The CB ruds were my first sprouts this year- first week of March I think. They've grown very little. It's still dark outside now but I'll go look after sunrise. I think most just have one set of true leaves.

Nothing much is showing much growth. I think only Laura Bush petunias are bursting out of their jugs in need of planting. We've had a few nice warm days but most in the past couple of weeks have been cool, cloudy, and rainy. I think they just need warmth and sunshine. I've only planted out 2 jugs- Cal. poppy and digitalis. Most of the poppies seem to have disappeared- I think the seedlings have been mostly driven into the dirt by heavy rain, and birds stole some.

I won't work outside today, either. Cool and cloudy (50s), chance of rain, and my soil is a swamp. Supposed to be beautiful at the end of the week when I'm working.

Karen

I checked. I sowed 3 jugs of rudbeckia, each a different kind. All three, including CB, have one set of true leaves.

They all seem to be sitting around waiting for heat and sunshine. Even returning ruds from previous years aren't showing any real growth. I cleaned them up a few weeks ago, removing dead leaves. They don't seem to have grown since then. And returning Goldsturm started coming up a few weeks ago and stopped too, just sitting there looking the same.

Same thing with returning echinacea. They put up a leaf or two and stopped.

My plants and I need warm sun.(as opposed to the current cloudy 42 degrees)

Karen

Sowed a bunch of seed for 'Cherry Brandy' - so far have 6 sprouts in the jug, very tiny and growing very slowly. They don't have their true leaves yet, altho they seem to be working on the first set.

Also sowed some rud 'Chim Chiminee' - old seed from 2004. They seem to have rotted, so I've dumped those; couple of days ago, put out some rud 'Kelvedon Star', again old seed. We'll see how they work out.

The only seedlings up that are showing any appreciable growth are the veggies - cauliflower, spinach, scallions - and the california poppies. Everything else is in a state of suspended animation - waiting for warmth, I suppose.

Another dreary, rainy 50-ish day here - but supposed to get to 70s on Saturday. Maybe the end is near?

PV

I sowed 3 cultivars of Rudbeckia hirta this year, 'Cherry Brandy', 'Cappucino', and 'Indian Summer'. The CB and Cappucino were first, the IS about a week later. I've got about 6-7 sprouts of each, small with seed leaves only. However, I am thrilled because these guys have sprouted about 2 weeks earlier than the R. hirta did last year.

The Cherry Brandy is from a trade, so hopefully it truly IS Cherry Brandy, but this trader was so meticulous with his seeds (as am I), that I'm not terribly worried.

I wonder if you got some bum seeds Token?

I sowed Rudbeckia Cherry Brandy, Cappuccino, and Moreno. The Cherry Brandys had the worst germination and growth rate of them all.

I think I had about 60 seeds and got maybe 30 seedlings, so around 50% germination. growth was very slow. I planted them out over the last couple of weeks, when they had only their 1st true leaves. Not sure they've grown much since.

The Cappuccinos and Morenos had 2-3 sets of true leaves when i planted out and i got probably closer to 70% germination from these.

I planted them out as I thought the tiny peat pots i had WS'd in were too small and were holding back their growth, but maybe they just need some warmth. Our weather has yet to get really warm, Token, we seem to have pretty similar weather to you.

Token, are you expecting these R. hirtas to be perennial in our zone? I'm curious whether they will be -- they should reseed at least though.

Mayland, most of my R. hirta cultivars not only bloomed abundantly last year (their 1st year) but are returning this year. I've also got one Indian Summer that is returning for a 3rd year (got that one at a swap, it was the only one I grew during 2007).

Don't know about your zone, soil conditions, etc. Apparently these can act like annuals, biennials, or short-lived perennials. That's why I like to grow lots of them and they're so pretty. They also transplant easily!

Thanks Terrene, that's encouraging! After buying the seeds I read different descriptions about them so I wasnt sure. Hopefully at least some will return here then. I can always WS some more though!

Abundant 1st-year blooms would be wonderful as my whole garden is only 1-yr old (old house and garden renov). I haven't grown Rudbeckia before, I also have Goldsturm, Baby White Swan and Green Wizard. And lots of Echinacea -- I love anything daisy-like!

My Cherry Brandy aren't growing as fast as some of my rudbeckias, but they have 1 set of true leaves and I may plant them out on Saturday. I counted them for a previous post and don't remember how many I have - maybe 10? I think they will take off once it gets warm and stays warm. I have returning rudbeckias but not sure they are hirtas. I know that Maya and Becky are not returning as I have already planted new ones in their old spots.

Becky

Most of my hirtas seem to live 2 years, just dying quickly after blooming like crazy in their second summer. Since I've been sowing them for several years I've lost track of the ages of some. But at least 2 plants are returning for a third year, or at least trying.

