Winter sow hardy hibiscus?

I'm a raw amateur, but I plan to try winter sowing for the first time this year. A very kind DGer is sending me some Lord Baltimore seeds, and I was wondering how to start them. Has anyone WSed Lord Baltimore? I took a look at the database and one or two folks seem to have had success, but I don't know if these seeds are something an amateur should try to WS.

Or should I direct sow in spring? Start them indoors in early spring?

Any and all suggestions/experience are most welcome!

I'd be interested in the answer too. My first attempt at WS'ing hardy hibiscus this year was a failure... but i also think it was a bad year here... i had many failures.

I wintersowed them my first year. Germination wasn't great, but I did get some plants.

I know that some folks have trouble with them. Since it was my first year, and I didn't know better, I tried them with seeds I'd saved from my own plant. I didn't do anything special or different, I just sowed them like anything else. Sometimes, ignorance really is bliss.

Karen

I am curious too, since I am suppossed to get some seeds.

I wintersowed a few varieties of hardy hibiscus this year, and at least a few of each germinated. They were late to sprout and have grown slowly, but they look pretty good.

I just wonder how those lil babies manage thru their first 'brutal' winter.

I will try again next year.

I've been wondering about that too. A thick mulch would probably be a good idea. I've also considered storing them in their pots in the basement where it stays cold, but above freezing.

One hardy hibiscus I've had for many years, maybe 10 or more years. It has survived brutal winters, heat and drought in summers. They are very tough plants. My WSown babies, now 3 years old, are just as tough. I'd have them in the ground, as they're meant to be. I doubt you will have any trouble.

Mine die all the way to the ground, then emerge in spring. I have three now and I've never lost one. I wouldn't worry about them.

Karen

Thanks, Karen! Glad to hear they're so tolerant. I've been wanting to put them down by the barn where those big blooms can show off from a distance, but I can't reach the hose down there and they'll have to fend for themselves.

I just got my seeds, yippee! Based on the above advice, I think I might try WS *and* direct sowing in spring, in the interests of science. (And hedging my bets. :-D )

thanks for your input Karen.

Good luck with yours.

Karen

Oh -- so it looks more like a bush. very Pretty Karen. thanks for posting.

I have winter sown Hardy Hibiscus. I had about 50% germination and they only made it through 1 winter. Note I am in zone 4.

zen, their 2nd winter got 'em? Perhaps their first winter was milder or had more constant snow cover?

I am having a hard time remembering the conditions of the two winters. I am tempted to say the second winter was the milder of the two which means they didn't have constant snow cover. I just decided to plant something else instead, Hollyhocks.

Oh I wanted to mention that the best gardening gloves I have ever had area on sale in a coop right now. I had gotten some as a gift once and wanted to buy more. I couldn't get them because they were sold out. Last spring I got some here via a coop. Now I am ordering gifts. The price is very good.

p.s. I don't work for them, I just want to get the numbers up to where we have enough for the best price and they truly are the best gardening gloves I have ever used.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/915248/

zen -- i love my Atlas gloves too!!

tcs, glad you are here to agree with me.

Just wanted to add my experience with winter sowing hardy hibiscus..

I have three lovely hardy hibiscus that get bigger every year.. Even though my zone says 6, I really believe I am more of a zone 5 .. I am on top of a cold windy hill..

I recieved some SASE seeds from a generous Dave's member.. I also begged several seeds from my best buddy..she willingly obliged.

This was my first year of winter sowing... I used milk jugs.. popped holes in the bottoms and tops, cut them almost entirely around the sides and used my own compost ( mostly cow manure compost). used a magic marker to write on the jugs and set them behind my busting to the seams GH. ...

I have no idea how many seeds I planted in my milk jugs, but there were quite a few.. I only know that I had about 100 babies to pot up later and then plant.. Wow! This will be their first winter.. I have no idea how well they will make it through...

Of course these are not Lord Baltimore.. But, Definitely Hardy Hibiscus.

I tried winter-sowing with EIGHT different varieties of hardy hibiscus with very disappointing results.

If it is a form you really want, sow them inside.

Michaela

Save the seed till spring and start in a tray, here in lower Michigan the winter is just to cold, but in trays or eally early in the ground and they will grow and prosper for the reat of your life. I have a couple plants that my mother plantes in 1942 and they are still going strong, I just gather the seeds in the fall and in the spring, as soon as you can work the ground, I put them in and stand back, they'll grow.

It isn't to cold in upper Michigan to winter sow. I live in Minnesota and winter sow. It is to early for it though. Most people don't start until at least winter solstice. I wait until late January or February since I belong to a group that has a seed exchange in January.

I know many wintersowers in Michigan. And I know of many in Canada. I also know of a wintersower in North Pole, Alaska. Here's one of her photobucket shots, just cut and paste should work I think.
http://s125.photobucket.com/albums/p74/chocolatemoose53/

Since I've been wintersowing for 3 years, and hanging around WSing forums for that period of time, I've come to know wintersowers all over the country. In fact, some abroad, too, all in different climates. It really does work.

Karen

I've had better luck WSing Hibiscus syriacus (Rose of Sharon)... Hardy Hibiscus (H. moscheutos) seems to be a bit hit or miss. I agree, a variety you want to be sure of getting, start them inside... or at least start a couple of backup seeds inside. :-)