6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed
I dierect sow a lot of seeds. I always broadcast them and let them grow at will. But the best results came from those sown in cleared soil, lightly raked and the seeds protected from birds and rainwash. Maybe you can place chicken wire & clear 'holy' plastic over the sown area. Make sure to leave enough space between the soil & seeds and the plasic sheet or the heat will cook your seeds. Have fun. :-)
I have some seed packets that are ten years old. All of my seeds are stored in plastic containers, with aborbent packets, in a cool corner of my basement. It works; the seeds germinate every year. Usually I use a seed packet within three to five years. Good luck.
Congratulations, Joe. I think you will enjoy the control and variety available to you by growing seeds indoors. I use a different method, Part-Starts, but learned it is important to keep the seeds and new plants within two inches of the shop light (two four-foot 40 watt flourescent bulbs). My blackeyed susan are the Goldsturm variety. I planted them in October, because we rarely get a hard frost before Thanksgiving. Once the plants take, you can cut small plants off the edge of larger plants, and have all of the blackeyed susan you can imagine. Given full sun (or partial sun),and good soil, it will spread. Be sure to mulch well, two plus inches around the each plant. I hope this info is helpful. Good luck.
Pam, when a 'cold spell'(stratify) is suggested for germination, the chill has to be moist or it's just storage.
Rudbekia maxima, fresh seed, sow barely covered, 70F, germination in 5 - 21 days.
Rudbeckia maxima, stored dry seed, Sow 68ºF, if no germination in 3-4 wks, move pot to 39ºF for 2-4 wks, bring back to warm
What I did was in February I put a bunch of seeds in a clear milk carton with about 3 inches of potting mix. The milk carton freezes allowing the seeds the cold stratification they need, then when spring creeps in the milk carton acts as a mini cold frame helping the soil warm up quicker allowing the seeds to sprout. It also keeps the moisture up. When the condensation is low you add more water. I grew a bunch of cone flower this year using this method. Check out the winter sowing forum. That is where I learned it from.
As far as the dates are concerned, I do not know. I would think you would still get germination if you use them in February.
Roy
I winter sowed for the first time this year and got incredible results. I used the clear gallon milk containers and put them out in Feb. Take a look at the winter sowing boards. These people know what they are talking about. I already purchased a bunch of seeds to put out this winter. I also sowed some annual seeds indoors as well as some outdoors. The outdoor sown seeds took until the end of July to catch the indoor sown seeds. So for annuals you may want to start them indoors if you want that early season showing.
Roy
I had a question abt where to find the seed on the campanula. I have Pritchards variety and would love to make more plants. Have looked here and the net and noone really talks about this variety and where I would find seeds. Thanks, Jenny.
Hello everyone. I am growing it in a seed starting mix. I'm not really sure what it's made out of, but I'm sre there's no soil in it. It seems to be from twigs and mulch. But I'm not certain. Btw when are we suppose to tranplant the plants into soil? At this moment it is hardly raining cause it isn't the rainy season yet. Just hot dry air. Before I planted the seeds I palced them in a hormone solution for about 5 hours. What does it mean to rise beds? i'm sorry i don't understand i just started on this whole gardening thing. Thank u everyone.
Have fun gardening.
Let's make sure we're talking about the same tree because our more commonly seen monkey puzzle here in the PNW, araucaria araucana, isn't difficult at all.
The seeds do take about 18 months to ripen on the tree, but germinate in 30-60 days at room temperature. Sow point down, just pushed into the soil about the depth of the seed (wide end just at the surface). My neighbor sowed seeds one each to a houseplant pot for no fuss germination although some seeds did take closer to 4 months than one or two.
And be careful here, because these get enormous in our climate in fairly short order - they take up a lot of space and are painful to brush up against when mowing or gardening. I think you either love 'em, or hate 'em - not that it matters but they are not my favorite landscape tree :)
It will get around a foot to a foot and a half high the first year. I don't know about Illinois, but in my zone, it dies back in the winter and comes up again the next year to make 3 foot flower spikes on foot high plants, then will die for good the second fall.
Maybe ask this ebay seller.
Now thats something I have to go out and buy. I don't have a torch lilly yet!
Here is a link that might be useful: ebay selling torch lily seeds
I've grown blue fescue (festucca glauca) in Park-Starts under a shop light, for several years. The seeds, then plants, are always about two inches from the lights. Germination has been good and, after I harden them off, they do very well in full sun and partial sun and partial shade. They are such a great contrast for many plants. Good luck with yours!
i wintersowed blue fescue and had excellent success!