Karen

Mayland, what worked for me was planting the R. hirta seedlings out when they were small - 1st or 2nd true leaves. This was around early May here. And they did NOT like being planted HOS - the seedlings that were in little hunks of 2 or 3 generally didn't bloom. The ones that were planted individually bloomed great.

I tend to plant out most perennials seedlings individually, in groupings of 3-6 seedlings, about 6-12 inches apart. Let them get established the 1st year, then if desired transplant them where I want them the next year.

I've tried not to focus on the germination rate, but I have been concerned about growth. I'm pleased that although they don't seem to be getting bigger, they are now getting fuzzy. they're definitely not big enough to transplant. As a last resort I'll pot them up individually. That seemed to do the trick for some stunted dahlias a few years back. Hate the extra work, but hate to lose the RCBs even more.

I'm waiting for mine to sprout. I included one CB in my daughter's birthday present I ordered which also included 3 perennials. The grower could not ship the CB because he had a crop failure. So I guess those of us who actually get sprouts are lucky and I'm really looking forward to this one.

I hope I didn't get duds. Seedmama got some out of my package. Inside, I had terrible germination rates though. That's why I am concerned. I really want these to go with my red spider zinnias in my "hot" bed next to the tomatoes.

I planted four different Rudbeckia hirta's - Cherry Brandy, Ruby Gold, Chocolate Orange, and Autumn Colors. So far, I have a couple of sprouts of C.B., and maybe a half dozen of Ruby Gold. Nothing in the other two containers yet, and the sprouts I do have, don't have their first set of true leaves yet. Like Karen, I think they are holding out for warmer weather here. Unfortunately, a chance of snow tomorrow.

Bonnie

Here are my cherry brandy rudbeckias and some cherokee sunset for comparison (I have already planted the cherokee sunset out, these are leftovers):

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Becky

Could we get a report on how your CB rudbeckia is doing? I planted my seeds late and just now have some very young "babies". I'm curious with your success so far with this plant.

I planted some out over the weekend and gave the rest to my daughter to plant in Woodbridge, VA. They looked the same as in my picture when planted out. Anyone else?

Becky

I'm just plain disgusted. I sowed 60 Cherry Brandy seeds outdoors... 30 in the front and 30 in the back yard, both in my sunniest sites, gets sun most of the day. I sowed them at the beginning of March.

We've had over 2 weeks of gorgeous sunny weather and I've been watering faithfully to compensate for the lack of our usual spring rain. Spring this year was lot colder than normal.

Sooooo....I have nothing. Nada. No sprouts, no seedlings at all from Cherry Brandy. Not impressed here.
But all my other seedlings sprouted last month - all sown outdoors. They are doing great.

Deborah

I've got 4 seedlings from about 20-25 I sowed. I used the best dirt. I watched the moisture and made sure it didn't dry out. They were in dappled shade and have been through several 85+ degree days. They should have germinated by now if they were going to. I'm not impressed. If they're late, fine, but to not show up at all, they shouldn't have made such a fuss over these things when they released them.

My R. "Autumn Colors", R. "Green Wizard", and seeds I collected from various sources have all done great. Even my echinacea are up and planted out. Echinacea paradox is almost as large as the ones coming back from last year.

My cherry brandy seedlings, I have to get on my knees to make sure they haven't rotted away.

I WSed one pack- i.e. 50 seeds for which I paid $3.50. I never count sprouts, but I'm sure it was at least half. If I'd waited longer I might have had more sprouts but I planted them out a week or two ago. If those make it it'll still be quite a few plants for $3.50. Not bad I think.

They're still not growing much but neither are my other hirta seedlings. They want more and consistent warmth.

I'm not complaining about my results, at least not yet.

Karen

hello
well I ordered a pack of 50 seeds and split them with someone, and since I only had 25 and they were kinda pricy, I planted them indoors in my basement greenhouse.
I had 100% germination but have since lost 2, they are about 3 inches tall with 3 sets of leafs. I planted them in late feb. I expeted them to grow slowly since I didn't change the florecent bulbs this year, they are from last year and I rilly shuld change them every year.
I planted several rud. out in the WS garden and they are half the size of my CB rud.
I ordered my seeds from thompson and morgan.
good luck everyone
michelle

I think I sowed about 15 or so seed - have had 5 sprouts for a month now, getting true leaves but still small. Today I noticed 1 or 2 more seeds looking ready to sprout; 7 wouldn't be bad. Enough for me and to share with a friend.

I'll be happy when the temps decide which way they're going -

PV

Mine really took off in the heat last week. I planted them out yesterday. Between two containers, I got 4 sprouts that lived. I hope these do well and reseed.