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Aquilegia

harmonyharmony Posts: 403
in Plants
Hi all,  I have a beautiful pinky mauve coloured aquilegia growing in my front garden ( it popped up last year ). I am wanting to collect seeds from it to transplant in my back garden with some other aquilegia. Would it be best to grow them in trays or could I just scatter the seeds so they self sow like they do naturally. Thanks..

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Let the seed pods turn brown, the seeds black, before you collect them. You can sow them immediately in a seed tray, cover with fine grit or vermiculite, and put in a shady place, keeping it watered. They will probably germinate within four weeks. prick out into 3 inch pots, then plant out in final position in autumn. If you get plenty of seed , sow half immediately , and save half to sow next March.
  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    I agree with fidgetbones regarding sow half immediately.  Aquilegea self seeds, so you need to collect the seeds before the seed heads split open if you don't want them to pop up in your front garden - my test to tell if the seed heads are ready to pick is to lightly shake them - you should hear the seeds rattling in the pods otherwise they are not ripe enough.  Once the seeds have germinated in the seed tray and have a couple of leaves I transfer them into 3" pots.  I tend to overwinter my seedlings in their 3" pots and plant out in the Spring.
  • dave125dave125 Posts: 178
    I planted Aquilegea seeds in small pots early spring and kept them inside. Eventually 3 out of 20 or so germinated and are now outside. They're tiny and I'll probably bin them. In the meantime at least 10 large healthy plants have self seeded around the garden and are starting to flower. They're not exactly where I want them so will be moving at some point but it shows that nature finds a way and it's way has much better results than mine!
    Luv Dave
  • Joyce21Joyce21 Posts: 15,489
    You may not the same colour of flowers as aquilegias can be a bit promiscuous.
    SW Scotland
  • harmonyharmony Posts: 403
    Thanks for the info, i will collect and sow some in seed trays and save some . I might scatter some on the soil as well to see what happens..
  • Richard HodsonRichard Hodson Posts: 790
    I have a few likeable aquilegias that I would like to propagate vegetatively, has anyone ever tried this ?
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    edited May 2018
    If the plant is quite large, it is possible to split them while they are dormant.  I find the pom pom type come quite true from seed. You might have to rogue one or two.
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