And now, how do I get the really hard ones to germinate?

15 years ago

My germinating success is getting better it seems. I do various warm/cold periods and have had them outside in winter(many sub zero days here), etc. My seed is mostly commercial.

I made a big breakthru last year when I found out to do many multiple cold/warm periods can work. EG, Amsonia hubrectii finally came thru after the 3rd cycle. But, I still am frustrated with the poor results from some of the following:

Aconitum - zero

Aqualegia vulgaris - few

Astilboides/Rodgersia - few

Caltha - 'Marsh marigold' - zero

Cimicifuga - zero

Clematis recta - zero

Gentiana all sp. - zero

Physocarpus 'Ninebark' - zero

Rudbeckia subtomentosa - zero

Sisyrinchium campestre - zero

Stylophorum diphyllum - zero

Thalictrum rochebrunianum - zero

Veronicastrum - few

I saved the pots from this years failures and am leaving them outside for another winter to see if this helps.

So, if you have had any success with these in the list, what did you do? I want to know.

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Comments (3)

yiorges-z5il
15 years ago
Rudbeckia Store seed at 40F for 6 weeks Then DO NOT COVER SEED soil temp 65-70F Taking 4-40 days to germinate
Stylophorum.. No pretreatment lightly cover the seed soil temp 60F
Sisyrinchium.. Store seed at 40F for 6 weeks then DO NOT COVER the seed soil temp 61-75F taking 10-28 days to germinate.
Thalictrum.. Sow seed within 6 months of harvest. Pretreatment store at 40F for 6 weeks. or untill sow seed . Lightly cover seed soil temp 70F taking 15-30 days to germinate.
Veronicastrum.. no pretreatment Do NOT cover sseed soil temp 65070F taking 15-30 days to germinate
...These are germination requirements often there is special growing on requirements...
rbrady
15 years ago
I had success with the folowing:

Caltha palustris Marsh Marigold-fresh seed-warm strat Oct 30 for approx 60 days then wintersowed on Jan 1. germination occured in May.

Gentiana andrewsii and flavida-wintersowed (cold strat) on surface (need light) bottom watered germination occured in late May.

Veronicastrum virginicum- wintersowed in Jan on surface (need light) bottom watered as needed germination occured in late May.

I sowed Cimifuga last winter-no germination yet-I read that it may need alternating warm cold warm cycles or 1 full year.

Rhonda
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sheltieche
15 years ago
Dandy
there is one product you might want to try- GA-3/ read more on JL Hudson seedsman website.
If you are experienced, it is most likely seeds. Caltha requires fresh seeds and cold strat and just right amount of moisture, would not worry about this one and buy a plant instead. Aconitums require fresh seed and warm cold warm. If the seed is dry, you might or might not get lucky. I say that Gardens North have good variety of aconitums and they send them moist preserved, or try a personal trade with someone who grows them.
Aquilegia germinates like a charm with GA-3, otherwise you need cold strat, perfect for winter sowing/ check with winter sowing forum FAQ for details/
Clematis herbaceous like recta purpurea good for WS, will take several and I mean several months to germinate.
Genitana does like a charm with GA-3 otherwise winter sowing. Make sure do not water or drip from overhead as seed is tiny.
Astilboides/ rodersia, seed is tiny, warm germinator- see above- do not water from overhead. That is mostly depends on the seeds.
Have not done much cims but found babies in the garden so they need to be winter sown.
Thalictrums are notoriously hard to germinate, needlong cold strat or GA-3 will improve germination dramatically.
Stylophorum diphyllum reseeds like a weed in my garden, cold strat will do it any time.
This is all from my personal experience and I have done it multiple times. If you need more seeds to try I will be happy to send your way, check my trade list. I have cimic simplex? ramosa? seeds are ready and Jack Compton just finished bloom.

And now, how do I get the really hard ones to germinate?

Comments (3)

yiorges-z5il

rbrady

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sheltieche

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