Starting From Seed
|
| The picture on the left is a Russell lupin. My germination rate was poor, I actually placed the seeds in pots in the refrigerator for a few weeks to see if they would germinate.
I had perhaps four seeds that germinated and I grew them on under the
light unit until I could plant them outside after frost. They are
rather stately and are lovely in the garden in late spring. |
|
 |
|
 |
Plant in rich, acidic, evenly moist but well drained soil in full sun or light shade. Before sowing indoors, soak seeds overnight in water and sow them in pots or flats; place them in a refrigerator for 4 to 6 weeks before placing under lights. |
|
| Columbines were also one of my first attempts at starting perennial seeds. After the seeds germinated, I grew the seedlings inside under my light unit. After danger of frost was over, I planted them outside. |
 |
|
|
 |
I tried to plant poppy seeds the same winter I tried the columbine seeds. I found the seeds very tiny and the plants very fragile, I didn't think they would survive when I transplanted them outside in the garden. The first year they produced only leaves but the second year and subsequent years they have produced beautiful blooms in various stunning colors. Grow in full sun, in average to rich well drained soil. Once established they can grow to fill 2 to 3 square feet of your garden space. After blooming the foliage does die back until fall, so you may want to plant something in front to hide the dying foliage. |
|
| Foxgloves are pictured here, they come in a variety of colors - white, pink, purple, peach, and even chocolate. They have numerous flowers, on a spike with spots interlining the throat of the flower. As a biennial they do not flower the first year, but form a rosette of leaves, and flowers are displayed the second year.
Perennial seeds which do not require a cold stratification period can be started in the summer outdoors. This way they don't take up valuable space in the house or require the use of grow lights. I planted the seeds outside in cell paks in June/July and transplanted into their permanent location in September. They produced an abundance of beautiful flowers the following summer. I have collected seed from the plants for planting next summer, and so the cycle continues. |
 |
|
|
|
I saw these poppies in a seed catalogue and thought they were so spectacular
resembling a peony. The germination rate was astounding.
They were easy to grow and I grew pink and red varieties. They
self sowed the first year and I had many new plants this past year in
various locations in the garden from the self seeding. I have a
picture below of what they look like before they bloom. They
greatly resemble cabbage leaves. My neighbor actually
remarked she thought I must really like cabbages! |
|
| Annual Poppies bloom from late June to August. They grow from 1 1/2 to 2 feet. These annuals resent being transplanted, and are better started in
peat pots or directly in garden after danger of frost has passed. |
|
|
|
|
A combination of Oriental Poppies and Columbines are shown here. The colors in the late spring garden are very beautiful as the early perennials
steal the showcase. Annuals are not quite mature enough to
compete. |
|
|
This rose bush was my first try at growing roses. I purchased a small plant at the nursery. It is a
Blaze Rose climber and blooms once a year in late June to early July. The pink and purple flowers pictured with the rose are Canterbury
bells. They are a biennial flower, meaning they produce leaves the first year and
bloom in the second year. They are one of my favorite flowers
producing lovely cup and saucer blooms usually in pink, white, and purple colors. They were one of my first attempts
at growing perennials from seed and inspired me to try more
varieties. |
|
|
|
|
Agastache is a long flowering hardy perennial that has an aniseed scent. This particular variety is "Apache Sunset". I sowed these outside in flats in June one year. I then transplanted the seedlings into the garden in the Autumn, and they bloomed the following summer. They form quite sizeable clumps, and the hummingbirds visit them in our garden in August and September. |
|
| Ivy Geranium - I grew these geranium from seed. It was my first attempt at
growing geranium and I was very pleased with the results. It
bloomed happily all summer outside right up to frost.
|
|
|
|
|
As I watched the flowers mature in the garden, I began to wonder how the seeds could be harvested. This led to an interesting adventure of reading various books and articles on seed saving and germination. The picture on the left is a lupin going to seed. You can see how the pods are turning black. This is the maturing seed pod. The pod splits open and the seeds are lined up inside, similar to peas in a pod. |
