My 2015 seed growing "blog"

You're a glutton for punishment Longk!

 

It is a godsend isn't it!

 

A variety of sources;
1] Forums. Usually the most reliable
2] Self collected
3] Increasingly Australia and South Africa.
4] Scampton Succulents
5] Robin Middleton and Annette Bax (Salvia)
6] Choice plants
7] Very occasionally, Flickr

Freshness is always a bit of a punt but you get a feel for those whose seed seem to be more reliable.

Yes, but if it works out...................

 

I agree on this occasion, worth the effort.

 

Would you explain how you would go about cold stratification please. Does it depend on the type of seed or is there one method you use that will work for lots of different kinds of seed?

 

There are a couple of ways;
1] Sow in the autumn, place in a coldframe or similar and let nature take its course (ie spring germination). This is my preferred method.
2] Forced stratification - sow and keep warm for three or four weeks then place in the fridge for four to six weeks. Remove from the fridge and place somewhere warmer to await germination.

Storing seed in the fridge may be enough though.

The only factor is whether the accepted wisdom is that the seed needs cold stratification to break the dormancy. If so either method will work although I do suspect that the natural method may prove better if there is no rush.

 

The first of the seeds in the coldframe are germinating - Calochortus superbus and Fritillaria micrantha.

 

Puya berteroniana (thanks @Ian Taylor ) is now producing its second leaf............


So far four of the five seeds have germinated.

When potting up small or "valuable" seedlings I use these disposable "glasses" to help lesten the distress...........

 

Longk,

If you want to try something different:
http://www.chileflora.com/

http://www.chileflora.com/Florachilena/FloraEnglish/ESeeds.htm?G_LANG=E

I have had stuff from them in the past. Got good germination. But what I had was highly specialised and I couldn't keep them alive (over the summer - too hot )

Anyone interested in Alpines, they list some fantastic stuff.

 

Ooh there's lots of interesting stuff on there. I've just spent a very pleasant hour at least browsing through the pages!

 

I have too - Lobelia bridgesii is one of them.

If nothing else it is worth bookmarking Fern just for the info it carries.

 

Yep I've bookmarked it. It just so happens I've got some Myrrhis Odorata seeds which I didn't realise would need cold stratification. There's some info on there about it.

 

Recent germinations;

Leonotis nepetifolia (10 days +)
Salvia chiapensis (1 week)
Salvia cardiophylla (3 days)
Salvia caymanensis (1 week)
Salvia leucantha "Purple Velvet"
Salvia SL411 (1 week)
Salvia mellifera (10 days +)
Salvia urica (3 days)
Rhodochiton (2 weeks)
Baptisia australis (3 weeks)

 

More germinations!

Caiophora hibiscifolia - 1 week
Schizanthus - thanks @HsuH ! 1 week
Fritillaria sewerzowii - 6 months in the coldframe