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Help! Astrantia by seed
Michelle7
Posts: 17
Hi,
I've collected seeds this year from my Astrantia Major and Astrantia Buckland but have read conflicting reports on how and when to sow them. Can I sow them now? If sow do I sow them indoors or outdoors?
Many thanks for your advice!
Michelle
0
Posts
Yes Michelle, sow them now. Outside or cold GH, they'll germinate in spring.
In the sticks near Peterborough
yes they need a spell of cold. Germination can be a bit patchy. As Nutcutlet suggested leave them out in the cold. Put a bit of grit on the top of the compost once you have sown them to keep the seeds in/ weeds out. As they are fresh seeds you will probably do quite well with them. I bought and sowed seeds a few years ago. Two varieties, about 20 seeds in all. Only one plant in the end, but still cheaper than buying a plant. I keep hoping mine will self-seed like my aquilegias. No such luck so far.
Gg, I sometimes wonder just how old some of the bought seed is. Fresh seed never lets me down and they do seed around.
In the sticks near Peterborough
just can't resist buying seeds for plants I crave. Tend to buy a few from Plant World every year. Some do really well (looking out of window at forest of Echium seedlings) but others a bit hit and miss. I sowed some trillium and erythronium seeds last Autumn that I am giving another winter....PW do say that their seeds can take up to two years to germinate. Definitely best to sow your own fresh seed if you can.
Thank you so much for your help and advice. Do you have luck growing aqueliga by seeds as I've tried twice now and am getting nothing!! I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.........maybe being too impatient? If I sow them now when should I see any sign of life?
you might have some luck if you sow them now. Scatter the seeds on some moist compost, cover with a clear plastic bag and put them somewhere warm and light and they may just have time to germinate before winter sets in (it's a bit parky at the moment, but we may still get some warm Autumn weather!). Once they have got true leaves, pot them on and keep them in a cold frame or cold GH over winter to plant out next spring. I sowed some and have just had them on a sunny windowsill outside, with a clear plastic bag to keep them warm and moist. I *think*, after about three weeks, they are starting to come up. If they had been kept in the warm, would probably have happened sooner, but being in a basement flat, sunny indoor windowsill space is at a bit of premium! Alternatively, save the seed for spring. I find they take a while but they should come up - all the aquilegia in my garden are grown from seed. Sometimes I just sow seed directly outdoors. They come up when they are ready! Make sure they don't dry out, but don't drown them. Use a seed compost or leaf mould if you have it.
oh and if you do manage to get some going now, plant them out as soon as it's warm enough - they don't much like being moved and I find smaller plants establish better. Plus it's easier to squeeze them into established borders!
if it's any consolation, Lily of the Valley refuses to grow for me! I've tried established plants, slips, seed........nada!
This is so helpful - thank you so much!!!
DO NOTHING... i.e, let the seed fall on the soil where they are. They will germinate in situ and you can dig them up and move them on next spring. Simples.