Pollyanna has left the building!

14 years ago

Okay, PV, you're on your own with the KMOTGG next year!

I just took a stroll through my containers, and have come to the conclusion that there are just some things that will not germinate for me. I've tried several years in a row and it's just not happening.

There are three biggies that I've been trying for at least six years now - yes, six! Maybe even seven! Now you know why I called myself Pollyanna, lol.

Kiss-Me-Over-the-Garden-Gate. I think I will just throw my seeds out over the garden this fall and be done with them. Of course, if they do germinate next year I will probably pull them as weeds, since never having had a single one germinate I don't know what they look like, lol.

Centranthus Ruber - at least this one I can buy a plant or two. (I've never seen KMOTGG plants at the garden center)

Astrantia - another one I'm giving up on. Again, I'll just buy some.

Those are the big three. And maybe alstromeria - but I've only tried that three years running with no germination, so that may get a few more chances, lol.

There are a few other things that I've had mixed luck with that I may not bother with - although since I have had germination in the past, I may attempt again. A leopard can't change it's spots, lol. Primroses and delphiniums are two that spring to mind off the top of my head.

Actually, my biggest disappointment this year was my chinese asters. They are soooo beautiful, and I've had good luck with them in the past. This year I have 12 containers of them with absolutely no germination. I have only six of them with germination, and two of those have one seedling.

Anybody else given up on anything?

:)

Dee

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Comments (18)

karendee
14 years ago
Dee that is too bad. I did not keep good records so I am not sure which ones to give up on. I guess I need to take better records next time...
Karen
sheltieche
14 years ago
Dee, do not give up. I found a way to deal with astrantia and have reliable good results, could send you seeds once they bloom.
Primroses are the same- need coolish temps but have reseeded well for me. Try Swallowtail Danova series seed- one of the easiest in the garden and grows well.
I do not think I am going to give up on anything- it is a matter of good seed and luck. Had good luck with chinese asters someone traded with me- will see how they grow.
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PVick
14 years ago
Oh, Dee - don't give up! I conquered three of my nemeses this year - cleome, columbine and coneflower. Even the baby white coneflower seed that gave me nothing last year is germinating like mad.

So I'll be trying KMOTGG again, I'm sure. I just want to see what the durned thing looks like.

PV
lynnencfan
14 years ago
JoePyeWeed - I have tried every year since I started WSing in 2004 - nada zilch

Trailing lobelia - love that in hanging baskets and containers - again no luck - I may get a seedling here and there but they never 'grow up' .....

Lynne
User
14 years ago
Dee,
I noticed variegated KMOTGG coming up in my garden. I haven't had it there (or anywhere in my yard) for at least 3 years. I'd be happy to dig some & send them to you if you'd like. They're getting taken out, one way or another!
not_a_contessa
14 years ago
No sign of KMOTGG. Year 4 and no Joe Pye for me either. I will not be dumping these until the fall, I am an optimist at heart, and in the past the dumped seeds germinated the next year to present me with some nice surprises.

Mary
morz8 - Washington Coast
14 years ago
Hmmmm, I don't know about that giving up thing - I sowed climbing bleeding heart/dicentra scandens several months ago for about the 4th time and can proudly announce I have 5 microscopic seedlings this time :)

You might buy one astrantia - don't deadhead, that one plant should give you all the seedlings you would need to move around. If you pick one of the darker flowered forms, you'll get a range of shades from nearly white to dark like the parent (this doesn't seem to be true of 'Shaggy' for me, it doesn't self sow like the others). Buying one plant isn't a crime, I did the same with two varieties ladies mantle and have more plants than I know what to do with now - I weed them where those wouldn't germinate for me on purpose.

Is alstromeria hardy for you there? Another rampant self sower here, but from fresh seed tossed by the plant...sown/dispersed immediately, they germinate (in some very odd places) in earliest Spring. Do you know someone with a plant who could get seed to you to sow when at it's freshest? I'd send, but I took mine out about three years ago - between the self sowing and the going yellow/dormant early, the spreading around by root, I just couldn't allow them precious room any more.
drippy
14 years ago
Dee, I feel that way about some plants. I will, as soon as I get a new house, buy myself a blue/purple clematis - I can germinate the tanguticas just fine, but not the big domestic variety most people have. Hellebore is another - fortunately I have a Carolina friend who will give me some of her plants.

On the other hand, my patience with beach plum paid off - I have a small plant that took me 5 years to germinate. I brought it with me to SC, where my mom swears it won't survive.
diggerdee zone 6 CT
Original Author
14 years ago
Well, as disappointed as I am, it's not too big of a deal. The way I look at it, I WS about 225 containers every year. But then I have to plant them out, and that's the part that gets me, lol. So now I'll have a few less containers to plant - not that three or four containers will matter, and I'm sure I'll find three or four new things to sow, lol, but hey, that's how it goes.

