When to sow various seeds

[johnstephen29]

Hi I wonder if I can have some advice please, I have several packets of different pulsatilla species seed, colchicum Corsicum, acis autumnalis, a couple of narcissus packets and one of lilium formosanum pricei. I have never grown any of these from seed, when would be the best time to sow these?, do they need a cold period and what sort of compost do I need to sow then in. I would appreciate any help you can give me, thanks john

[Tony Willis]

John

I sowed all my seeds last week in JI seed compost with extra grit.

They are plunged in sand under the greenhouse bench and will no doubt get frozen over the winter. My only reservation is the Lilium formosanum which i think is tender and can be sown in spring

[johnstephen29]

Hi tony so they do need a cold period first then, would they be ok to be left outside in a shelted place, my greenhouse is heated in the winter to keep frost out, if we get any this winter that is.

[Maggi Young]

We sow all seeds and leave them outside all winter.
If they start to germinate they may get taken into the glasshouse, if we spot them and there's room.

By and large seeds are much tougher than  seedlings or young plants.  That's why we try to bring those which are sprouting under cover to give them a bit of protection. More lost to over-coddling them than leaving them to the elements, I reckon.

[Tony Willis]

The only reason I keep them under cover is because we get so much rain the pots are saturated if left outside.

[johnralphcarpenter]

I have been experimenting with 50/50 Growchar seed compost and seed grade Perlite

[johnstephen29]

Thanks for the advice tony & Maggi, I rekon I've got a busy day of seed sowing tomorrow.

[Jonna]

I sow almost all my seeds in vermiculite, also those of rock garden plants.  See my little article about it http://www.seedsite.eu/articles/sowing

[johnstephen29]

Hi jonna great article, I might try it with some cyclamen seeds I have.

[penstemon]

Pulsatilla seed generally doesn't require cold to germinate. Some species will germinate that way, but also simply sown under lights.
The seed is not very long-lived if stored dry.