Propagation: 2014 Seed Starting, part 2, 1 by Pfg

Pfg wrote:
Digitalis does great direct sown. I have a huge patch of the generic one, comes back every two years. Pic is from 2011. They drop seed, then germinate the next year toward the end of the summer, nice big rosettes appear by fall, and bloom the following spring. A nursery guy told me he cuts the stalks and shakes the seed wherever he wants them to come.

It never occurred to me that so many things could go direct into the garden. Aren't they really tiny for a long time? Like Cosmos, Sweet Peas, Zinnias and the Nics? And does the V Bonariensis have time to flower before it freezes? Am I working too hard, lol?

I guess the truth is, there is plenty of room where I am, I just don't know how much more maintenance I want to take on. If some of the newer sections become more established - and less work- I probably will expand. But I've found if I get too far ahead of myself, I end up overwhelmed, things get out of control, and I end up clearing the same area two or three times instead of once. Seems like a waste of energy, lol...

That's what happened at the end of the lower lawn, where the tall grasses are. The first time I cleared it was a couple of years ago, then I just couldn't get to it and everything grew back. Pic 2 is from Summer 2012, and that's after it had been cleared once. Last spring, pics 3, 4, with a helper, I finally got it pretty well cleaned up and some of the grasses moved around, and by fall it was planted, pic 5, but I know there are still some iffy places. I won't be sure where until I see what made it, what expanded, etc. That's where the Asclepias tuberosa's going, some new grasses (on sale from Bluestone) and some of the taller Nics. I can already see that the path needs work, it's far too green already. Bad sign, lol.