peppereater
Breeder in Training
TREE HUGGER
just tell me when to shut up
Posts: 230
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Post by peppereater on Nov 15, 2010 11:59:26 GMT -5
I've had no luck with certain perrenials. I've always heard poppies should be direct sown...even an old saying, "sow poppies on top of snow."
I've tried poppies at least three times and never had one plant germinate.
I have a stand of hollyhocks from transplants, all old fashioned pink ones, and I've tried to direct sow other colors with no luck.
I've had larkspur come up from a wildflower mix, they were eventually crowded out or disappeared for some reason, but direct sowing only larkspur hasn't worked, nor have bells of Ireland. I've always tried sowing early, I get the impression that's best, but Nada. Any advice? Some of these aren't recommended for transplanting, but I may try container germination and take my chances this year.
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peppereater
Breeder in Training
TREE HUGGER
just tell me when to shut up
Posts: 230
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Post by peppereater on Nov 15, 2010 18:32:24 GMT -5
Ah. Don't know why I was thinking larkspur was perrenial (biennial). For whatever reason, ones from a wildflower mix came up and reseeded several times, but were very early, either April or May, straight larkspur seed planted in Spring never came up.
Although there are huge regions of clay soil in Oklahoma, much of our soil is sandy as well. Sand is the rule where I am. The bed I'm referring to is sand with a fair bit of loam, but does get runoff from the roof. It drains readily after a rain, though. I'll just keep trying poppies until I have success.
I wonder if the things I've read concerning hollyhocks apply to short season areas...some writers seem to feel they need grow through the full season the first year if you want flowers the second year. Makes sense that they would like warm weather to germinate, although here, they overwinter as rosettes of leaves that hug the ground but remain green through the hardest frosts.
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jcm05
Administrator
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Post by jcm05 on Nov 16, 2010 7:03:38 GMT -5
If you mean the seed kind (annual), its best to sow them late winter/very early spring, top sow and leave that area alone. Don't forget the milk jugs. |
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peppereater
Breeder in Training
TREE HUGGER
just tell me when to shut up
Posts: 230
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Post by peppereater on Nov 16, 2010 10:17:53 GMT -5
If you mean the seed kind (annual), its best to sow them late winter/very early spring, top sow and leave that area alone. Don't forget the milk jugs. Wow, jt, what a great idea! You should give it a name. Let's see...Winterplanted? Jugsown? This could really catch on! Mwahaha |
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Post by flowerpower on Nov 23, 2010 7:31:33 GMT -5
Annual poppies are spring sown as early as possible. And don't cover them with soil. They need light. You don't need the milk jug either. The cool/warm temps helps the seedcoat to break open.
With perennials and biennials, seed is summer sown around late july. Remember to sow biennial seed 2 yrs in a row. This way you get flowers every yr.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Nov 23, 2010 9:21:12 GMT -5
On the farm, we dug up some old stubby brown pop bottles under a lilac bush that a previous owner had obviously planted to hide from their spouse  AFter doing so, Red Poppies began to grow. Perhaps the brown glass was filtering the light too much for successful Wintersowing? Or do you suppose he was hiding his seed stash in those bottles as well, lol |
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AFter doing so, Red Poppies began to grow. Perhaps the brown glass was filtering the light too much for successful Wintersowing? Or do you suppose he was hiding his seed stash in those bottles as well, lol