What's in the Little Baggies?

Acanthus Mollis

Achillea sibirica subsp. camtschatica 'Love Parade'

Aconitum carmichaellii

Aconitum lycoctonum subsp. moldavicum

Alyogine hakeifolia

Anthyllia vulneraria

Astrantia major 'Ruby Wedding'

Astrantia major 'Sunningdale' Variegated

Astrantia maxima

Bomarea salsilla (Tropical..but Didn't think it would hurt to try)

Clematis recta 'Purpurea'

Cornus florida subsp. urbiniana (wishing and hoping...)

Delphinium carolinianum

Eryngium alpinum

Eupatorium variabile

Hibiscus panduriformis

Impatiens balfourii (seems to benefit cold treatment to me)

Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate 'Shiro-gane Nishiki'

Leycesteria formosa 'Golden Lanterns'

Lunaria annua Variegated 'Alba'

Meconopsis punica

Oenothera macrocarpa 'Inca Silver Blade'

Ophiopogon planiscapus - Black Mondo Grass

Penstemon barbatus

Penstemon heterophyllis 'True Blue'

Persicaria virginiana var. filiformis 'Painter's Palette'

Roscoea purpurea

Salvia jurisicii

Salvia officinalis 'Albifloria'

Salvia recognita

Salvia roemeriana

Salvia verticillata 'Alba'

Saponaria Pumila

Tropeolum azureum

Yellow Magnolia Tree

All to be started in Spring. I will take pictures and show the method of propagating these seeds come Spring. Most likely I will place each germinated seed in it's own cell and try my best to harden them off.

Moist Packing

Ok I'm back now... and Maybe I should have titled this post TRIAL and ERROR! Basically that is what this batch is for me.

Hoping and wishing...but seriously there aren't many seeds I have not been able to germinate (eventually). I recently bought seeds from Garden's North. The description of the seeds "Aconitum lycoctonum subsp. moldavicum" stated will come moist packed. Well I had no idea what the heck that meant and was curious to see. I received them and many others and some were "Moist Packed". Well well well...These packages were little plastic baggies tightly packed with moist vermicullite and the seeds. Ahhhhhhh! Well I have tons of vermiculite.

Soooooo I figured I will take all my aconitum seeds, astrantia, and Tree Peonies and moist pack them for experiment. Then place them in the fridge from now until Spring. This coming year I am going to have a BLAST! I can not wait to see what I get. Bought some seeds from JL Hudson many many years ago. Gonna moist pack some of those too. Resurrecting Long Lost Plants! ha ha

I don't germinate anything in soil (except veggies). I use vermiculite or I place them in Bounty Paper Towel (moistened) and in a ziplock bag. This is because if I start seeds of any plant. It is because I really really want it. Therefore I never play the wishing and hoping game. I've been germinating things like this for years. When the seedlings are big enough I move them to a soil. I make my seeds do what I want them to! ha ha haa! That's probably why I never throw any I plan to grow away. I personally would never place seeds of a plant I really want in the ground for germinating. But to each their own and hats off to gardeners that do and are successful getting the plant they WANT. Vermiculite is very loose and doesn't mold. Great for those itty bitty seeds. I have found that some soils mold if the seed requires a lot of moisture for germination. The vermiculite is so loose that the seedlings roots grow twice as fast, and you can virtually pull them out. Therefore no root damage and extremely easy transplanting from the vermiculite to soil. I use little cups and fill them with vermiculite and water. Sprinkle the seeds on top. Place the cup in a ziplock bag. Usually within a few days they sprout. I also get lazy and they can live in there for quite some time. With the baggie I always feel like I have to get the newly germinated seed potted up or in the ground. Vermiculite It's just a really nice medium...Next post will be a list of what's in the itty bitty bags in the fridge (packed with moist vermiculite)

Grown From Seed

Seeds given to me as 'Miss Willmott' but when it Bloomed Dave's Garden placed it under Potentilla 'Melton Fire' (Potentilla nepalensis)

Hardy Geranium 'Striatum' (Geranium pratense)Seeds came from somewhere over seas. Grew this many years ago.

Joe Pye Weed 'Variegatum' (Eupatorium variabile) Seeds came from somewhere over seas. Grew this many years ago too.

Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate "Shiro-gane Nishiki" (Persicaria orientalis) Last one for this post, although very far from least, for plants I grew from seeds.

Reminiscing...

Just looking through some of my old pictures of plants I grew from seed. I think I have become more advance in the growing and picture taking...I'm chuckling right now. These are Plants I grew from seeds years ago. With a 'not so good' camera. Posting them here helps me reach towards bigger, more difficult propagation. I love the challange!

Lupine "Russell"

Never knew the species or why it grew 2 colors on one plant. But maybe one day I will resurrect this one. I'm sure yall have read I NEVER throw seeds away. And still have seeds I picked from this plant.

Penstemon

I waited 1 year for this Coreopsis to Bloom from seed. Which is normal for this perennial type. Also in this picture is: Silene dioica 'Clifford Moor'. I didn't grow that one from seed. And if I'm not mistaken it doesn't produce seed that I know of.

Maltese Cross

I have now acquired every color this plant produces. Back then I thought Red was amazing! LOL

Growing from seed takes patience but is very rewarding. In my opinion the plant is healthier and more beautiful. Here is a Sea Holly (Eryngium planum) grown from seed. Also in this picture is Brugmansia. Which I propagated from a 4 inch cutting. It grew 4 feet tall very fast within a couple of months. And as far as Sea Holly...once again, I've collected many different species since then. But I am still holding on to seeds from this plant.

And the Growing Begins...

A Few Tips:

Most seeds can be stored in the refrigerator, and can withstand cold treatment. Annual flowers and vine seeds usually germinate without any cold treatment. Very tiny seeds (like snapdragons) can be sown right on top of the growing medium surface for germination. Hard coated seeds can benefit from being nicked and soaked in water before sowing. For example, Morning Glory seeds germinate faster when soaked before sowing. Seeds that benefit from cold treatment are usually Cold Hardy Perennials. They can be winter sown in the ground or prepared indoors. Keep in mind when sowing seeds indoors the key is: You are trying to duplicate how germination occurs in natural conditions for that particular plant. For preparing indoors, soak the seeds for 24 hours. Then place the seeds in a ziplock bag in the freezer (very cold hardy plants) or in the refrigerator (semi-cold hary plants) for 6-12 weeks until ready to sow. Therefore they will already be cold stratified and ready for sowing indoors. Always use good seed starting soil when trying to start new seeds. Purchased seed starting medium has the adequate growing nutrients for starting seedlings. Viola seeds benefit from darkness when germinating, others may need light and high warmth. Therefore do not cover seeds with soil and provide bottom warmth. Remember keep all seed starting moist until germination.