6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed
Thanks,
I hadn't seen seed saving but will post there.
Here is a link that might be useful: seed saving thread
you could attempt to grow foxglove, as they can overwinter pretty well in many places, and their blooms are a great addition to any garden.
Since they're biennuals, they have to be planted this year. Hopefully they'll mature enough to survive winter though!
Salvia guaranitica 'Black & Blue' seeds will be deep in the calyx and are mature when deep brown. But you don't need seeds to have a yard full of salvia B&B, you can take cuttings and keep them moist through the winter or you might take a couple of small rooted pieces from the edges of your plants, pot them up, and try to overwinter them in a cool, bright window. Any small piece with a root will be easier to grow than a cutting. I'd start now, so that if you fail you have time for another try or two before frost.
You should look in the Salvia forum, B& B is a popular plant and there are numerous threads discussing overwintering this sage, something I know nothing about here in L.A.
In Nature (without the interference of man) a plant will flower set seed the seed will fall to ground & seed will germinate in the spring..... also birds, mice, insects etc will feed on the seed limiting the # of plants each spring. The same will occure in your garden. to limit the number of seed consumed by the birds (etc) we lightly cover the seed.
For more information go the the winter sowing forum
George is correct, there is no one answer. I'm assuming that when you say seedling you're growing from seed. Seeds are a product of sexual reproduction (sperm+egg, pollen+egg) and whenever sexual production occurs, the results (flowers) of the seedlings will not be known, because of the complicated genetics involved (allels crossing over, mutations/errors in meiosis, etc.) There are seeds that 'come true' meaning they look like their parents, but I am willing to say there are small, minor differences on a molecular level.
Some cultivar seedlings may revert back to their 'generic' forms. I'm not sure on this on a scientific level, but I have found that variegated plant or something 'golden' (like pothos) will revert to a pure green form if it doesn't receive enough light. Albino seedlings (pure white seedlings) will not survive because they lack chlorophyll and therefore cannot make their own food.
Good question. I have been gathering a bunch of seedheads of various plants. I want to make an area on my boulevard that is about 10'X20' and was a former tulip bed. Many of the tulips will come up next spring but after they flower I want a wild flower type garden there.
I have four boxes of wildflower seeds from last year plus what I have and will gather. The ground is bare and weed free, tilled and ready to scatter seeds. Will most of them do ok if I just scatter the seeds and rake them in after our first hard frost?
I'm in zone 4 and temps now are 40's at night and 50-65 during the day for another week or so, then we should get some nights of below 32.
I can't offer tons of experience. I am planting palms from seed for the first time as well. I purchased them from seedrack.com which offers a huge variety of seeds including several palms. So far I have planted traveller palms, carboard palms, Florida coontie and pygmy date palms. Each variety came with an instructional sheet and each variety requires different handling. Some are planted in sand, some in soil. Some are kept in the dark until they germinate, some are not. Some are placed in wet ziplock bags with soil until they germinate, some are not. Depending on the variety, germination time can take days, weeks or months per the instruction sheets. I did find the prices reasonable, shipping was not bad, instructions were thorough and good and overall a good experience. My Florida coontie and cardboard palms have started their germination and appear to be doing well. I'm still nurturing the traveller palms and pygmy date palms as they have a longer germination time. I hope this helps!
I've used seedrack.com many times and they are excellent. The seeds are a good price, they dispatch quickly and the growing instructions are superb.
Personally i've had no problems starting palms indoors which is what you have to do here in the UK! You should be fine.