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When to Sow these perennials?

Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
in Plants

I want to try and fill some of the borders with perennials, so have bought some seeds from Chiltern Seeds-

Catananche caerulea
Galega officinalis
Digitalis purpurea var. alba
Agastache hybrida, 'Astello Indigo'
Hesperis matronalis, Purple-violet
Linaria purpurea, 'Canon Went
Linum perenne

The packets say some can be sown outdoors now, but I don't want to sow outdoors - I have no space anywhere.
Can I sow in seed trays and leave in a cold frame? and if so, which of the above can I sow now and which are best left until the autumn or next spring?
What's the best method for sowing perennials in terms of compost and should I cover with h/grit?

Thanks as ever


Billericay - Essex

Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090

    I would hedge my bets and sow some of each now in trays and pot them on as they grow.   Save the rest for sprng sowing just in case it's an atrocious winter.  I never sow anything direct any more - too susceptible to dogs, cats, OH being manic with a hoe......

    I use seed compost - never MPC - and modules where possible, watered before I put in the seeds.   Grit keeps n the moisture and reduces weeds.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003

    Hi Pete8..........I buy most of my seeds from seedaholic.com because they give very detailed info. regarding each plant, my digitalis seeds arrive today

    imageimage

    says they can be sown directly Sept. - Oct.

    I too have no room in the garden, so I will be planting them in containers and leaving outdoors in a sheltered spot.

    I use mpc for sowing perennials in and cover with vermiculite.

    I'm not 100% sure, but it is my understanding that you can trick biennias into flowering in the Summer if they are planted about now. I'm trying that this year.

    Last year I winter-sowed my perennials in Dec./Jan. in 2/3 lite milk cartons or 5 litre water bottles (a friend buys all her water for cooking and drinking), some are flowering now, others will be planted by October, for first flowering next year.  The best advantage of winter sowing is that the plants don't require hardening off.

     image

    This is my happy place, my 'work station', seedlings newly planted, germinating, cuttings etc.  You should google  Winter Sowing 101 - Kevin Lee Jacobs.

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

    Thanks Obelixx and Mary
    I know the agastache will flower next year from a spring sowing as I grow them most years, but I'll have a go at getting some of the others going now. I will have a nursery bed available in the autumn currently occupied by 8 huge nicotiana sylvestris (the scent is gorgeous and not sickly sweet) so some could overwinter there if they get big enough or I can keep them in pots the unheated g/house.
    I have tried in the past with perennial seed without much success - which is probably down to me overwatering image

    I'll try and resist the temptation this time!

    What an interesting website Mary and will def have a look at the seedaholic site.
    The description and explanation on the packet is very interesting. I never know they were folk-gloves as it were.

    Thanks again to you both


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003

    I'm going to follow Obelixx advice, plant some now, see how the overwintering process goes, but I will definitely be winter sowing more again this year.  

    Pete8 will you explain what the nursery bed is for, never heard of one before.  

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

    Hi Mary The nursery bed is for plants that are due to be planted out, but not currently big enough.
    So I put them there until they are. It's just a holding area where my veg patch is

    image

    I've got 24 veronica Rose Tones planted there, between the fence and the courgette, that I sowed in spring - they didn't get big enough to plant out, so will leave them there until autumn or spring - then try and find a space for them.

    As to where all the new ones I'm going to grow are going to go.....
    I need a garden extension!


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003

    Oh very good, so they are all in the ground instead of in pots all over the place, my OH is very cross with me this year will all my seed planting and baby plants all over the newly built patio, I only managed to clear the patio last weekend, but there are still pots everywhere! 

    What a good idea, so, instead of planting out small perennials, they are planted close together for an extra few weeks/months.  Pete8, I think you may have 'saved my bacon' image

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

    :) that's the idea Mary. 
    Just make sure you don't plant out plants like lupins into the nursery bed that don't like to be moved once planted. 
    I've still got some scabious that for some reason are growing very slowly - they'll be going in there too if I can find space
    And the lupins are in 6 litre pots until the spring

    Hope you manage to keep your bacon safe ;)


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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