Growing Echinacea from seed

Hi all.

I have ordered some seeds for less common cultivars of Echinacea. As they are quite hard to source, and I only have a few seeds, I need to get this right, so I'm looking for some tips.

I've read that the best way to grow Echinacea from seed is to sow them in seed trays, cover the tray in plastic film with a few breathing holes in it, and to do this outside in February. Apparently because sowing them before the last frost means that the repeated freeze/thaw whill help trigger them to germinate.

I've also read that once they do germinate, they come indoors for a few weeks to protect them from any more frost while they are still seedlings.

Does this sound about right?

I've also read that the frost can be simulated by putting them in the freezer compartment of the fridge for 3 weeks, and then you sow them indoors.

Any tips? I've grown plenty of 'easy' stuff from seed before, but I always avoid the more tricky stuff, its just that I really want these plants to grow, and as they are difficult to source, buying ready established plants doesn't look an option.

 

Sounds about right!

Try a few in different ways... and report back!

If you do get some going... they really don't like being crowded by other things.. so give them elbow room!

 

I have just had a look at my RHS seed germination pamphlet, and it says "Echincea, 13C to 18C, takes 30 to 90 days to germinate, cold stratify for 4 weeks". So your advice looks sound.

I have germinated them inside, without stratification, and they can do it. But I probably would have had better results with the cold treatment.

It is usually recommended to stratify in the fridge rather than the freezer itself. I have succesfully germinated Allium seeds (which also need 4 weeks cold stratification) by putting them outside in November and just letting nature do its job over the winter. But as Quercus says try a few seeds in different ways. You are right about bringing them in after germination. Germination guides simply refer to germination itself. Usually after germination seeds prefer a bit more protection and warmth to thrive.

 

Just an afterthought Clueless. If you stratify by putting the seeds in the fridge - they must be damp. If they are dry it will probably have no effect. In practice you can mix some seeds with a small amount of soil or compost in a polythene bag.

 

... ot tupperwear!

 

Thanks all.

To sum up, based on your tips plus what I read earlier, I think this is my plan:

Half the seeds will go outside at the back end of next month, sown in a seed tray, covered in clingfilm with holes poked in it.

The other half will spend a month in a sealed bag or tupperware box, with a small amount of compost, in the fridge.

The fridge ones will then be removed and planted into individual tiny pots (I have a set of seed pots that are only about 2" diameter). They will be kept indoors, somewhere in the house that doesn't get too hot.

On the first hint of germination, the outdoor ones will be brought indoors until all likelihood of frost has passed. If we get any mild days in the meantime, I might let them sit outside for a few hours during the day to help them to adjust.

Any that grow will get to spend steadily increasing amounts of time outdoors when the weather is mild, coming in at night, until perhaps May, when they can go outside to live (coming in only if we get heavy rain/hail that would batter them in).

After that they should hopefully be tough enough to spend their lives outside where they belong.

 

Absolutely right Clueless. Lets keep our fingers crossed - and I am sure they will do well. :flwsml:

 

Hopefully they will do well .... and more green ones than any other would be good :D

 

Let's keep our fingers crossed.

 

I actually found this link on Google . First how did your Echinacea go from seed Clueless ? I have bought some seed but a search on Google seems to show they are a tad tricky to germinate. After reading this I was going to follow PeterS method of placing the seeds in moist compost in the fridge for 3 - 4 weeks to stratify . Then pop into a prop' in the coolest room in the house. Anyone else had any success with Echinaceas from seed.

 

I'm embarrassed to admit that the seeds, to my knowledge, never even got out of the packet they arrived in.

Shortly after I received them, which included some difficult to find cultivars, my work situation changed leading to me uprooting and moving lock, stock and barrel back to my home town. All great, apart from as is always the case, there is always something that gets lost in a move. In my case it was my seeds that had come all the way from America.

 

I got some for my birthday last year off my girlfriend.. now I don't want to attempt to sow them, seems effort :D

 

Sorry to here that you had to make a move for work Clueless . I was hoping that you had 100% germination , plus all flowering within 13 weeks. Maybe someone else has Echinacea experience ?
Stick with this thread Kyle , we will grow them together m8t :grouphug: