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Produce => Non Edible Plants => Topic started by: sunloving on March 30, 2016, 19:40:13

Title: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on March 30, 2016, 19:40:13
Hello all, since many of us grow flowers, gourds and other ornamental things it might be fun to have a seed saving circle just for non edible things.     

I'd say we aim to swap in November to give us a chance to save extra seed this year.
Things I select for and find really hard to get from cheap seed mixes are
Single colours
Vase life
Good dried flowers
Tall, short super hardy growers.

I think there are three of us ATM so speak up if you fancy it. Grow enough seed to share and swap for other folks seed in nov?

X sun loving

Taking part and ideas for saving so far are;

Sunloving, deep pink poppy, Yellow tall antiryhinum and helichysums in colour mixes, euphorbias, skyline super tall sunflowers, green nicotiana langsdorfii, achillea cerise queen
Jayb, Blue Bells, Cowslips, Bishop's Children dahlia
Markfield rover, Love lies bleeding, asters, carnations, larkspur mix and giant blue, scabious, dahlias, poss Californian poppies and carrots. Scabious, black millet,
Hector, wallflowers, hellebores, nasturtiums, white and blue Borage
Deb P, calendula species such as 'Indian Prince' and 'touch of red', agastache various, pom pom dahlias, angelica
Robert_Brenchley, checking his seed stash.
Ed dibbles, Californian annuals and other ornamental plants.
Silverleaf, nasturtiums, aquilegia, calendula
Debs, ox eye daisies, ragged Robin, Jacobs ladder, Malva (white), verbascum

Wants list
Sunloving, astrantia


Edit to add names and varieties.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Jayb on March 30, 2016, 21:36:07
Me please, though I've not got a plan at the moment  :angel11:
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on March 31, 2016, 09:33:39
Yes please, I grow most of my flowers on the plot and I do see them as having to earn their place .
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Hector on March 31, 2016, 09:34:31
I grow named wallflowers, hellebores, nasturtiums....so nothing especially exciting  ???
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Deb P on March 31, 2016, 10:31:10
I'd like to contribute, I grow calendula species such as 'Indian Prince' and 'touch of red', agastache various sorts, pom pom dahlias, angelica if you want height!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Hector on March 31, 2016, 10:47:56
Adding: white and blue Borage.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on March 31, 2016, 16:29:27
A little of what  I have sown...love lies bleeding..asters...carnations...larkspur mix and giant blue..scabious .....dahlias... I could go on.....
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on March 31, 2016, 23:18:55
Great! It sounds like between us we can rustle up something. Is there a standard set of rules for sharing used by the edibles that we could abide by, maybe three varieties in! Or something like take out the number you put in or something simular?

Let's aim to have a list in a months time
Maybe we should start simple with easy to grows/ germinate

 I was thinking deep pink poppy,
Yellow tall antiryhinum and helichysums in colour mixes and whatever else is a good doer, maybe a couple of euphorbias.and skyline super tall sunflowers.
Exciting!
X sun loving

Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Jayb on April 01, 2016, 08:49:33
Are you going for a Circle sharing or a Pass the parcel type swap?

Circles - everyone gets an equal share of seeds. Each person puts in enough pre bagged and labeled seed for everyone in the group (plus an extra in case of a missing parcel). A bit more time consuming pre bagging lots of packets, plus seeds need to be sent to a central point before being shared. 2 postage costs, there and back, but the parcels are smaller than one large one being sent around. Everyone gets their parcel at the same time.

Pass the Parcel - normally one person has enough seeds to start a parcel and it is passed around the group in turn, each person taking and giving seeds. Different selection available as it travels around, not everyone may have the chance of getting something they wanted. It's quicker to put in a large bag of seeds rather than divide them up. People only take the seeds they are interested in rather than the full selection shared. The parcel is larger, but only one postage cost. People wait to get the parcel as it travels around, if it does go missing in the post, no back up.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on April 01, 2016, 09:08:54
My penny worth is -circle- and  I don't mind being the hub but others may fancy a go...
I think a catch-up in a month is a good idea . I did grow Californian poppies last year and was pleasantly surprised by their vase life and crossing over to edibles second year carrots that flower last well too.
 
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 01, 2016, 18:14:14
I haven't been frowing anyhting exciting, but I'll look through my seed collection and see what's there that I can grow out.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: ed dibbles on April 01, 2016, 19:59:07
Can I join the circle too.  :wave:

I'm growing a number of Californian annuals this year so hopefully shall have some seeds to save as well as others. I try to save seed from as many kinds of ornamental plants as I can so should always have something. :happy7:
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Jayb on April 02, 2016, 08:41:45
Yayy, exciting  :icon_cheers:

Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on April 02, 2016, 08:50:56
Brilliant, I think circle would best to but since I'm in Eire it's not ideal for me to be the hub.
X sun loving
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Jayb on April 08, 2016, 08:41:25
Sounds like it is a Circle then, I've stickied the thread to make it easier for everyone to find.

Sunloving, postage to you may not be much more than to the UK, but sending a SAE might be a bit tricky? Paypal might be an option but would seem more work for you?

My penny worth is -circle- and  I don't mind being the hub but others may fancy a go...
I think a catch-up in a month is a good idea .

Brilliant, top offer  :happy7:

I'd prefer not to be doing any organising for this one. Though happy to amend/edit posts if they need updating with information.


 
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Jayb on April 08, 2016, 08:45:47
and crossing over to edibles second year carrots that flower last well too.
 

I had some flowering purple carrots last year and they are so pretty too, the flowers are tinged a purply colour and look great alongside the white ones. I'm aiming to save some mixed coloured seed this year.

I thought I might have a better picture but I can't find it at the moment. It gives an idea of how they looked though
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on April 08, 2016, 09:13:20
Ooh lovely Jayb  I have sown purple carrots but being impatient I am off to replant some . I am also sowing asparagus for a filler. We are going to have some gorgeous arrangements.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on April 08, 2016, 10:05:00
That's lovely and a brilliant idea, I've had in my mind a while now to have a look at leek flowers because the bees love them so much and they are so easy to grow. And have brilliant vaselife . Love that we can try non traditional ornamentals. X sun loving. Ps thankyou for the sticky. I'm happy to send out the parcels no need for paypal. It's just sending to me will be slightly more expensive . I think up to 100g is £1.35 rather than 65p.

I've got some green nicotiana langsdorfii germinated this morning and achillea cerise queen fingers crossed those tiny things make it to seed set as they are lovely.
Exciting to be swapping new varieties I think the first year is a good chance to swap good doers with specials being a treat. Maybe we could have a wants list to to stimulate some sed saving.
 For instance I have been hopeless at astrantia and wondered if anyone might be able to save some fresh seed? X sun loving
Sorry for rambling nature of post !


and crossing over to edibles second year carrots that flower last well too.
 

I had some flowering purple carrots last year and they are so pretty too, the flowers are tinged a purply colour and look great alongside the white ones. I'm aiming to save some mixed coloured seed this year.

I thought I might have a better picture but I can't find it at the moment. It gives an idea of how they looked though
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Silverleaf on April 08, 2016, 11:21:49
I'm not really experienced with flowers at all (and I have very few) but I could perhaps do something easy like nasturtiums, aquilegia, calendula, etc?

Mostly I only grow things that I can eat (or that my rabbits can eat)!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Silverleaf on April 08, 2016, 11:22:39
Also happy to act as a hub if being in the UK helps!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on April 18, 2016, 08:32:16
One flower I hope to add is scabious(perennial) I potted them on yesterday they are only an inch and a half tall but I have never seen a seed with such a long root some 12-14 inches!!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on April 19, 2016, 08:35:31
Oh lovely!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Jayb on April 19, 2016, 16:07:22
So far we have in the group

Sunloving
Jayb
Markfield rover
Hector
Deb P
Robert_Brenchley
Ed dibbles
Silverleaf

I'll also edit the first post to add in those taking part
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Jayb on April 19, 2016, 16:13:37
What about wild flowers, I was thinking Blue Bells and Cowslips as they are two of my favourites?

