Gita, was yours a white or a pink? Won't know if I have any til they emerge. I do have some on pots . so larger than a seedling but smaller than the one I gave you. Nudge me as we get closer to Spring! Iwould be honored to pass one on to you.
No need for speed on the seed eh Speedie!
Which reminds me some milkweed seeds have to have a cold period before they will germinate.
This site has quite detailed instructions specific to each type of milk weed. And winter sowing tutorials also specifically for Milkweed, too.
http://www.monarchbutterflygarden.net/milkweed-plant-seed-resources/
"Think Spring!" seed swap DISCUSSION
Judy--it was pink...I do not think I would like a white one...
A couple years ago--there were so many volunteers growing.
I was digging them up and passing them on.
This is not a wet spot--not sure why the roots rotted out...
Maybe "rotted out" is a wrong term. They kind of--disintegrated.
I could pull up the remains of what were roots. there was NO substance to them.
NOT slimy or fungusy--just.....gone!
Any ideas? Thanks--I can wait until the Plant swap--or you can drop it off
at sally's any time.
I could start it from seed--how long till it is a decent sized blooming shrub???
Thanks! Gita
Thanks for the milkweed link, coleup. Lots of interesting and useful info. I'd better go put my seeds in a colder location right now!
Judy, that is a great Milkweed website, I have saved it, thank you! Now I'll know just what to do with which types of seeds I get. Oh, and I forgot to answer you earlier; yes, we do carry/sell Milkweed at work, but for the life of me, I cannot remember which ones. Funny thing though, looking at the pics of syriaca, ... we have that growing prolifically around one of our water features at work, if I'm not mistaken. I'm sure I can easily get away with taking cuttings AND seeds from those! =)
Coleup, I grew a pink swamp milkweed in my yard for years. It was abused by spider mites and aphids before it even got a chance to flower and be a beneficials magnet. It was too far away from the hose for me to regularly spray off the bugs, and using an insecticide defeated the purpose. The plant finally gave up the ghost last summer and I can't say I was really sad about it. It reseeded like mad, so if you aren't actually trying to have a yard full of swamp milkweed, be careful about letting it reseed (even if your yard is not swampy!).
Speedie, I'll take a look at what I have. Most of the various species are just a few seeds of each. I have a random unlabeled baggie full of some kind of asclepias seeds, it can only be swamp milkweed or butterfly weed because those are the only two kinds I've collected. I'll bring that and you guys can do what you want with them. :)
Karen, I agree that one major reason Milkweeds aren't on the top of the list for gardeners is that t"they re-seed everywhere". The web site I posted above (Monarchbutterflygarden,net) suggests that after flowering they can be dead headed before seeds form, cut back after flowering and new leaves will emerge to be a food source for Monarch cats who were either born on that plant or may need 'supplemental milkweed feedings of fresh leaves to reach migratory maturity in the fall.
The most clever ides on that site was to twist tie each pod shut before it can burst! The seeds will ripen in the pod which is a perfect package for storing or shipping off site.
Most native milkweeds (Speedie, there are over 100 varieties world wide!) bloom at the end of the season and for our discussion here, it is only the tropical milkweed A currasavaca that forms pods as it goes along but reseeding is not a problem in gardens colder than Zone 8
I am so un-educated about the various milkweed varieties. This gardening season I hope to seek them out so I can see them in bloom and know what they look like.
Gita: I think Bleeding Heart is a short-lived perennial, so it isn't surprising that yours eventually gave up the ghost even under optimal circumstances. I don't know if you mean something different by "Bleeding Heart started shrub" than the regular perennial. But I usually get a fair number of seedlings so let me know if you'd like some. I have no idea what seedlings I'll get after this awful winter wet, though!
I'm looking at placing a small order with < b>Hazzard's Seeds (if Joyce thinks she can get them out to me before the swap, which seems likely).
ed. to add link to their storefront! www.hazzardsgreenhouse.com/
Re. the above discussion of bleeding hearts, they have Dicentra exemia (fringed bleeding heart) packs of 250 for about $10, and Dicentra spectabile (white bleeding heart) packs of 100 for about $12. I'm willing to split those into 4 or 5 packets for those willing to share in the cost... just post if you're interested.
Joyanna has picked out her valentine gift seed for this year -- she wanted a "really blue" flower, and I think we found an interesting one. I'm also looking at a dusky purple version of false queen ann's lace, tennessee coneflower (the up-facing purple wildflower that will bloom in part shade as well as full sun), and my go-to hybrid peppers Carmen and Gypsy. I can split those packets also.
Let me know (soon!) if there's anything else you're interested in from Hazzard's. As long as I'm paying that shipping cost... LOL If there's a lot of interest in splitting things, I'll start a new thread for a quick, small group buy.
