Wrap up on the winter/spring seedlings-1

Last call – ordering for the summer will close tomorrow, July 5^th! Updates were just made to the Spring shipping category.

I recently put in order all my remaining seedlings and it’s time to do a wrap up on the fall 2018/winter 2019 sowings. The spring of 2019 was unusual cold and rainy; unseasonal low temperatures lasted well into mid -June. For this reason many of the winter sowings were delayed in germination plus that some of those that germinated were killed swiftly. At this point, there are species just starting to germinate (Leptarrhena pyrolifolia), some a bit more advanced (Anemone caroliniana) and others already grown up (few Aconitum spp.).

An update on germination first: Delphinium nudicaule has germinated after 2 months of cold (I found the seedlings growing in the fridge not long

ago). I assumed it is a warm germinator based on the info available; it is certainly not, at least not this particular collection.

Almost all warm germinators started indoors in late Feb/early March are planted in the ground by now and most are doing well. Lupinus breweri seedlings didn’t like to be transplanted, only 1 survived, but no surprise; Lupinus spp. are best sown in place. I will post pictures with them tomorrow.

 

I would like to discuss more about the two Paeonia species offered for the first time in 2018: Paeonia wendelboi and Paeonia brownii.

Paeonia wendelboi (warm/cold germinator).
From 5 seeds sowed for myself there are 2 seedlings growing. I cannot tell if the other 3 seeds have grown roots and perished afterwards due to too much moisture or if the seeds are still inside the pot  until I transplant the seedlings.

Paeonia brownii: I already had an update to specify that it requires a period of cold/moist for germination (+2 months).
The germination is epigeal (the seedlings will show up with the cotyledons enclosed in the seed coat).
See what I mean here, I forgot to take a picture with my seedling:
http://plantes-passion.forumactif.fr/t5795-semis-de-paeonia-brownii

I kept for myself 2 lots of seeds: 3 normal (larger seeds) and 4 small ones that I considered unfit to sell. They were stratified at cold in February (lot 1) and March (lot 2) in the fridge.

All 3 larger seeds have germinated, roots only, after 2+months and were planted in a pot. In the picture below, the one fully germinated seedling was planted when the root was aprox. 5 cm long; the other 2 had shorter roots.

You can notice a second tiny seedling in the picture of which I removed the seed coat to see if it would grow better (clearly not) and the third one with only the seed coat showing for now.

I keep thinking that maybe they would have liked to stay more in the fridge(?).

From the 4 smaller seeds kept in the fridge, 3 formed roots and they were planted in pots only 2 weeks ago.

 

I would like to hear the results obtained by those who purchased seeds last fall (please see the Contact form or comment section).
We can learn more about it by sharing the results.