Starting perennials from seed

14 years ago

Hello there!

I am wondering if it is too late to start some perennials from seed and get them in the ground yet this year. I know there's plenty of time for germination, but will they have the time to get established and come back next spring? At least in our area of Minnesota (southern Twin Cities), we usually don't get a hard frost until the first or even second week of October.

I'm hoping that some of the more experienced flower gardeners have some advice--my area is usually vegetables, and I'm just getting into perennial gardening.

Here is a list, directly from our Park Seed order, of what we purchased:

1. ASTILBE X ARENDSII MIX

2. ASCLEPIAS GAY BUTTERFLIES (BUTTERFLY WD)

3. DELPHINIUM SUMMER MIX

4. DIANTHUS SIBERIAN BLUES (HARDY PINKS)

5. CENTAUREA MONTANA (BACHELORS BUTTON)

6. PEPPERMINT (this one I'm moving indoors in the fall for tea)

7. PRUNELLA FREELANDER MIX

8. CONEFLOWER (ECHINACEA) WHITE SWAN

9. RUDBECKIA CAPPUCCINO

Thank you in advance for any help and advice!

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Comments (7)

ptilda
14 years ago
My concern with starting seeds now is the fact that it's been so cool and dry! I'm affraid my garden is thinking it's October!
garystpaul
14 years ago
The only one of these I have a lot of experience with is the delphinium. I buy or collect my own seed (it doesn't keep well and should be planted fresh) and germinate inside in my propagation box (about 3' x 4' with shop lights that can be raised and lowered). These will usually bloom a bit the first year. Some of the others I've tried using this method as well, but they take the entire season to get established.

Another thought: check out the winter sowing sites (including GW). I should think any of these seeds, including delphinium, could be winter sown.

Something I start in midsummer are biennials like foxglove. These get a nice start and overwinter in a cold frame outside and bloom next season.

I doubt you have time to germinate, then plant and expect the seedlings to overwinter in the garden. But others may have more experience with this.

Good luck. GaryStPaul
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I often start perennial and biannual seed in July. Right now I have shasta daisy, sweet william, foxgloves, painted daisy already germinated and am waiting on delphinium, columbine, salvia and sage to get started. I find it much easier to get them started outside when the soil is already warm and the temps make germination faster. If you start seed in July you can expect the plants to flower the following year. Some perennial and biannual seeds are very easy and some are hard. I follow directions on back of packet as far as if the seed needs to be covered or needs light and some need to be frozen for a while, set them on wet miracle grow potting mix, water well, but gently and put in a shady place until germination starts and then I move them to an area that gets a few hours of morning sun a day. Once their first set of true leaves is out I will move them into a place that gets 4 or 5 hours of morning sun. When their second set of leaves shows up the seedlings will be moved to either a nursery bed in my veg garden or for some into their permanent spot right away. The bulk will go to the veg garden and those I might cover with shade cloth if it is very hot (it will be in Arkansas in August). The hardest thing is to keep the soil moist while germination is going on and when they are vey small. Sometimes I have a complete failure, but for some like shasta, sweet william, foxgloves, painted daisy, gillardia they are so easy you will get dozens of plants. Almost always I get at least a few. Well worth the couple of bucks the packet of seed costs. Hope this helps.
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There are some perennials that need cold stratification (i.e., winter temperatures) in order for seeds to germinate. If you know the botanical name of the plant, you can look in the Tom Clothier database (see link below) for seed starting information. Obviously, many plants self-sow--I have Virginia knotweed, Penstemon/beardtongue, black-eyed Susans and others that have self-sowed in my garden beds. A large percentage of the perennials in my many garden beds were grown from seed via the winter sowing method (see GardenWeb forum of the same name). It's simple, natural and gives you a chance to get your hands in dirt right through the frigid months. As an added bonus, it produces incredibly healthy, hardy plants. Will this work? Will it only work with certain perennials? There's a lot of conflicting information available online about seed starting but the Clothier database is the experts' (and my own) Go To source for seed germination information. Here is a link that might be useful: Tom Clothier Database
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For most plants, annuals or perennials, give them about 4 to 6 weeks of growth under lights before planting them out after the last frost. So for example if the last frost date for your area is April 1 and your seeds take 2 weeks to germinate, then you could sow them on February 1; expect them to germinate around Valentine's Day; begin hardening the seedlings off by putting them outdoors on non-freezing days starting in mid-March; and plant them out during the first week of April.
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theims3
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you for the answers! Actually, while I was poking around here, I found the winter sowing forum, and I think that that may be the best option for me. I didn't even know that was possible! It's a really exciting idea, especially because I have a very small house (with a very large yard, thank goodness!) and I just don't have the room for starting many seeds indoors.
Julie
14 years ago
Heh- heh heh....
There goes another unsuspecting gardener right down the slippery snowy slope to way too many happy seedlings!
Wintersowing is a very fruitful and addicting pastime- that will carry you right on through the gardening year with planting out seedling- gathering seeds- collecting containers and swappin' those seeds you have cleaned and packaged up!
You are sure to enjoy it!
Julie
dandy_line (Z3b N Cent Mn)
14 years ago
I just this year decided that I stop waiting for germination on the 4th of July. Anything that germinates after that has no chance to make it to winter with enough growth to survive. So I just let the soil dry out and will restart them again next year.
So, to answer your question-it is now too late to start seeds. But, the season starts sometime in November for me.
boyle014
14 years ago
If the plants are hardy in Zone 4, you should be able to plant the seeds in the ground in the fall and have things come up in the spring. (A little easier than winter sowing). This has worked for me with yarrow and poppies. I plant extra seeds so that the squirrels, chipmunks, and bunnies don't eat them all. I haven't tried the plants you have listed, however.

BTW, an earlier posting in this forum provided pretty convincing evidence that mint is best grown from seedlings rather than seed.
vic01
14 years ago
Peppermint needs to be in a container or something to keep it in bounds, it spreads ALL over! I have lived here for 9 years and still fighting it every year.

Starting perennials from seed

Comments (7)

ptilda

garystpaul

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theims3
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Julie

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Starting perennials from seed

Comments (7)

ptilda

garystpaul

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theims3Original Author

Julie

dandy_line (Z3b N Cent Mn)

boyle014

vic01

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theims3
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