I know many people just toss these out and get good results but my yard and situation isn't good for that so I am going to pot sow most of my plants. I still have a few questions and comments. Hopefully some of you will have experience with these plants. I also hope to have a few to bring to the RU. Most of what I bought or collected are plants that don't need a winter cold for germination.
Annuals did not transplant well for me last year. Are there any tricks of tips that can improve that? I will probably direct sow them but that limits where they will end up. Coreopsis basalis (tinctora too), tahoka daisy (did ok with winter sowing last year), drummond phlox are the annuals I am planting.
I have seed for these perennials: Gaillarida suavis and pinnatifida, engelmann daisy (no experience with it), Hoary skullcap (no experience), desert marigold (no idea on how to start or grow), standing cypruss, scarlet globe mallow plus a few others that I collected from my plants.
I got zero germination last year for several perennials including globe mallow. Has anyone started this plant from seed? What could I be doing wrong? I do see it doesn't need stratification so I am going to start it indoors and move out when it warms.
What I am looking for our some ideas about practices that gave good results. My seed experience is pretty limited.
Cheryl
Native Seeds
I know some folks on the veggie garden forums soak their seeds in a solution of hydrogen peroxide water to help germination. You could try that prior to planting.
Hmm never heard of that, wonder why it works?
C
Cheryl, I am not big on seeds, so that is why I prefer cuttings, but sometimes seeds are the only available means of propagation.
I don't have great luck with them either, last year I planted 120 small pots of seeds and only about 20% of them germinated, but I did get four or five new species out of the experiment, so I am happy with the results.
I winter sowed the Ground Cherry in early December and they are not up yet, but Golden Groundsel is starting to sprout.
I am not doing many seeds this year, have too many other things in the works.
One book I use and like is, How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest, by Jill Nokes.
I actually use it more for cuttings than seeds, but it is a very good book.
Josephine.
I agree about availability. All the plants I want to add to my yard are ones I can't find for sale as plants. A book with tips might help me. I had good luck with annuals last year but very poor luck with perennials. I have yet to get one seed of Salvia pent. or scarlet globe flower to germinate. I find this irritating and I want to know why. Both are plants I would like to have a few of in my yard. Hope springs eternal I guess and I will keep trying.
C
Do they sell the little containers that a 4 or 6 pack of annuals comes in? I would like to sow some of my annuals in those.
I think they do sell them, but you would probably have more luck finding on line.
I have a friend who has good luck germinating Salvia penstmonoides. I will see if i can pick her brain about it.
Yeah, the Nokes book knows everything.
Especially for what needs to be stratified. It might be a little late for some of the ones you name, esp since we're having such a warm winter, but you might could fake it in the fridge.
For the natives, sometimes the seeds hang out for a few years before they germinate. Or sprout and just grow a smidge above ground the first year. So it might be that you are having more success than you realize.
Yes, they surely are tricky.
Just like to echo that just tossing out natives did not work for me. Problem was the rain washed the seeds away entirely or far from where I had sown them.
Frostweed-If its the ground cherry Im thinking of I start them like a tomato plant. I dont winter sow I just have never had really good luck with it. Since I start veggies commercially its easier for me to do them all the same. I would start them in the house like a tomato. You dont have to have lights a sunny window will do.
I did plant the ground cherry in a pot outside, but if it starts to sprout while there is a chance of freezing i will bring it in, I don't want to take chances with it.
Im not sure if the temps are consistently warm enough for them to sprout. My volunteer tomato plants dont come up in the garden until about April-May. I know you are much more experienced then I am just thought Id through my 2 cents in.
Josephine,
I have 1 ground cherry that I planted last spring that made it through the summer and has been going strong even with the couple of frosts we've had. So maybe they're a little tougher than we think they are. I'm planning on starting some in the next week, if you or anyone want some ('m thinking RU already!)
Kate
Yes, if you have extra I would really love some. I guess we need to start talking about an RU soon, especially if we need to reserve the pavilion.
Josephine.
I would also be very interested in a ground cherry, if anyone has any luck starting them.
I'm going to start a number of them and I had very good luck with them last year -- so I'll put your names on some of them.
Thank you Kate, I really appreciate it.
Hi Cheryl,
Gallardia is really hard to grow from seed, you'll be lucky if you get any. With regards to mallows.... they ARE hard to sow too. They do not transplant well if you did get some to grow as they are tender rooted, yet, once established, a year or more is prferable, then they can easily be transplanted.
There is a native plant place in Decatur, called Painted Flower Farm, that I go to & they may be able to answer your questions. Of course Dale Clark is another good source!! hahahaha
I am looking forward to the RU but have not got anything ready yet! I am hoping to get some seeds started this time!
That is a good start Cindy, good to have you back.
Josephine.
This is the purple ground cherry I am attempting to start and the its the seed Josephine has as well. I don't think they are difficult to grow it was finding seed that was hard. A nice member from CO sent me some but I don't know how viable it was.
C
http://www.kswildflower.org/flower_details.php?flowerID=212
Nice link Cheryl.
The Prairie Moon Nursery website www.prairiemoon.com gives all of the germination requirements for the seeds they carry. Search for the seed name and once the plant is pulled up, click on the seed's name and it will give all kinds of information about the plant.
For Indian blanket flower (gaillardia) I've read that it needed dark to germinate, so I usually make certain the seeds are totally covered with potting mix or vermicullite.
Thank you for the link to that nursery, very good and informative.
Josephine.
The rain has probably messed up most of my seeds but thats the way it goes...
Thanks for that link, I will definately use it.
C