This message was edited Feb 3, 2014 11:37 AM
Typ, that is such a pretty one!! Since I will not be able to attend the seed swap, Happy said she will be my Seed Angel. If it's alright with you three (Karen, Happy, and Judy), Happy, would you mind choosing them for me please? You know I trust you... whatever Karen says is ok (and what Judy doesn't want) will be A-OK with me. If it's a small pinch from the random unlabeled baggie, that will do very nicely - I love surprises! =)
I'm not too worried about the self-seeding -- I plan to put them in a spot that is pretty self-contained (if I don't worry about the neighbor's yard... and I don't!) < =P
Let 'em sow, let 'em sow, let 'em sooowww!!! < =D
PHEW!!!
This going over all my seed collections--re-filling some envelopes--
chucking a few (very few) seeds--looking through all the stuff I have--see what it is, etc...
is taking ay too much time...trying to organize where al the "stuff" should go.
Got my "BOX" orderly---now to figure out where to put the 3013 seeds?????
They will NOT fit into the seed envelopes I have had. Will have to put them in their own-
and put them next to the big ones along the SIDE of the box.
I have had my seed paraphernalia in 4 different boxes. Trying to work it down to 3.
All kinds of extras--and baggies, and odds and ends seed packets--
Mamma Mia!!! I HAVE TOO MANY SEEDS!!!!
I have MASSIVE amounts of these 6 seeds. Like--half-full sandwich baggies.
Of course--they are from asst. years ago--but no earlier than 2008 and 2--9.
In these huge amounts, I have:
--4 )'clocks--"Broken Colors"
--Mixed Cleomies
--Rudbeckia Goldstrum
--My Purple/White "Black Current Swirl" Datura
--Double Yellow Datura
--Tall, red, perennial Hibiscus
Is there any place that these could be donated to?
C'mon--all you "involved with everything" people.....Help me out!
I do not have the heart to toss them!
This could grow exponentially to disgustingly more--if the # of seeds i collected last summer
is an example. Probably close to the amount that is already in my box--I kid you not!
Maybe I should ask on the seed Collecting Forum???....just don't want to unleash
a wave of GREED. Oh, yeah--it's out there....
G.
Gita, both Arejay59's "Seeds for Newbies" effort and Starlight's "Piggie Swap" would welcome seeds in quantity. The first is self-explanatory; just drop her a Dmail. The second is a late fall swap I've participated in several times, thereby supplying our group with odds & ends over the years. Star's swap also supplies seeds to disaster survivors and others in need.
Did I mention the "free to good home" baskets I usually set out at the seed swap? I've always got an assortment of single packets, more than I want to try to list ahead of time, many from other trades I've done... I use those baskets for them. During the swap, people find seeds they want in the basket, and others may drop in their extra seeds. At the end of the swap, I'll save some of the extra seeds for next year, but most will go off to Star's swap, where they will find "good homes!"
Critter, you read my mind; the first thing I thought of was also "Arejay" here. Gita, pop him a D-mail, I'm SURE he'll be glad to help you out, and it will all be handled in a very gentlemanly fashion. =) Ask him to tell you about how that "operation" works (the donating of the seeds to newbies thing).
Heeheee, one day someone is going to plop a cute little kitten into your "Free To Good Home" basket... then what will we do!? < =0
Gita, could I have some of your Rudbeckia Goldsturm and also some of your Purple Cone Flower Echinacea?
thanks!
got you ssgardener red castor
Gita could I also get some of your Rudbeckia hirta Indian Summer? Thanks!
Thanks, Jill---
I copied out your Post and will try to contact these two people.
Cat--
I will put you down for your requests. All these seeds will be available in my
envelopes in my Box. Take all you want!
Or--Do you want me to drop a couple packets in your "baggie"?
Jill always has baggies with everyone's names on them.
Many people just drop the requested seeds in the baggie of the one asking for them.
Now--re my seeds of Hirta "Indian Summer"...
These seeds came from a bouquet (of said Hirta) that Karen brought me
the first time she came over. When the flowers in the vase dried up--
I gathered the seeds from them. This may not be a "natural" harvesting of seeds.
You are welcome to any I have--but maybe Karen would be a better source--as hers
would have come from the plants withering in a natural way in her garden.
And--you DO know that Rudbeckia Hirta is a biennial. The seeds will come up
in the fall and not bloom until the following year or two. I will give you loads--so some of
them will have a chance of making it...
There will also be seeds in my stash from another Rudbeckia Hirta that grew in my garden
a couple years ago (2011). It is also yellow--but a double...
I am hoping (again) that i can have this in my beds.
I will put some baggies of these in your bag as well... These are also available in my Box.
