Propagation: Norm Deno's "Outdoor Treatment" - anyone try it?, 1 by

wrote:
Hi paracelsus
Yes, I know about putting the baggies outside for fluctuating temperature. I can get the same by taking the baggie out of the fridge for awhile, then putting them back in. I did that with the Clematis seeds and so far one sprouted. Also Penstemon and all have sprouted. These have what is called double dormancy, the reason they need flunctuating temps. Both varieties have tiny seeds. Not all perennials need flunctuating temps.

For larger seeds, I plant in my coldframe without protection and leave them in Mother Nature's hand. I sowed them in Oct 2008 before I knew of the Deno method.
In the coldframe are seeds of:

Daylilies, Irises from my own plants and just for fun since they don't come true from seeds.
Dianthus deltoides
Oenothera (Evening Primrose)
Callirhoe (Winecup)
Echenacea, 3 varieties
Salvia argentea (Silver Sage)
Rhus typhina (Sumac tree)

And guess what! I already have every one germinating and growing with the Deno method, except Callirhoe. That one has double dormancy and difficult to germinate and can take months to do so.

Here is another reason why I don't put baggies or jugs outside to worry about. This photo was taken on 3/23/09. You can see my coldframe is covered with 1 ft of heavy snow. It won't bother seeds in the coldframe, but may have in baggies.