Gunnera by seed

Is this easy to germinate? When searching for this plant I always see seeds available. I was just wondering, if anybody's germinated this by seed, and how long it took to get huge like the plants I always see on the net LOL

thanks

I bought this plant last year and it promptly died on me, or at least I think it did. I think I've attempted to grow it twice now. Is it only hardy to zone 7? maybe that's why it does't come back here .

I'd love to grow it, but it's too big to grow in a pot LOL if it's just zone 7.

I've done lots of experiments with these guys over the years, since I need to test seed before I distribute it. I've tried all sorts of things, but what works best is to first rub the seed in the palm of your hand to rub off the brown wrinkly outer seed husk. Then take the small smooth seed you end up with and soak them in regular rubbing alcohol for 15 minutes - this helps to remove germination inhibitors. Then sow them on the surface and keep nice and moist )remember they are from wet environments), and expect seedlings to pop up starting in about a month, and straggling in over the next ten months or so.

I'm not sure how long they will take to get to be the gigantic plants they become - as a seedman, I always say that I've grown millions of plants - until they are an inch tall and the germination test is over! Wish I had the time and space to grow them all on to maturity...

These are great plants, so good luck with the seed. Try this method - it works! Let me know how you do.

J.L. Hudson, Seedsman

Thanks for your help.

I think I'm going to try the plants though .

I've never heard of using rubbing alcohol to remove germination inhibitors, are there anyother seeds to do this with, I would love to grow the Gunnera but it's not hardy in my zone :(

I've had horrible luck germinating gunnera. I've had one group of seeds in peat pots for going on two months, and another group in peat pellets for six weeks. Not a sign of roots or shoots.

says zone 7, I'm thinking it's not hardy in my area either, I've bought it twice now LOL lost it both times

Is it your winters that are the problem, or is it your summers? I have seen this plant doing great in places like foggy San Francisco or in the Pacific Northwest, and often plants that do great in areas like that don't appreciate southern heat.

Well, I think one time It never made it past summer, It was quite healthy when I bought it, the second time, never came back from the winter, and never really got big like in all the pictures either.

I tried growing gunera from bulbs, they grew well in the springs. The summer's heat got them twice in a row....

hi all.......... i have a huge (will be now thats its coming 'out" again. gunerras are really hardy and should do well in zone 6 and 7. i live in s. coast oregon and depending on where u are were either a 7 or 8. gunerra love LOTS and LOTS of water. everyday when its warm or hot. if you see it wilting not a good sign, let the hose just soak for awhile. they die back (at least they do here) in the winter and all you need to do is cut off the leaves when they die and cover the furry root ball to protect it. you can throw some mulch over it to if it gets snowy where you are. it should do just fine. this was taken jsut this week

starting of the bloom, hasnt flowered yet, turns yellow and gets pollen everywhere!

Don't make me jealous now. LOL, nice plants.

lol......... maybe try again, does your area where you put it get really hot sun? if so might try a slightly semi shadey spot, abnd lots of water.

they thrive in ths cool weather. we have a botanical garden here called shore acres and they have a few gunerra that are over 10 tall! spectacular. good luck!

I bet that is spectactular, I had it in a shady place both times but it did dry out quite a bit and was a bit far for the water hose too. I may try again. I doubt mine would ever get that large. Good to know they come back in your area,

do try again, plant it in a big hole with lots of bark mulch, and must water it at least every other day, if not everyday when its hot. get and extention for your hose and just let the water drizzle for awhile. will take gallons when it gets bigger. i swear mine will soak up at least10+ gal/day in the summer. but they are such a cool plant . let me know how its going! good luck!

They're darn expensive, I've tried them two different years, and for $15.00 a bulb! I'm almost cured of wanting them in my garden. lol.

yea they are, I saw a couple on ebay but were about the same price. I think last year I got 2 off ebay for l0.00 each, I killed them of course. I keep trying to find them cheaper.

need another source for them

I came across a web site that had several diff kinds, I'll see if I can find that site again

yay! I found it

http://www.worldplants.com/gunneras.htm

doesn't look like it's for sale any more though.

I'd like to find some

i've ordered from this place 2 or 3 times this spring alone, I don't know how I missed these.

I think i'll get them from here


http://www.bigdipperfarm.com/cgi-bin/searchstuff.pl?Botanical=Gunnera

I just noticed one of those gunneras isn't availble till fall. I saw brian's botanicals had one that's on ebay that is hardy zones 3 to l0 or something like that. couldn't believe it was that hardy. but it was l2.99 or higher.

which isn't too bad.

I'll have to wait till after my memphis trip LOL to order

Most of my gardening friends have all tried them here in the low country. All have failed just as miserably as I did. It's just not a plant that likes high heat/humidity. I can get them started with no problem planting them in March. But by May, theyr'e fading badly, and die in June/July. Never had one make it through a whole year here. I gave up on them.

StoneRiver, thanks for echoing my sentiment about those lovely. Something just isn't meant to be in our "hot & humid" wheather, that's all there is to it.

hey all....... gunerras are zone 7-10 so i dont know whats going on with yours unless it in direct hot sun or not enough water. oh well. a local nursery here grows them but they might be a bit big to ship. oh well good luck!

shokami2; have you tried them before? If so maybe we can just enjoying seeing your pictures/success. Southern climate just isn't made for Gunnera, that the giant kind anyway.

yes i do lily.... scroll up about 12 or so, i have pics of mine from earlier this week. its already grown a bunch more! sorry i wont cooperate in your area. :( i will post occassionally with up dated pics of mine. its always changing everyday.

Like others, I'm jealous and green in envy. Nothing I can do about it. boohoooo. Thanks for sharing the picture.

I think too much heat in general and not enough moisture is what's killing mine.

Yes, same here, it sprouted and was happily in my protected area. Then one summer day, it was gone. It's just a memory now.

LOL. OUr memory gardens are empty aren't they LOL. I need a garden just full of plant tags for memories of my dead plants ha ha

lol so sad guys......... :( just drench yours kathy, everyday. you really cant overwater it since its a bog type plant anywho. good luck!!

When I get one I will LOL

here is my gunerra now. just a few days ago... its really growing!

Looking good Shokami

I haven't even purchased any yet.

mine is loving all this rain weve been having! love loves the water. seems like it grows everyday.

havent been here for a bit... here is my baby as of yesterday. it really is growing!

wow, that's beautiful. I love it. it' sure is happy

i started collecting seeds form it last week....... only did the bottom 8 inches on one stalk and got a plate full! still have to get more... maybe tom.

Is that the only one you have? That plant there?

yes.. the only one. that all i have room for! lol. i am collecting seeds and will be trying to do starts. i can let you know when and if they get going.