Beautiful! You're so lucky to be able to see them and watch them grow year round! (and pull weeds year round...)

Well, I'll stop grumping -- it was beautiful here yesterday; up to 64 degrees! A good day to get out and be sure everything is well watered under its remay blanket... Not much to photograph even though the Lewisias are all in full bloom under there! Hope they make it through the winter with everyone else. It will be fun to see how much change the seedlings have gone through when they are unwrapped come spring. I was really tempted to unwrap everyone, but it's too much of a job to get them back under wraps. Thanks to your advice, Kevin, everything has stayed covered through some pretty heavy wind storms! MR

Thank you MR. I look forward to seeing your seedlings in the spring.

valleylynn said:Next year we should see an increase in members participating in growing semps from seed, and possible raising a new named semp.

You all have me wanting to try my hand at growing seeds. I only saved one bloom stalk though. When in Jan. do you sow the seeds?
I was so disheartened with all my losses this summer I was ready to quit semps. But after seeing all the seedling beauties on this thread I want to try seeds.

chickhill,

Clean them and store them in glassine envelopes in the crisper of your refrigerator. Start them in MARCH in sterile potting soil. Methods of cleaning should be in some of the earlier threads. It's all pretty simple though! You'll have fun growing your own children and it is addicting!

Kevin

Thanks Kevin, I'm already a plant addict!

Lynn, I quickly skimmed through this thread. I see you mentioned not naming your seedlings, but waiting 3 or 4 years. Will any of them be available for sales soon? (I knew I never should have come over here ... I really don't need more ... but ...)

I won't know until this spring/summer if any of them will make the cut. By that time they should be showing their true potential.

I tried some new to see how it would do. I left two bloom stalks in bed 2, S. 'Cafe', all other blooms stalks were removed as the blooms faded (before setting seed).
The first week of January I cut the tiny dry stalks and upended them in the gravel all around the 'Cafe' colony. Here is the results of the bee pollinated seed.

Cafe is a favourite of mine so I can't wait to see how these babies turn out

Only the bees know who the daddy is.

Have a wonderful week everyone .

You also Paddy. We have sunshine again today, and in the low 60's.
The baby seedlings will love this.

Lots of new babies on the way for you Lynn. I look forward to seeing them grow up!

Hopefully something interesting will come from the seed. Only time will tell.

I watch begins. Hope you get some beauties.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

Lynn,

I always planted my seed in MA that way but we didn't have the weed pressures that we have here. Moss and winter weeds are deadly to new semp seedlings. That's why I always use sterile planting mix and plant in seedling beds that have new soil in them, and with potting soil on the top 1/2". That way the seedlings will grow at least to a sizer that they can fend for themselves a little better, The potting soil in the pots tends to crust over a little bit and you can usual lift pieces of the crust when transplanting into the seedling beds. That disturbs the roots less than transferring naked seedlings.

Anyway, my two cents!

Hmm, maybe yo need to do a Cafe' series if these work out! Maybe 'Cafe' du Monde' or something silly like "Starbucks".

Kevin

I sowed a trial batch of seeds outdoors in a little container last Sunday just to see how they fare out. They are just noid seeds and self pollinated if at all . I will sow batch number two next Sunday weather permitting.
I'm not risking my bought seeds just yet ,Rome wasn't built in a day !
Do you guys add any sand to the potting mix or would it not be sterile and affect germination ?

JungleShadows said:Lynn,

I always planted my seed in MA that way but we didn't have the weed pressures that we have here. Moss and winter weeds are deadly to new semp seedlings. That's why I always use sterile planting mix and plant in seedling beds that have new soil in them, and with potting soil on the top 1/2". That way the seedlings will grow at least to a sizer that they can fend for themselves a little better, The potting soil in the pots tends to crust over a little bit and you can usual lift pieces of the crust when transplanting into the seedling beds. That disturbs the roots less than transferring naked seedlings.

Anyway, my two cents!

Hmm, maybe yo need to do a Cafe' series if these work out! Maybe 'Cafe' du Monde' or something silly like "Starbucks".

Kevin

How's about 'insomnia' or 'sleepless nights' .

I better start a list of names.