Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Seedy Subjects! => Grow From Seed => Topic started by: Mark Griffiths on December 23, 2015, 06:38:54 PM
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My AGS seed has just arrived. It includes a few Alliums and Narcissus - should I sow them now or wait until spring?
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I'll say now, Narcissus need cool nights to germinate. I sown my last batch of Allium, Bellevalia 2 week ago and some of the seeds are already germinated.
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yes, now.
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I got some Fritillaria seed in the SRGC exchange. When is the best time to sow it? Are some species different than others?
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Mediterranean species are best kept till next August but the North American, Chinese and some other Asian species will give you some germination soon if you sow now.
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thanks! :)
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Thanks Maggi. Is there a maximum limit to sowing? sorry for the late reply, been so busy planning for the ideal home show I haven't been here to look at anything.
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You can sow almost anytime , Lewis - bulb seed tends to be more fussy - since if you miss its "time window" it can easily rot. But if you sow it and keep the pots in good conditions - not tooo hot or cold etc - then many seeds are very forgiving.
For the most part, I prefer to sow before the plants would be growing naturally, since many seeds will germinate at the time when their "parent" plants are starting into growth. Does that help?
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Feeling better Maggi?
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Not really, thanks, David! Got too much to do to languish though, so back to work.
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Sorry to hear that, there's a Scottish beverage which should help.
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Numbs, but doesn't cure, but worth a small glassful, say every ten minutes!
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You lot are no help - kind, but no help - I cannot work if pie-eyed!
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Yes that does. Thank you.
PS. Get better soon. :)
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Thanks, Lewis !
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Lewis, see here (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=6490.msg348149#msg348149) for a pic of Fritillaria seeds I received in January 2015, kept in a cool room until October 2015 when I sowed them as usual. They appear to have retained good viability and I have no doubt they're doing better than if I had sown them a year ago.
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Lewis, see here (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=6490.msg348149#msg348149) for a pic of Fritillaria seeds I received in January 2015, kept in a cool room until October 2015 when I sowed them as usual. They appear to have retained good viability and I have no doubt they're doing better than if I had sown them a year ago.
Thanks Matt, Should I keep all Fritillaria seed to be sown in October then? Because it looks to have work well for you. Or dose this apply just for certain species.
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I'm mainly sowing the Mediterranean species Lewis, for which the usual advice is to sow before Christmas. Seeds received after that are better saved to be sown the following autumn because 1. they will not experience the necessary conditions (a long, cool and moist period) to trigger germination and 2. being thin papery seeds are more likely to rot if left in pots for a year. It's easier to keep them in good (viable) condition in a cool dry place. So, for Med species I'd definitely keep them for sowing in October.
I have only an odd potful of species from other regions and would defer to Maggi's advice below (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=13855.msg346880#msg346880). I was pleased with how quickly the F. liliacea (N. American) germinated compared to other frits - the first seedlings from that batch of sowing in mid-October and up well before Christmas.
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Ok, Thanks for that Matt. Ill see what region they are native too. Then sow them at the right time from there.
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Matt, due to American Frit germinating so quickly I am moving their sowing time to the beginning of December. They are only starting to germinate now which I feel is better as it reduces the time having to survive dark dingy days. It's only the American Frits I do this to, others I sow before October.