Gita
Critter, I'm a little bit obsessed with Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit.
Hazzards has 100 seeds for $28, which is a lot more than I need. I'm only interested in 25 seeds.
I just read that you have to start the seeds by 1/25 if you want blooms this year, so I may be too late already. Has anyone seen these seeds locally?
Wowzers, $28 for 100 seeds? Are they precoated in gold dust or something!?
Seriously! They're at least 2-3x the price of other echinaceas, but I still want them!
hehe I understand. :) money is no object when you are head over heels 'in love'!
Catmint, I have plenty of Indian Summer to share. The seeds are in great shape and as Gita said, might be less iffy as the flowers were allowed to take their time making seeds. Might as well take them!
ssg I saved seed from my Cheyenne Spirit plants last year. I really liked them and talked them up a storm on out "What's new " thread last summer/fall! I saved seed from my seven plants and plan to share at Seed Swap, if you or others are interested. Don't know how close their second generation seeds produce to parent or if the orange seeds collected germinate to plants producing orange color or ? Since they are promoted as 'first seed grown to produce flowers first year' they have to cover a lot of zones with shorter falls than us and they are so beautiful that the earlier they bloom the longer to enjoy them. I would think that Behnke's or Homestead would have packets Parks. Johnnys, etc are also sources for smaller quantities.
Speedie: Can you tell me about your Veronica Spicata "Red Fox"? Do you like it? Does it spread? Do the seeds germinate pretty well? I'd like to try it! Thanks!
Coleup, I saved some Echinacea 'Southern Belle' last year from a family member's garden. But I've been reluctant to offer it because I don't know if the seeds are viable or not. Is there a place to find out this information?
Karen I usually start with a google inquiry like E 'Southern Belle' true from seed?
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=Echinacea+southern+belle++true+from+seed%3F&oq=Echinacea+southern+belle++true+from+seed%3F&gs_l=firefox-hp.12...16518.51299.0.55707.41.24.0.17.3.0.875.9233.1j5j4j5j3j2j4.24.0....0...1ac.1.34.firefox-hp..21.20.5350.SnW6d5Jfxb8
With patented plants /hybrids, its best to plant plants or seeds purchased to get the characteristics that attract one to that variety to begin with. Otherwise it's like rumming our ow seed trials...sow seed and see what comes up!
Thanks Coleup! that's what I thought but your search turned up better results than mine! Probably won't bother sowing these seeds.
Scanned this from 2013 Parks seeds catalog.
E. Cheyenne Spirit---15 seeds/pcg. for $7.50. 3 packs @6.50 each.
Still pricey! Enough to share, though...You don't have to buy 100
G.
I hear the birds stilll ike them!!!! So toss them in your feeders....
And if you 'compost' what the birds don't eat you may be surprised at how beautiful a random blooming compost pile can be! I probable don't need to explanin how I know that...lol.
Ireally don't have enough solid sun to do most echs but was drawn to Cheyenne Spirit colors/form as the closest thing to the effect of lots of zinnias, but perennial! (Not enough sun for zinnias either) and since they grow well in containers I can move them to where the sun is and when they bloom, move them to where I want thei color...and maybe in that trial and error process I'll find a place that works and there they will stay or go on my Plant Swap list.
ssg You might want to just buy plants so you can get the colors you want as last I heard, breeders hadn't gotten to color selection and seeds are still a mix.
If you can find anoher person or 2 to split with (or offer as trade bait on seed trading forum for something else you really want), the C.Spirit seeds might not be such a bad deal... I'm picking up the freight on this order. Of course diff. situation if you can find them locally... lmk asap, as I intend to place my order today... mght be able to add to it tomorrow morning or even later, but that's not a sure thing.
Aspen-Terri, I've got you down for the ones you wanted,,, sounds like you'll be direct-sowing in quantity!
Anybody interested in trying the fringed bleeding heart or white (regular) bleeding heart from seed? A share of the pkt from Hazzard's should be less $ 7'/or more seeds than from elsewhere.. but again I need to know today, as these aren't seeds I'm planning to order regardless.
Thanks for the link, Gita! The problem is that shipping is around $4-5 for one order, which makes it around $12-13 for 15 seeds.
I only need about 15-25 seeds, so I'm checking to see if anyone is interested in splitting the Hazzard's packet with me.
Coleup, I wish North Creek carried them. :( It'd be too expensive to buy that many plants from the nursery. I kind of like the random mix of color. I'll just give away the colors that I don't like!
Jill, we cross posted.
Happy just let me know that she was interested in a portion, so YES on ordering that 100-seed packet. Thank you!
ssg, if youu would consider starting all 1oo seeds (winter sow is fine fore mine) I'll go in with you on this and lpant out seedlings in the Milkweed for Monarch way station patches I plan to plant along my paper route! Hey I'll still do it ...so go ahead Jill and order. Thanks!