Also I've sown Bishop's Children dahlia this year, I know they won't come exactly true but as they are a mix...?
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on April 20, 2016, 08:22:15
Hi jayb.  Don't see why not , I've just sown pompon dahlia mix seeds, I'm going to save the colours separate ( mainly because I can't bear the white ) there are usually some deep pinks in the bishops mix that are lovely. But getting to seed can be a challenge because the old flower heads are so juicy.
I think a calendula swap would be interesting seems like we may need to take photos of the flowers of what we save and have them on this thread?
Exciting swap ahead!
X sunloving


What about wild flowers, I was thinking Blue Bells and Cowslips as they are two of my favourites?

Also I've sown Bishop's Children dahlia this year, I know they won't come exactly true but as they are a mix...?
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on April 20, 2016, 08:43:49
Sunloving, I intend to save dahlia too I have some coming from the national collection I managed to select only 9 from 100's discipline or what!! Re juicy, do you get Gardener's World? They had a dahlia chap who squeezed the seed head for 10 days before cutting and drying I didn't know that but am going to give it a go also with the Pom poms he cut the green leaves at the back of the bud so the petals can create a complete Pom . You also mentioned about dried flowers ( I think) and I am giving black millet a go.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Jayb on April 20, 2016, 08:51:25
Oh well that might be me out with Bishop's Children, depends how wet the season is here. Thanks for pointing it out both.

Black Millet would be luuuvly!

9 from 100, your hands must have been sat on!

Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Debs on April 24, 2016, 22:03:27
Can I join in too!! :blob7:

I have some ox eye daisies & ragged Robin - both good to encourage bees and butterflies.
Jacobs ladder, Malva (white), verbascum and more....

Debs  :icon_flower:
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Jayb on April 25, 2016, 15:45:23
Edit update to the first post,


Taking part and ideas for saving so far are;

Sunloving, deep pink poppy, Yellow tall antiryhinum and helichysums in colour mixes, euphorbias, skyline super tall sunflowers, green nicotiana langsdorfii, achillea cerise queen
Jayb, Blue Bells, Cowslips, Bishop's Children dahlia
Markfield rover, Love lies bleeding, asters, carnations, larkspur mix and giant blue, scabious, dahlias, poss Californian poppies and carrots. Scabious, black millet,
Hector, wallflowers, hellebores, nasturtiums, white and blue Borage
Deb P, calendula species such as 'Indian Prince' and 'touch of red', agastache various, pom pom dahlias, angelica
Robert_Brenchley, checking his seed stash.
Ed dibbles, Californian annuals and other ornamental plants.
Silverleaf, nasturtiums, aquilegia, calendula
Debs, ox eye daisies, ragged Robin, Jacobs ladder, Malva (white), verbascum

Wants list
Sunloving, astrantia

Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Jayb on April 25, 2016, 15:47:21
I like the idea of a wants list  :sunny:
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on April 25, 2016, 19:12:35
Jayb thankyou for organising us with these lists. I'm hoping to add more but don't want to commit until they are out and growing.
 I think it's going to be awesome. Who else is adding to the wants list?
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Deb P on April 25, 2016, 21:15:28
I have a nice big clump of astrantia 'shaggy' in my back garden; I could include some seed of that as well if anyone is interested?
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Silverleaf on April 25, 2016, 21:27:49
My wish list: anything that's edible, either for me or the rabbits! I'd love asters, gladioli, hollyhocks, calendula, sunflowers, cornflowers, anything in the Malva (mallow) family, pansies/violas/violets, zinnias. I also like things that the bees like. :)
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Silverleaf on April 25, 2016, 21:28:50
Oh, and if anyone has teasels, the goldfinches in my garden would be very grateful. ;)
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Debs on April 25, 2016, 22:52:46
Hi silverleaf  :wave:

I have teasels growing this year from seed I sowed last year, so I'll put some in X

Debs   :icon_flower:
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Silverleaf on April 25, 2016, 23:45:56
Hi silverleaf  :wave:

I have teasels growing this year from seed I sowed last year, so I'll put some in X

Debs   :icon_flower:

Debs, you're a star. :)
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on April 26, 2016, 08:26:19
My wish list: anything that's edible, either for me or the rabbits! I'd love asters, gladioli, hollyhocks, calendula, sunflowers, cornflowers, anything in the Malva (mallow) family, pansies/violas/violets, zinnias. I also like things that the bees like. :)

I can add hollyhocks.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Silverleaf on April 26, 2016, 10:47:52
My wish list: anything that's edible, either for me or the rabbits! I'd love asters, gladioli, hollyhocks, calendula, sunflowers, cornflowers, anything in the Malva (mallow) family, pansies/violas/violets, zinnias. I also like things that the bees like. :)

I can add hollyhocks.

