August is the time to meet your needs in the perennial border for next year.
Seed sown now will develop into blooming-sized plants by the next season in most cases, although some varieties require 2 or more years to develop before flowering.
Examples of these are:
- Peonies
- Eremurus
- Hellebores
Making A Seed Bed
In making a seed bed, select a location that will not get the direct midday heat and sun but one that is partially shaded.
This is important as the seed must be kept moist. Otherwise, it will not germinate. If a shady spot is unavailable, lath shading will also do.
The laths should be kept about 2’ or 3’ feet above the seedbed to allow air circulation.
Unused Cold Frame
An unused cold frame will make an excellent bed for starting perennials.
Prepare the seedbed by spading over the ground, carefully pulverizing the earth, and removing any grass or other weed roots and plants which would come up.
If the soil is sandy or clay, add peat moss or other humus to help build up the soil.
Spade to a depth of 6” to 8” inches and then rake over carefully. A little fertilizer can also be applied to the soil while raking.
Thorough Soaking
If the soil is dry, a thorough soaking will be beneficial at this time also. First, soak the soil to a depth of about 6” inches at least.
This, plus daily sprinklings, should carry your seed bed over until the seeds have germinated and started to grow.
After this, you can water more heavily without fear of washing out your seedlings. As soon as germination has taken place, an application of a fungicide may be given to help control damping-off.
After soaking the soil, allow it to settle for a day. This will make the soil better to work with while sowing the seed.
Rake over the surface again to get the top evened off so that there will be no washing out of your seeds during a rainstorm or while watering.
Method Of Seed Sowing
There are two ways of sowing the seeds: broadcasting or planting in rows.
Some gardeners prefer to broadcast as it tends towards more even distribution and gives the seedlings more room to grow.
Also, if a large quantity of a particular kind is to be planted, this is the best and quickest method.
If only a small quantity is to be used, it is better to sow the seed in even rows, being careful not to crowd them.
A marker should be placed at each row to keep track of the rows and kinds.
Broadcast seeds may be raked in the soil with a small rake, being careful not to cover them too deeply, or the seed sown in either method may be covered by sprinkling finely screened soil over them.
Where To Plant It
If the seed is very fine, it is better to use sand for covering, or if the soil is clayey, sand is also recommended as it will not pack down and prevent the little sprouts from coming through.
If you will grow just a few plants, or if your space is limited, the seed may be sown in flats or bulb pans.
Use well-prepared soil and provide adequate drainage at the bottom of the pan or flat using cinders, broken pots, etc.
Advantage Of Growing In A Small Greenhouse
One advantage of growing in this manner is that the pots or flats may be moved from one location to another when necessary; also, they are easier to handle.
This is true for a gardener with a small greenhouse. In a greenhouse, you can grow the plants until it is time to set them out in the garden the next spring, thus gaining much time and getting better plants.
After the seedlings have developed their first true leaves, they may be transplanted to another bed in neat rows where they will have more room to develop and grow until they are placed in their permanent quarters.
Add A Well-Balanced Fertilizer
Before transplanting, add a little well-balanced fertilizer or well-rotted manure to the soil.
Be sure to keep the weeds under control while growing, as competition from the weeds will retard their growth by taking away nutrients.
The usual care should be given to your plants during the Winter months. Careful mulching will protect them through the Winter.
If the plants are well-established, they should bloom the following year and be an attraction for many years to come.
Perennials That Take Longer To Develop
There are, however, some varieties of perennials that require several years to develop before they blossom, and some varieties require a longer time before the seeds germinate.
This is particularly true of seeds with a very hard outer coat. These will remain dormant until the following spring before germinating.
The winter’s moisture, freezing, and thawing will crack this outer shell, thus enabling the seed to germinate.
This process may be hurried by placing the seed in the refrigerator for a time and then planting.
Usually, a few drops of water placed in the package of seeds alternately put in and out of the refrigerator for a few days at a time for several weeks should take care of the stratification of these slower germinating seeds.
Peonies are a good example of this type of perennial. The seed must be stratified, and it will take about three or more years to bloom.
Growing Perennials From Seed
To the gardener with a limited budget for plants, there is no way he can save money faster than by growing perennials from seed instead of purchasing plants.
For the price of one single plant, one can buy several packages of seed and, with a little extra work, can have dozens of plants.
When purchasing seeds, always try to get fresh seeds if possible. This is especially true of delphiniums, as the seed loses its vitality quickly and, thus, germination will not be very good.
44659 by A Pautzsch