Germination of Aquilegia Seeds

Scicciarella -

my understanding of global warming is that it is not just the warming, but all of the erratic weather. We seem to be a lot colder in some respects too and in the last couple of years, it seems to start earlier. I know on the zone maps though that some of them say we are now a zone 6 and not 5 anymore.

ok tell that to my plants when we hit -39C this winter not for the two to three weeks at the end of january like usually but for three months, this winter we broke records on the longest deep freeze

so did we. If we are going to break records, I would prefer them to be the records for heat!

oh ya that works for me yes yes today we are the warmest in canada at 12C so hitting 53F this afternoon but its snow still in many places in canada i have been lucky this spring so far it has all been in rain

Mona Send me the rain and I will send you snow. Another forecast of snow for the next couple of days. Where or where is spring?!!! Grrr!

I got things to do borders to make, plants to divide, yard cleaning, etc, etc. not to mention all my seedling want off the light tubes.

I was just getting started when it was 60 F degrees for almost 1 week so my spirit soared. The next morning, I woke up to what you see in the photo---1 ft of snow. The seeds in my coldframe must be sprouting for joy---I hope. Just about the time the snow is melting, another storm. We have had more snow this year than any other years. When we do, we usually get warm weather too quickly and plants grow fast. Too fast, since I like to divide when they are just starting to grow.

Was so worried about the seedlings I put in my pup tent, I went out at 2:00 am to check on them. With a small heater running, it's still 50F in there and everything is really green. I'm going to bring in my winter sown Aq seeds I think so I will have plants large enough to transplant before the summer heat blasts them. I had some donated windows left over so I think I am going to put the glass over my 4x4 brick bed and put an old rice cooker in there for some additional heat. Good thing my solar panels still work in snow/cold or my electric bill would be something else this year!

wow and I thought it was bad in zone 5 I use to live in a 6b I cant imagine what a four must be like longer and colder I would not survive that what I have is killing me already
we all have to chip in and get a huge place in zone 10 or 11 for the winter and we would have the gardens ship shape in no time maybe we could trade using the place for landscaping it over the winter I feel that would work and get us free accomodation
what do you think, are you in

I am so in!

Oh yeah, count me in :). I just check my pup tent - it's 56 degrees in there with a heater running. It's still 42 in my brick bed so as long as it doesn't freeze in there, I am good to go!

that sounds great

ok are you talking about columbines in there or mix with other plants, when columbines get a set of real leaves it will take more than a little cold to kill them they are perennials

We had another HARD freeze last night with four hours at 23 degrees (15 Wind chill). Perennials did great in pup tent and of course my greenhouse was fine. Thank goodness for both, couldn't stand living in Iowa without them.

scicciarella,

The seeds in the brick bed still have not germinated. Has been snowing/freezing except for the week of 60 degree weather we had. I'm just getting fairly impatient with the weather :). Snow forcasted for Wednesday now also.... That warmer climes is starting to get VERY tempting!

Mindy

well its snowing here right now hahaha so I really feel for ya honey it is suppose to be rain but with the windchill its the white stuff again ahahah been told I am full of hot air so I tried blowing out the door didnt work

mona

we are supposed to get snow, tomorrow and the next day. I am hoping it is an error in the weather report!

^_^

sorry to inform you its not a mistake it coming, toronto is suppose to get it pretty bad in ottawa it shows us on the edge and we are suppose to get most of it in rain but with the windchill who knows what we will really get

it has stopped for now only a dusting I hope it gets just warm enough to get that rain

We're getting our share of snow this morning. It accumulated about 6-8" overnight, and flakes as big as cottonballs are coming down... quite beautiful, but a bit disheartening in April. Here's a view of my greenhouses from the upstairs dormer.

We were in Watertown NY earlier this week. It was snowing there - it always snows there. I was very glad to get home. The grass was green and the temps were in the mid 40's, but thankfully there was no snow. It is raining now - I am glad as I have a number of clematis that are starting to get some fat green leaf buds - they need plenty of water.

A neighbor came by to plow my driveway, bless his heart. I broomed off my old Suburban and parked it in the garage. It's still snowing, and it's almost noon. I don't see any sign of it letting up. I always take comfort in the fact that this is transitory. The snow will not stick around much longer.

The moisture will be good for spring growth Weezin but it is disheartening in April.

I know your pain Jill! Just got into the 40's at night but they promise 60's later this week. Spring will come, right? :)

Piccies are of wintersown Frizzle Sizzle Blue pansy ready for separating. Brought them in the greenhouse a couple of weeks ago
so I would I could enjoy them a bit before it got too warm.

