Primula 2013

[Helen Johnstone]

Hoorah Primula wilsonii anisodora seeds germinating - one of my first AGS seeds to germinate

[Maggi Young]

Hoorah Primula wilsonii anisodora seeds germinating - one of my first AGS seeds to germinate

 Super! Isn't it marvelous how the pleasure of seeing  germination in a seed pot is out off all proportion to the size of the seedlings? Such satisfaction! Don't you feel sorry for anyone who never tried growing from seed?  Especially when there is so much on offer from  the Seed Exchanges - there are still those who never give it a try....... why 

[Helen Johnstone]

I know I love it.  I had a Bird of Paradise germinate last summer after messing around with smoke primers etc.  Someone said in response to my excited comment on my blog - oh it will be 7 years before it flowers - so what I am just thrilled to have germinated it.

I discovered the AGS last summer as Kevin Pratt put me on to the seed exchange.  Having discovered this forum I am now going to join SRGC so I can get seeds from its seed exchange next spring.

[Maggi Young]

A caller to a radio phone in gardening programme I used to work on  (before the BBC decided Scotland didn't need a  radio gardening programme!) rang in last year  to say she  was pleased that her Bird  of Paradise ( Strelitzia regina) was flowering after five years - I told her she should not be pleased - she should be ECSTATIC!!  Five years is the fastetI've heard of so that proves it is possible - keep us posted! Some things like frits can take many years to flower, but if you sow some each year, that keeps you busy during the wait and then once things start to bloom, there is just a cascade of floral pleasure from then on!  Bliss!

Keep an eye out or the new Electronic Subscription to SRGC, launching soon- it will be perfect for you I reckon!   
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=8657.msg271311#msg271311

[Helen Johnstone]

Keep an eye out or the new Electronic Subscription to SRGC, launching soon- it will be perfect for you I reckon!   
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=8657.msg271311#msg271311

You would think but I prefer to have printed journals as I dont really like reading articles on the screen.  End up printing them off!! 

[Michael J Campbell]

A few of my own Hybs in bloom here at the moment.

[Michael J Campbell]

Two more,

[David Nicholson]

Mr Amazing strikes again?   What a cracking selection Michael.

[Michael J Campbell]

 

[sippa]

Michael - Your plants are absolutly lovel.  Could you share your method to make them bloom like that.  I have several allionii but they are not bloomig well.  Do you feed them, talk to them, plese tell me how you do it.

Marianne

[Michael J Campbell]

Feed them in the late Summer and early Autumn with a high potash feed ( tomato feed) that is when the flower buds are forming. keep them cool through the winter.

[David Nicholson]

....Do you talk to them............

Marianne

He has to Marianne, no-one else will talk to him

[Michael J Campbell]

Too true David, you can see that from the response I usually get here. Apart from yourself and Maggi occasionally, practically  nil.

[Maggi Young]

Too true David, you can see that from the response I usually get here. Apart from yourself and Maggi occasionally, practically  nil.

There you go , David, you and I do have one redeeming feature, we're not complete failures 

Marianne - I reckon that Michael must use some sort of Leprechaun Magic on his plants - the range and quality of the plants he grows has to be seen to be believed.

[Jozef Lemmens]

Michael, I am always amazed and speechless when I see your plants. Do you spend whole days and whole nights in your alpine house(s)?