6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed
Prunus x yedoensis (Yoshino Cherry):
2 - 3 months cold stratification (moist chill) and is best sown as soon after ripening, not stored dry too long. The seed can be slow, sometimes taking multiple cycles of fluctuating temperatures, up to 18 months to germinate.
You don't say where you live, but you could sow and place the pots outdoors now if you are about at a Z8 or colder. Or use your refrigerator for the moist chill if you don't think you can expose them to several weeks of temps of approx. 40F or lower outdoors.
I think that lifting weed fabric that's underneath rooted plants could either be a great thing, or be disastrous. If the roost grow into the fabric (as they often do), you'd be ripping root systems apart as you lift the fabric. If roots don't penetrate, the fabric will hinder root growth and plant growth in turn. ;The fabric will also prevent some amount of GOOD critter action among the roots too, although this might not be that big of an issue for you. Also, if you have "wildflowers" that like to send down fast and deep taproots, this barrier will not be good. Nor will you have great luck transplanting them. :P
I use a lot of cardboard, newspaper, and even paper grocery shopping bags as a method of creating new beds primarily. Thinner paper material is good in areas where it's more dry and the breakdown of organic material happens slower (like on hot dry sunny slopes and in a new rock garden, for example). I use cardboard where stuff happens faster, and in my yard cardboard is about the right thickness and has the right "stuff" to quell weeds while breaking down fast enough to allow the plants on top to establish happily.
A good recipe for a fast and beautiful bed without a lot of work or worry:
- a space that's about 10x10 feet in size or so
- about 100 paper grocery bags
- about a cubic yard of good compost
-a roll of black landscape plastic or a bunch of black garbage bags
- one order of a great seed mix
This time of year, you mark your space, put down paper bags on the ground, wet them with a hose, then layer over about 6 inches of compost. Wet really well, then lay black plastic or plastic garbage bags over the top and let it sit over the winter. Then in the spring, pull back the plastic, seed it, and keep it watered. Viola, a new flower bed!
Here is a link that might be useful: An Awesome Wildflower Mix
Sprouted seeds should be removed from the refrigerator and planted as soon as they appear. You don't list your zone or where you are from to comment on whether you can plant it in the ground or if you have to put it in a pot. It most certainly could grow under lights for a while.
SCG
I have never saved desert rose seeds but I can't imagine they would be much different than any other seed. Keep them dry and out of extreme temps. If the seeds are dry I store them in ziplock bags. You could also drop the whole pod into a paper bag and leave it on the kitchen counter until you return.
Good luck
SCG
There is a great source of information for seed saving at the link below. Use seeds from ripened plants. Scroll down on the link for more information.
Here is a link that might be useful: Seed Save Org - Beginners
Mold is only a preventable "infection". Suggestion: since you still have seeds and not sprouts, replace everything with fresh, perhaps sterilizing first, and keep on going with the current seeds by washing the mold off them with something mild like hydrogen peroxide. Hands too.
There are other solutions that are just as easy.
I planted fresh seed into standard seed raising mix in a yoghurt contained with a clear lid. Cut some drain holes in the base. Fill the container up to about 2" deep of seed raising mix, water well and allow to drain. place seed (minus feathery bit) just under soil surface, put clear lid on and place in a well lit area out of direct sun. You dont want them to cook, just keep warm and slightly moist - you shouldnt need to water again until after they germinate. If there is too much condensation on the lid remove and wipe off before replacing. Good luck
Hi, I just looked at the Veronica I harvested this year. Looks like tiny brown specks. Sometimes I can sift out the seeds using a fine strainer. The chaff will probable fall through as well with this method. But when the seeds are round proceed with the following method...Place the crushed matter on a stiff piece of white paper, tilt it gently, you will see these small round seeds roll to the edge of the paper. Collect them onto another paper or dish. Repeat until only the chaff remains. Hope this helps. Jen
Pansies are one of my favorite annuals. The colors and varieties are beautiful. My experience with them has always been challenging. I don't feel I've yet mastered growing them but I try every year. I think my expectations are too high. I search the internet every year to see possible tips from others who are also starting pansies at home. Your seedling looks healthy to me. The leaves are not curled or yellow. Pansies grow slow, real slow. They also like to be grown in a cool environment. You may not think your seedling is a success but google pansy seedlings and images and look at how seedlings from other home growers look. They look similar. Most seedlings grown at home not by professionals look similar to the ones I've grown and what I see on the internet. Also, google pansy societies and see how the seedlings of members look and what tips they have. I had to remind myself that pansies from nurseries and garden centers in the spring may have been grown under conditions that home growers don't use. Many growers use growth regulator and chemicals to get those large healthy looking plants we buy in the spring and fall. I am also trying some again this fall but I started with some old and new seeds and don't know if any will germinate. As long as you provide the correct temperature, enough hours of light, and fertilize, you should have healthy seedlings in the spring Post again on how your seedlings do. I would enjoy seeing them.
Here is a link that might be useful: Bloom Where You're Planted-Urban Gardening in Philly
I just realized after reading your post again that you started your seeds in he summer. It's difficult to keep pansies cool enough during this time. I guess you started them for this fall. How did they do? Did you plant them out? If you start some for spring you may want to start earlier than suggested to give them a longer time to grow.