Yay, you're a star too. :)
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Hector on May 08, 2016, 23:31:41
Do folk like Honesty. I have a lovely purple pink flower strain...looks like this ladies
http://growingfamily.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/honesty-flickr.jpg
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on May 09, 2016, 07:52:50
Do folk like Honesty. I have a lovely purple pink flower strain...looks like this ladies
http://growingfamily.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/honesty-flickr.jpg

Brilliant, all my honesty seeds failed and the seed heads are so great in bunches, I'd love some of yours! It's a lovely colour to.
 

Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Hector on June 12, 2016, 10:49:35
Super :)
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Silverleaf on June 12, 2016, 13:50:07
I found a little bag of honesty seeds that I must have collected a few years ago (either from a verge or sneakily from someone's garden, because I'm not above taking a few seeds here and there).

I don't know whether I have annual or perennial types but I'm going to sow them anyway and see what happens...
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Digeroo on June 12, 2016, 14:36:07
I am not sure about annual or perennial honesty mine is biennial.  Sow late winter and it flowers the following year.  Basically the seeds sow themselves in the autumn and germinate early spring.  So if you sow them I would suggest February or March.  They are very hardy.  The other thing is that you need to keep half the seeds to sow the following year or you get one year off and one year on.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Silverleaf on June 12, 2016, 17:03:56
I was going by the name, Lunaria annua. Wikipedia says it's an annual or biennial, but there's also a perennial species.

Thanks, I'll throw some seeds somewhere in the autumn and let them take their chances. ;)
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on July 08, 2016, 09:33:46
How is everyone doing?
 My yellow antirhynums are all pink! And so I think I got my labels mixed up! But they are still a lovely single colour suite! Other flowers are a bit slow to flower in this cold damp weather. I'm going to save single colours of my statice if anyone is interested, the yellow is lovely.
 Come on the sunshine! X sunloving
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Deb P on July 22, 2016, 18:11:23
I've grown loads of dahlias from seed the past three years, what are the chances of them coming true? Any tips on drying the seed heads, can they be cut off to dry so the plant will continue flowering?
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on July 23, 2016, 10:17:01
I've grown loads of dahlias from seed the past three years, what are the chances of them coming true? Any tips on drying the seed heads, can they be cut off to dry so the plant will continue flowering?
Hi deb I think the chances are low because they are insect pollinated and have such a lot of pollen,and the seeds we get are always mixed. i think if you want to propagate a special one  save the tuber and take cuttings in the spring is the surest way. The old flower heads are soggy and so give em a squeeze in the early days to get rid of the water. But I have t successfully had seeds of any of mine because mine are mostly doubles,  so will have to wait for someone who has to enlighten us both!
I'm excited to see what my Pom Pom seedlings flower like! There are buds but nothings broken out yet!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Deb P on July 23, 2016, 11:36:46
I've had some lovely flowers from my Pom Pom dahlia seeds, one orange one is really multi stemmed snd flowering it's head off! I keep mine in pots and move them depending on what colour they turn out to be, I've grown some Bishops Children from Sarah Raven this year and they are brilliant and have been flowering for a month already..
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on July 26, 2016, 10:50:45
I've had some lovely flowers from my Pom Pom dahlia seeds, one orange one is really multi stemmed snd flowering it's head off! I keep mine in pots and move them depending on what colour they turn out to be, I've grown some Bishops Children from Sarah Raven this year and they are brilliant and have been flowering for a month already..
I'm jealous I didn't even have a dahlia bed until  june , because I didn't have a plot until jan!  and so there's a bit of catching up to do! However I do have a secret weapon my dads a keen dahlia grower and brought me thirty cuttings of my favourites from his collection, but this was so late that my seed grown Pom pons are going to beat them. Fingers crossed for s dry august and lots of lovely flowers. It will definitely be a tuber wrangling autumn, might have to get a shed builtto cope!. Good luck with the seed saving keep us posted on how it goes. X sunloving
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Deb P on July 27, 2016, 10:23:54
I just kept mine in their pots and overwintered them in my cold greenhouse, I only lost a couple. I am terrible at labelling them though, so am endeavoring to be better at that this year!
I've only been growing dahlias from seed a couple of years, I thought them a bit too.....loud before, but I'm a convert now. I quite like bright clashing colours at the moment, mixed pots of bright magenta/ red/purple/orange flowers together, more subtle combinations in other bits of the garden. I'll take some pics later!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Deb P on July 28, 2016, 15:36:58
Here are a few dahlias I've grown from seed:
Mixed various yellows, overwintered in an old water tank..
New Bishops Children grown this year
First year orange pom pom.....

