Way back in January, I posted a Roll Call of seeds I had ordered or intended to order from nefarious seed catalogs that arrive to tantalize us all in the dead of winter.
Well.
Let’s just say my reputation as a grower of things from seed has not been buoyed by the class of 2010. Results are decidedly in favor of my procurement of more durable, already-growing plants, as opposed to seeds. I am, however, nothing if not an honest man, so I intend to share with you my seed follies. Fear not, novice gardeners! This should serve as proof to you we’re ALL novices at something!
- Hibiscus cannabinus: when it came time to plant these, I had sort of lost interest. I gave them to Michelle G. Michelle, did you plant them? Did they turn heads? Did feds descend?
- Alonsoa meridionalis: I found one tiiiiiiiiiiiny sprig of Alonsoa where I’d planted it… In probably too much shade. Plus, we had an insanely dry summer, and I have a feeling it didn’t get enough to drink.
- Emilia javanica: Nada. Planted with Alonsoa. Who knows?
- Brassica ‘Nero di Toscana’: Did I plant it too late? Must’ve. Either that, or it was stunted by some compost I realized too late was still hot. It bolted practically as it germinated, so much so that I mistook it for the Sanguisorba below for and nurtured it lovingly as such for a period of time.
- Lunaria annua: You know, I thought the money plant went kaput, but I recently discovered a clutch of them growing in a far flung corner. This one’s okay.
- Moluccella laevis: Um, I forgot to plant these.
- Sanguisorba officinalis: See above, Brassica ‘Nero di Toscana’. See also: the expression “Oh, brother.”
- Quamoclit pinnata: Did. not. grow. It’s sort of a morning glory but not quite. Does this mean I can’t grow morning glories? As a British friend of mine used to say, “Oh, bless…”
- Salvia sclarea: These grew! Lots of little ones! I win on these.
- Polymnia uvedalia: This wins the Darwin Award, because I followed the supplier’s recommendation of burning them first, and it’s a wonder I still have my eyebrows.
- Asphodelus ramosus: Forgot these too.
I have to add one late-breaking addition that came after the others on this list, because IT was actually a success, and that is Cleome ‘Violet Queen’. (Click that photo at left, from my last GDRT post [hence the Ilex crenata reference], to enlarge.)
Yes, it probably would’ve been more a success if I hadn’t mistaken the seedlings for Vitex (which I tried from seed last fall) and thinned them. Sigh. Still and all, the few plants I ended up with were 6-foot stunners, and provided me with more additional seed than I ever could’ve hoped for.
I think Cleome ‘Violet Queen’ may be the only thing we grow from seed from now on here at Smackdown Gardens. Ask me again in January.
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I don’t know, I have much more success starting seeds inside (self-watering seed starters are a must for me or legions of tiny fragile seedlings fall dead before me, shop lights and a fan - also important). That way the plants are big enough when they go outside to fend (a little bit) for themselves.
I wouldn’t give up.
@Kerry: Oh, but if you only knew of indoor stating follies of years past! This is how I came to know I should just direct sow.
Seriously, I doubt I’ll give up, I’m just amazed at my own ineptitude. (Why that is is another question entirely.)
Oh, Andrew. Don’t give up. You’ll be amazed at what happens next year. Just because they didn’t do anything this year doesn’t mean they are GONE….
That is what I’m hoping, Amanda Thomsen! We shall see. It’s VERY easy to give up now, but I imagine it’ll be even easier to give in once the seed catalogs arrive.
And you know my seed gospel…. I’ll just rip and hope but I’ll draw it out on a plan so I don’t tear them out later….
Aha! See, I sort of had plans, but then I sowed seeds for plants that looked too similar near each other and didn’t know what the seedlings would look like. Somebody needs to invent a “What’s That Seedling?” app. (Not me.)
I’m with you on direct-sowing…trying to grow things inside is always a bust for me :-( I usually don’t plant seeds here, as the soil takes forever to warm up…it’s just easier to buy small starts. This year, however, after beeing unable to find a few plants I wanted in any other form (namely, Knautia ‘Melton Pastels’) I’m going to be resorting to seeds once again…wish me luck!
@Scott: Good luck! I’m with you on trying things because you can’t find them in any other form… I’ve had mixed luck with that, but I’ve grown two plants now from seed I’ve never seen for sale anywhere (Myrrhis odorata and Leuzea carthamoides), and it sort of makes all the misses worth it when you get hits like those, you know?
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