My ice plants Blomma. I sowed a bit too thickly. Wondering if I should plant as is, separate them or cut off the extra's?

I would just devide in half the one with to many and plant them like that it is always better to put a few so it is more filled in and more flowers

Just enjoyed a nice few minutes reviewing all of your columbine seed sowing tips! Thanks for all of your recommendations!

In the last few days I've become infatuated with aquilegias (when I saw them growing beautifully with some old roses) and ordered several packs from a lady in England (Touchwood) who offers many kinds.

So, do you think it's too late in the season to start the seeds if I use the Deno method and put them in the fridge for a couple of weeks?

Do you think the little seedlings will perish is the hot summertime?

I bought several 'mixes' from the lady. Here is her website: http://www.touchwoodplants.co.uk/sowing%20aquilegias.htm

Thanks. t.

its not to late just make sure to keep them in full shade and dont plant them into the ground till the fall when they are bigger they will not bloom this year that is for sure but they will all bloom next spring so go for it I do perennial seeds all summer outside the shade plants in full shade and the full sun ones in part shade so they dont dry out to much
I love to start plants from seed to see them bloom the next year

this year I have 8 different kinds of echies that will bloom for the first time cant wait to see them all the different colors

tabasco,
You shouldn't have any problem with them germinating this summer and as long as they don't sit in the hot sun and dry out. I almost always germinate and grow some Aquilegia during the summer. It seems that I forget to start all of them earlier, or discover someplace I want to add some. I grow almost exclusively the "species" as I prefer the native forms rather than all the wild hybrids. I currently have some A. canadensis and A. alpina in the fridge stratifying and they won't come out until the end of June. Most of the species need up to 60 days of stratification, while hybrids typically need much less if any. I try to get mine into the ground as soon as possible to maximize root mass (and blossom numbers) for next springs' bloom.

Good Luck

Thank you for your confidence building! I don't often have success growing from seed this late in the season because I forget to water, but I'm going to make special arrangements for these so that I stay committed!

I have some A. seeds (purchased from J.L. Hudson) stratifying in the fridge right now so I can get going fairly soon. I think it's interesting that J.L. Hudson, the seedsman himself, commented on this thread and I may get some GA3 as he mentioned. (-:

These are the 'mixes' I bought from Touchwood:
White Magic
Blushes Mix
Langspurred Mix
Species Mix
Strewing Mix
Touchwood Riches Mix
And
Essex Mix (my free packet)

I suppose the above seeds are mostly 'mutts' of the aquilegia world, but perhaps there will be some very interesting true to form aqs in there too!

I also started a packet of Aq. canadensis (which is our native here in Ohio) hoping to plant them in my woodland garden (under development). They are so natural and pretty in the part shade and the hummingbirds like them, I am told..

I would love to see some of the aquilegias all of you started from seed this year....maybe I should start an Aquilegia thread in the Perennials forum?

Happy gardening. t.

actually those are really nice ones you will be happy when they bloom

Here are three pictures of Aquilegia I started last year. A. caerulea and A. chrysantha were started in February and A. canadensis was started in June.

Here is caerulea

Apparently I can only attach one pic at a time. Here is A. chrysantha

And lastly, A. canadensis

They are so pretty! I just love them.

cant wait to see mine bloom
those are so beautifull

Luvly trc65. Mine are in bud now.

The only columbine budding here right now are the A. flabellata. They are such sweet little dwarf columbine. Here's a picture of one in full bloom.

Oh, trc, yours are truly 'elegant' and weezin, yours are just 'darling'! (-:

I am really hoping I will have success with my seed starting now that I have seen these lovelies!

my pink one and red are blooming those I planted last year all the seedling started in january and planted in early april are doing great but no blooms maybe not till next year

None of mine bloom the first year, not even the natives.

I am still organizing my sales table of aquilegia. I have so many varieties that they take up about a 30 ft. stretch on the table... that's at least 30 different varieties or colors. I organize them by 'long spur', 'short spur', dwarf, clematis, doubles, etc. Most are in 3.5 " pots, but I must have 20 in 6" pots, as well. I've got many flats I wintered over in 4-cell packs that need transplanting, as well. I'm afraid I've overdone it again.

Here's a picture of 'blue fan', another A. flabellata dwarf.

Weezey -

They are so pretty! I cannot imagine table after table of aquilegia! It must be something.

I am in the process of hardening off my little aquilegia seedlings. With the constant overcast weather we have had, it shouldn't be too bad for them

I wish I lived near enough to shop at your sales tables! I do have some pretty ones from seeds you've shared with me, including that white A. flabellata. :-)