6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed
Lucinda, I hope we're talking about the same plant because the berries on hypericum have ornamental value too, I haven't seen many people deadhead them before the seed is ripened.
The seeds don't need refrigeration - you may store them dry in an envelope. They do germinate best at 50-55F, so warmer than your refrigerator and most likely cooler than most rooms in your house.
I'd be reluctant to call you crazy, as I might well be describing most of us here when it comes to our excitement over such things as plants, seeds, sprouts, fruit, bulbs, bugs, sucessfully preventing bugs, mold, sucessfully preventing mold, and a dictionary of other terms used as normal "lingo" here....you my friend are just addicted to the miracle of nature and it's bounty which always proves to be intriquing and endless....OH the possibilities...What a wonderful God who would create such a colorful and never ending pallate of beauty and wonder....
over a year later, i nicole have found cleomes....... now i live in 9b and was wondering IF i can plant these NOW, in september or wait til spring......... You would think i would understand by reading the above posts, but no..... i can be thick headed.
Nicole
Nicle, these aren't frost hardy, so seedlings may germinate now only to be lost this winter if your temperature does drop below freezing. Perfect timing for outdoor sowing would be to sow while your nights are in the low 40's, a couple of weeks before the last possibility of any frost in your area. If no frost shows up, that's fine. They don't need freezing, just cool, moist, 40ish degrees for a couple of weeks before warming up some.
I started Crucianella from J.L. Hudson seed 9 years ago. It is a wonderful little plant!
I started the seeds in February in the greenhouse with a little bottom heat using Jiffy Mix and planted out after danger of frost. Germination was excellent and I had plenty of plants to sell and to share. I did more sharing than selling; folks were not familiar with the plant. It bloomed in it's second year.
Have used the material for rooting cuttings but not seed. The cost was probibitative for me..... Even if the peat pots absorbe water they will reach a saturation point & each plant will receive water.... the same would be true for "bio-sponges" By the way they are also harder to keep the fertilization level in the "ideal" range.
When the seeds begin to turn red, they are just about mature. DonÂt pick them too early or the embryo will not be developed. When the seeds are fully developed they will begin to fall from the tree, and at that time you can begin to pick them.
Ripe seeds can be removed easily. If they donÂt pop right off when you grab them, they are not quite ready, give them another week or two.
They need more light. I'd put them outside and transplant them when they get a set of true leaves. All but the basil do well in cooler temps. I'm not sure when your frost date is but the cool weather plants might be able to go in the ground. Swiss chard gets pretty big and isn't a good container plant but all the others will do fine in pots if that's what you are planning on doing. I'd definitely plant the basil in a pot(s). If you are going to grow them inside you'll likely need some sort of grow light. Congrats on your sprouts.
Karyn
In the future, sunlight is required as soon as the little seedlings poke their tiny heads above the surface of the soil. I germinate my seeds in the full sun (if they are supposed to be grown in the full sun, that is) and leave them there. I don't use plastic covers.
Aren't those take-out containers GREAT?? I think that I'd drill holes in the bottom so that you could water properly, however.
Suggestion, not sure if it's on target for you, I grow most of my plants from seed under a shop light in my basement. The seeds, in a peat mix, are kept about two inches from the light. After germinating and growing four real leaves, I transplant the seedlings into plastic cups filled with potting soil until they are large enough to harden-off and plant outside. It works for most seeds, and the resulting plants. As a lark, I grew lettuce under the shop light one winter. Good luck.
Paulallen...Thank you! I think I will start with that...shoplights. Most of the seedlings would be 2-3" high with 2-3 leaves by then. Would ordinary flourescent lights be good enough for them? They will stay inside only during the winter months and be brought outside in spring.
Scarify the seed & soak in water for 24 hours then lightly cover the seed soil temp 75-80F & takes 21 to 540 days to germinate