Thanks Type. Yes I'd love some of your Indian summer!
So, I am in for 50 sseds does that work Happy and ssg? Willing to take more..
Edited to add or just sow the seeds I saved and not take any! Excess seeds should be viable for next year too if stored well.
Jill, can you be more specific about the other ech you were considering? Is it the one that will bloom in more shade? A native?
This message was edited Feb 4, 2014 1:21 PM
Oh, great idea to plant them in your paper route!
Last year, butterflies were all over my echinacea. They would linger for what seemed like hours, going from one coneflower to the next.
My plan is to get about 10 seeds started indoors, and wintersow maybe 5. They supposedly have a 70% germination rate. I don't think I'd start all 100, though, only because I'm still very new at starting seeds and what survives for me seems to be completely random. Last year, none of my echinacea or rudbeckia came up, and only about 3 lettuce seeds germinated.
ssg, I hear you! That's why I'm so glad to be able to get PLANTS from North Creek as opposed to seed starting so I can have a better handle on my projects for this year. I think 'Johnny Apple Seed' sent saplings as well as seeds to those moving west!
Karen, I'll tell you what I know about theVeronica Spicata "Red Fox" , but I must warn you, it's only what I've learned from selling it; I've not grown it myself. (the seeds I have are from "deadheading with a purpose" at work). ;)
They are definitely perennials for us (down to zone 3, I think); They get about 12-18" tall and about a foot wide, depending on how they like where they're put. They love sun but will happily tolerate dappled sun - to - part-shade, and will tolerate darn near any sort of soil, from sandy to clay. At work they bloom from mid-Spring through late Summer/early Fall, with a good cutting (by about half) halfway through the growing season. At work also, we see bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds go after them like nuts. =)
That's about all I can think of to tell you. I've gone ahead and added your name with these seeds to my "Promised" list on the "Haves/Wants" thread... I hope that's ok. =) Since I have very few of these, you'll be the one-and-only. ♥
OK, I'll add a packet of 'Cheyenne' to my order. Hoping to hear back from Joyce that she can get the seeds here by 2/14!
The other echie that I wanted (Tennessee Coneflower, E. tennessiensis) was indeed the wildflower one that does well in part shade. I havent' grown it before, and it's hard to find either plant or seed, IME. I have read that in order to save pure seed, you'd need to grow it a mile or two away from other coneflower species. The other thing worth noting is that it's not quite as vigorout as E. purpurea, so it would get out-competed and overgrown if you put them side by side. No problem -- I figure I'll just put them closer to a tree, so they're in part shade.
A split-off packet of about 50 seeds would be $2. She also has E. tenn. Rocky Top Hybrids (50 seeds would be $3), but I decided in this case I wanted the "straight up" version.
OK now I am wondering about the Cheyenne also! Did I read correctly that it is a Bee magnet?
SSG and Coleup, I'd be happy to go in on a packet of the Cheyenne with you!
This message was edited Feb 4, 2014 7:37 PM
Camint, I don't know about that particular variety, but all the coneflowers in my yard are always buzzing with pollinators.
I have regular E. purpurea, 'Magnus,' and 'Kim's Knees Highs,' but I need something a bit shorter, more vigorous, and more colorful. 'Cheynne Spirit' is an award winner so I have high hopes!
So far,
Coleup 50
SSG 15
Happy ??
Catmint, how many seeds are you interested in?
Pretty much all echinaceas are bee and butterfly magnets, and cheyenne spirit has no particular edge on tohers hybrids
What has excited the commercial grower world is the range of colors and that it can be grown from seed (cheaper than cloning plugs/tissue culture) and that it can be brought to production more rapidly to ship in in bloom for late spring sales or look attractive during summers doldrum sales or usher in fall sales with something other than mums. Seed sellers have a latest new seed variety to promote and drive sales . People are crazed to get the latest double, curled, upward facing, largest flowered in what ever color is hottest of the standard 'native purple coneflower' even if they have to start them indoors on Jan 1 and buy lights and starter kits and special soil to do so... instead of scattering seed around that's worked for Ma Nature.
A little OT in doing some research on Echinacea tennesseensis I came across this on The Center for Native Plant Conservancy site
http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/collection/cpc_viewprofile.asp?CPCNum=1542
I definitely don't have the natural conditions this endangered species grows in normally even if it will grow in some shade, North Creek offers plants of E 'Rocky Top'
http://www.northcreeknurseries.com/plantName/Echinacea-tennesseensis-Rocky-Top
Coleup, *very* interesting tidbit about Johnny Appleseed! He was actually Johnny Apple Sapling!