I did so want that KMOTGG, though. I saw it in a bouquet once with variegated euphorbia - just those two and nothing else, and it was stunning.

Oh well, I will have to live vicariously through PV. I'm sure hers will germinate next year, if for no other reason than we have both been trying the same amount of years, and if I stop, hers will germinate and I will be ticked off that I didn't try just one more year. LOL, I may be doing you a favor, PV! Yours are sure to germinate if I don't sow again...

Drippy, good luck with the beach plum. I'd hate for you to have tried so long and succeeded, and then not have the thing live!

Morz8, my plan was to keep the alstromeria in a pot. I sell cut flowers at the farmer's market, so since many of my flowers get cut reseeding is kept to a minimum, and it'd be in a pot just in case of root spread also. But, it's a moot point if the darn stuff won't even germinate, lol.

Jaynine, thank you for your generous offer, but I don't want you to go through any trouble. Besides, I'm not familiar with the variegated KMOTGG (although I'm sure my next stop is Google, lol) and I think I'd prefer the plain kind. But thanks!

Karendee, if you don't keep good records, you don't know what didn't work so it's not as discouraging, lol.

Well, good luck to all of us! There's always next year to overcome our nemesis!

:)
Dee
nancy_drew
14 years ago
I was so excited at the variety of Violas I sowed! I chose 4, and sowed them differently. Some in water bottles, some in lasagna pans and some in a kitty litter box, and not a one of 'em came up! I also sowed Pulsatilla and so far not a one. Those are flowers that I really had hoped for.

Now, Primulas I have all over the place! I swear every single seed I sowed came up. I have nowhere to put them all. I also had very good luck with my columbine... go figure!
pitimpinai
14 years ago
Dee,
Throw the seeds in the garden. They'll grow for sure. I WS mine 4 or 5 years ago and planted a couple in my yard. They have reseeded so much I am pulling out seedlings everyday. Young seedlings look very much like knotweed...which is what it is. lol But they'll grow wider leaves and much taller.
diggerdee zone 6 CT
Original Author
14 years ago
Yes, I think I will throw the remaining seeds in the garden this fall... or maybe even now? I will just have to mark the place I put them so I don't pull them as weeds, lol!

Yeah, Nancy, that seems to be the way it works, doesn't it? The ones you really want you get no germination or little, and the ones where it doesn't really matter you have coming out the ears, lol.

I have ONE seedling of Bells of Ireland this year, which was another I really, really wanted. But, I am encouraged, because last year I got nada. So that's an improvement, lol, and next year will be even better! (Oh darn, I think Pollyanna snuck back in, lol!)

:)
Dee
nancy_drew
14 years ago
What really frustrates me is that I went to the greenhouse next door to me... (you know, the one I don't like?) I needed some more 'shroom compost and it was convenient. They have another plant I really want... for $10.00! I think I'll wait and see if there's still a chance on mine sprouting. :(

I also found out that, after being told in November by the owner's wife, that they don't have Promix, that yes, they do use, and also stock Promix. It comes in 3 different cuts, extra fine through slightly less coarse than Miracle Grow. They stock it by the bag and also the compressed bale. Ya learn somethin' new every day!

The guy I spoke to is the son of the owner, he asked me about what I would be doing with Promix and I told him. Imagine my expression when he told me he never heard of GARDEN WEB!! lol He laughed when I showed him a list of what I winter sowed and he saw Lilac Bush on it!

I said "Sorry, Dude, I'm a germinater! It's a kind of sickness."
karendee
14 years ago
So true Dee no records=no disappointment :)

I got 2 KMOTG seedlings though. I think it might have been beginners luck or something....

I know some that did not sprout well for me, Joe Pye is one. I thought since it is called Joe Pye Weed it would be easy like a weed. I was wrong! It looked so nice in photos I am sad it did not sprout for me a little.

I will keep some records next year... I also plan to sow less variety and more perenials.
Karen
bakemom_gw
14 years ago
Stocks. I give up. Didn't even try the last two years.
mmqchdygg
14 years ago
Joe was MIA for me this year, too. Several containers, and nothing from any variety: Chocolate, regular or dwarf. Bummer. Wanted this one for the butterfly patch.
karendee
14 years ago
mmqchdygg, I was bummed too, I was excited to have Joe in the garden. Guess he does not like me. Karen
threas
14 years ago
I WSed VKMOTGG THE FIRST TIME last year. It was gorgeous! It's shown up on it's own now.
{{gwi:349083}}

{{gwi:349081}}

Here is VKMOTGG reseeded this year.

{{gwi:387581}}

Pollyanna has left the building!

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