Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Seedy Subjects! => Grow From Seed => Topic started by: David Nicholson on April 27, 2007, 07:11:29 PM

Title: Pulsatilla
Post by: David Nicholson on April 27, 2007, 07:11:29 PM

I have a few shades of Pulsatilla vulgaris in the garden and I would like to collect seed from them. How shall I know when the seed is ripe please, and do I sow the fluffy white bits as well?

Title: Re: Pulsatilla
Post by: mark smyth on April 27, 2007, 07:24:54 PM

David it's when the seeds fall off when touched gently. Plant the whole thing. As far as I know the tail bores the seed into the ground

Title: Re: Pulsatilla
Post by: David Nicholson on April 27, 2007, 07:41:13 PM

Thanks Mark. It's likely to be mid to late Summer then?

Title: Re: Pulsatilla
Post by: Olga Bondareva on April 28, 2007, 06:52:09 AM

David
Mark is absolutely right saying when.  At the beginning of summer in your climate I think.

I sow Pulsatilla seed at surface and do not cover by soil just press them. And cut tails. Seed germinate well at sunny hot place. But not quickly. Be ready to wait 2-3 weeks. It depends on ripeness of seed and weather.

(http://photofile.ru/photo/olga_bond/1332874/small/46632577.jpg)
http://photofile.ru/users/olga_bond/1332874/46632577/#mainImageLink

Title: Re: Pulsatilla
Post by: Thomas Huber on April 28, 2007, 08:47:47 AM

David, I pack the seed pod in tea bags. So you can be sure, that they
will not be lost when you forget to have a look at them!

Title: Re: Pulsatilla
Post by: David Nicholson on April 28, 2007, 07:18:55 PM

Olga and Thomas, thank you both very much for your advice.

Title: Re: Pulsatilla
Post by: Lesley Cox on April 29, 2007, 06:20:43 AM

I agree with cutting off the tails. I do it now for all pulsatillas and all clematis and get excellent germination on both. The tail left on far from boring the seed into the ground, seems to left it up. It is a mechanism for distribution by wind after all. I sow the seeds only and cover with grit same as for everything else. Slightly green seed is better than fully ripe seed in my opinion.

I'm sure the the seed exchange directors would prefer these seeds trimmed too, rather than fluffing all over the place.!

Title: Re: Pulsatilla
Post by: David Nicholson on April 29, 2007, 07:43:54 PM

Thanks for that Lesley