 0 by starting2luvz4

starting2luvz4 wrote:
I hope this brings a smile. I've lost the first post I wrote with fat finger syndrome and hope I can recapture the fun.

In my blog, I am testing sowing methods for columbine. The first test was 1 part verm/2 parts peat moss and then winter sown. I put it in clear Dixie cups so I could calculate germination rate. “Poor” brother was tossed out last night where temps got down to -2.
Now that’s a test of hardy seeds eh?

Test 2 was pampered Gardener’s Diary style. Where I live, columbine grow in the crevices of limestone bluffs. I went to Menards where this young man was loafing and made him go out in the frigid yard to get me my bag of sand and medium limestone. The joy on his face was a sight to behold. After three attempts to pick up the brittle bag of stone, I got a box and helped him shovel in my now three bags of pebbles, which now I purchased for a dollar. You don’t think that I didn’t put that little tidbit in the evil part of my mind now do you?

I wondered if peat was too acidy so I used 1 part sand, 2 parts composted leaf mold (my own compost thank you), 1 part verm and 3 oz of dolomitic limestone. I then topped it with a layer of pebbles, making for a lean, mean limey mix. To replicate the action of the seeds being creviced in the rocks, I added a nice blanket of snow that will melt one day hopefully and bury the seeds. Out he went to join his brother.

Thus is my interpretation of putting seeds to bed ;). Bets anyone on who will be the more rugged strong seedling?

The named seeds will go in my brick bed but I have more fun coming in the mail, How shall I sow it next??????


This message was edited Jan 27, 2009 9:24 PM

This message was edited Jan 27, 2009 9:25 PM