For some reason these are loading sideways....... there aren't like this on my tablet?!!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Hector on July 28, 2016, 19:41:58
How attractive is the Bishop one...lovely :)

I don't know if folk like them, but I have a lovey 3-4 foot tall Crocosmia called Lucifer.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/gardening/article-2719835/Why-I-love-Lucifer-A-metre-high-sprays-blazing-red-flowers-Crocosmia-Lucifer-adds-touch-devilish-drama-high-summer-garden-says-Monty-Don.html
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on August 04, 2016, 07:32:10
How attractive is the Bishop one...lovely :)

I don't know if folk like them, but I have a lovey 3-4 foot tall Crocosmia called Lucifer.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/gardening/article-2719835/Why-I-love-Lucifer-A-metre-high-sprays-blazing-red-flowers-Crocosmia-Lucifer-adds-touch-devilish-drama-high-summer-garden-says-Monty-Don.html

I like them they are a great back of the bed plant. Wonder if they come true from seed? X sunloving
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on September 16, 2016, 09:22:04
I love a dahlia too, all fur coat and no knickers ! I have some from the National collection so if I get any seed and you don't mind a gamble I'll pop some in. Otherwise I am keeping an eye on various seed heads might add Cleome ooh thoughts of next spring.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on October 24, 2016, 09:35:35
Hi all, how is everything going, I think another three weeks or so might help us gather in and dry seeds to share.

I think we should all collect what calendula we have to share flower types and then just share some of our good doers, what do you think.

I think I'll have lots of pink mix antirhynums, blue boy cornflowers, cerinthe, maybe pink mix hollyhocks.
Not yet gathered everything in for a full list. X sunloving
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on December 04, 2016, 09:34:39
I have 5 /7 varieties done and dusted! Should we wait until after Christmas to do the business? Would hate to compete with the Christmas post, and it would be such a lovely parcel to start the new year.. Thoughts?  I am happy to do the honours but only if no one else wants to do so. Cheers.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on December 04, 2016, 14:28:49
I've got nothing done unfortunately due to illness. I should have something next year.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on December 31, 2016, 08:48:25
I think maybe have a week or two to gather things together after Xmas get the decorations down and root out the propagator!  I can't remember what I have saved . Mark field rover that's a great offer. If you can pm everyone on the thread your address and we send you our addresses in our parcels? Would that work . We could set a deadline of say 30 th jan for us to get things to you? What do you think? X sunloving
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on December 31, 2016, 17:17:00
Oaky doaky...  Any thoughts on what postage might be? I'll start pm- ing Tuesday ..stand by yer beds....
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on January 05, 2017, 13:49:18
It looks like we are...Sunloving..Jayb...Hector...Deb P...Silverleaf...Debs...ed dribbles...Robert Benchley...Markfield rover..  I'll pm my address I am guessing people will put some stamps in the parcel and I will return any not needed.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on January 05, 2017, 14:39:29
We each need to send 8 packets of each variety , does that sound right ?
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Hector on January 05, 2017, 16:33:36
Can I apologise. This has been a hard few months and I have not stepped foot in garden all that time/ havent harvested seed. I hadnt thought of coming on to withdraw.
Hope you all have a great 2017 but I will be of no use this year with seed.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on January 05, 2017, 20:25:57
Do you have a PayPal account? I'm in Ireland so can't buy uk stamps, if not I'll get my parents to post stamps x
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on January 06, 2017, 08:07:34
Sorry Sunloving ...I am a bit of a Luddite .
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on January 06, 2017, 08:30:04
To date I think we may be 7. Will confirm ASAP . Cheers
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on January 06, 2017, 12:11:37
I'm having to drop out due to illness, unfortunately. Thanks to having some medication poisoning me, I wasn't able to do anything all summer except watch the weeds grow. Which they did. I'm halfway through sorting my beds out for this year, but I haven't started on the hedges yet.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on January 06, 2017, 22:14:08
Exciting, I've never been in a seed swap before!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Hector on January 07, 2017, 11:46:17
I'm having to drop out due to illness, unfortunately. Thanks to having some medication poisoning me, I wasn't able to do anything all summer except watch the weeds grow. Which they did. I'm halfway through sorting my beds out for this year, but I haven't started on the hedges yet.

