Native woodland garden recipe – updated

At the same time with cleaning seeds and updates of the inventory, I look to see what posts may need to be removed to make space for new ones. On this occasion I  stumbled upon a post entitled: Native woodland garden recipe, which I think would be good to bring ‘upfront’ (those familiar with Photoshop know what I mean), with a few updates made.

It is about the usefulness of sowing species with similar germination and seedlings growth requirements grouped together, and methods that can be used to avoid having too many individual pots sitting around.

A native woodland garden recipe updated
Please read all other posts with links provided at the end.
Fingers crossed Canada Post employees will vote with common sense on their labor dispute; we should know on Friday what’s going to be.

Select a large container (preferably a rectangular one), add a good potting soil mixture, press firmly and add:
 1/2 tbs Trillium grandiflorum (Large-flowered Trillium) seeds (+/- 50 s)
1/2 tbs Uvularia grandiflora (large-flowered bellwort) seeds (+30 s)
1/2 tbs Clintonia borealis (Blue bead lily) seeds (or other Trillium species)
1/3 tbs Asarum canadense (wild ginger)

Cover with 2+ cm of the same mixture
Water very well by going over with the watering can a few times, at intervals
Simmer for at least 2 years in a part-shaded location; never let the container dry out! (sun in the spring, then shade to part-shade)
For best results in a cold climate: dug the container in the ground, cover with a mesh for critters; add a layer of dry leaves on top of it in late fall for winter protection
Remove the leaves in early spring; you may need to top up the container with a bit of fresh mix
Continue simmering, check regularly the water status – this is very important!
Ready to consume usually after 3-4 years (ie. to transplant the seedlings)

The recipe can be adapted to your particular needs. For example if the wild ginger is needed in greater quantity, the seeds can be planted in a separate container.

You can also add to the recipe: 1 tbs Caulophyllum thalictroides (Blue cohosh) seeds!(+/- 14 s) – but sown in a separate large deep pot, or ‘in situ’ because of the 2 years germination and the seedlings that form a large root system even when young. Sanguinaria canadensis (Bloodroot) seeds are also recommended, added to the recipe similar with Caulophyllum.

In case of sowing in a large container, take care and do not sow too many seeds! The future seedlings need space for growing!

Also, you can reduce the recipe in half, replace some of the species, or use individual pots grouped together in a flat/holding container (as shown in another post).
*Those adventurous can also sow all these species ‘in situ’, ie. directly in the ground (double up the recipe in that case).

Joke aside, from my own experience it is much easier to handle plant species with similar requirements for germination/growing conditions when grouped together.

Few older postings of interest:
Moist packing – what’s that?
We got the moist packed seeds – now what?
FAQ – moist packed seeds