Cautionary tales

[annew]

Cautionary tales..

Using hedge trimmers to cut back the herbaceous border 'to save time' is not always a good idea. Or at least remember the nice big labels you put in last year.

Don't give up on your hepatica seeds, or prick out the seedlings too early (I wait until 3rd season) - these seedlings are just germinating after 3 years!

[Gabriela]

Cautionary tales..

Don't give up on your hepatica seeds, or prick out the seedlings too early (I wait until 3rd season) - these seedlings are just germinating after 3 years!

It is good to also hear it from you Anne. Someone told me last year that some of my seeds just germinated  - in their third spring, and I said - hmmm....
Truth is I never kept a pot more than 2 years from lack of space. I wonder what would make the seeds to go in such a deep dormancy.

[Tristan_He]

What I want to know is how a 3 year old pot looks that neat. Mine always get a dense covering of mosses and liverworts, so that after year 3 they look like something out of Jurassic Park! 

[Carolyn]

Anne,
Will you try to prick out the two more mature seedlings this spring, or leave the whole potful to grow on till next year?

[Mattb]

What I want to know is how a 3 year old pot looks that neat. Mine always get a dense covering of mosses and liverworts, so that after year 3 they look like something out of Jurassic Park! 

Ha ha hear hear!

Don't give up on your hepatica seeds, or prick out the seedlings too early (I wait until 3rd season) - these seedlings are just germinating after 3 years!

That is encouraging, Anne. I was umming and ahing about whether to give up on mine after this, the second year. 🤞

[annew]

Anne,
Will you try to prick out the two more mature seedlings this spring, or leave the whole potful to grow on till next year?

Good question! I haven't decided, but I'll probably prick them out very carefully - the new seedlings together in a different pot, with the older ones separate.