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Growing stipa tenuissima from seed
lauragorman1
Posts: 4
in Plants
Hi all,
I am new to growing grasses from seed but want to grow six roughly 30cm spread clumps of stipa tenuissima to include in a border.
My question is about seed numbers - I have seen some advice to grow several seeds to a pot and then plant out the whole pot, but some advice suggesting growing in a seed tray and pricking out individual plants to grow on before planting out.
Would just one seed eventually make a 30cm clump (and if so would it take ages?!) or should I go down the multiple seeds to a pot route?
Any help greatly appreciated!
I am new to growing grasses from seed but want to grow six roughly 30cm spread clumps of stipa tenuissima to include in a border.
My question is about seed numbers - I have seen some advice to grow several seeds to a pot and then plant out the whole pot, but some advice suggesting growing in a seed tray and pricking out individual plants to grow on before planting out.
Would just one seed eventually make a 30cm clump (and if so would it take ages?!) or should I go down the multiple seeds to a pot route?
Any help greatly appreciated!
0
Posts
I pricked them out individually and potted up. Planted out in Jun / Jul.
I had a success rate of probably 60-70%. They made decent plants within the season.
This is the seedlings at end of August.
What sort of size did you let them get to before pricking out? Assume there are no seed leaves / true leaves to help you work out when the root size is reasonable?
You can just make out the small clumps of seedlings, probably about 150mm or so high at that time.
They really kicked on once they were planted out as you can see from previous photo 6 weeks later.
I am growing stipa tenuissima from seed this year and have the exact same questions as you and I just can't find the answer!
My seeds have germinated and they are individual little needles of grass. I can't figure out whether each seedling will grow into one decent clump with the spread advertised on the packet, or whether I need to plant a number of seedlings together to achieve a clump?
Could you advise what happened with yours? How many seedlings did you need for a decent sized clump?
Thank you!
I just grab a bunch of seed and put it into a pot, only lightly covered with soil. I leave the pots outside all Winter, and usually have high germination rates. Once you have some adult plants in your garden, you will never be rid of it, it is a prolific self-seeder, including in the tiniest of gaps. Personally, I wouldn't bother to try and get them to germinate now, it's probably too late.
I think one seed produces a small clump, but that's very difficult to tell. I would plant 30-50 seeds for a really decent sized clump.
I bought and planted 3 plants a few years ago and they have self seeded all over the area. Not a problem as they're easy to pull out where not wanted
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
better grown in lean or poorer soil otherwise they become too lush and flop