Hope you feel better soon.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on January 09, 2017, 08:45:37
Shall we give it to the end of the week and if otherwise informed carry on as 7?
To date taking part are... Sunloving and ed dibbles & me...  so if Jayb,Silverleaf,Debp and Debs are out there we could firm up numbers. Cheers.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Debs on January 13, 2017, 23:04:55
 :wave: confirmation from me
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on January 14, 2017, 16:43:14
Great getting closer, I think we are alright for time just three more to hear from and we are away........but I will have a cut off point.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on January 16, 2017, 08:48:00
To date we are 4... I've pm'd the others , don't want to miss anyone out. Fingers crossed for a full house by the end of the week. Cheers. I'll be back!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on January 17, 2017, 10:19:50
Thank you ed dibbles the seeds are here !
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on January 17, 2017, 14:01:34
 We  are 6.......
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: irridium on January 17, 2017, 21:41:01
Hi all,

I haven't been around for some time, sorry.

I'm wondering if it's too late to join at this stage. My seeds are shop-bought, and I don't know if that qualifies me or not. None have been opened as they're the sale ones from end of season last summer. If interested, I'll reply with my list.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on January 17, 2017, 23:41:58
Since we' ve had a couple nt make it I'd be happy to swap for bought seeds, I think the issue will be that each bought pack probably won't have enough seed to go around 7 of us and so you might end up sending us all your seed that are your faves and getting home grown seed from us that are not nec what you want to grow.
For each variety I'm sending I will be sending n-1 packs of seed where n is the number of people in the circle, so if I send three varieties and there are 7 of us I would send 18 packets. What does everyone else think? X sunloving

I've packed up blue boy corn flowers , cerinthe, and pink mixture antirhynums so far.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on January 23, 2017, 08:13:25
Iridium , as  Sunloving says if you think you can divide by 7 that includes you ,each pack that would work and if you can let us know ASAP as I think we need to call time now . I'll pm you .
So everyone we are going to be 6 or 7 I'll let you now ASAP and shall we go for it!
Cheers
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on January 23, 2017, 09:24:12
I'm posting this morning! Yippee! Can't wait to see what we will all be growing! X sunloving
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on January 25, 2017, 08:20:51
There are four for sure and possible five but think the weekend is the deadline . Hope this is okay ?
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Debs on January 25, 2017, 23:04:59
Will hopefully get mine in post within next couple of days x
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on January 26, 2017, 08:05:40
Coming together nicely now!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on January 27, 2017, 09:19:33
Thank you Sunloving , seeds safely here, just a couple more to come, hope to be doing the honours next week! In anticipation I have bought a bag of potting compost into the warm!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: irridium on January 28, 2017, 09:07:43
Is it 3 varieties of seed to each of us? I'm in the middle of sorting out my seed so I need an answer quickly. If there are 6 of us (as Mark Cloverfield advised last), does that mean 3 packs to each of us? I don't mind if its more than 3 types as I've about 10 to share.

HOpe to hear from someone soon as I want to send these off today whilst I'm free... Thanks :toothy10: :toothy10: :toothy10:
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on January 28, 2017, 12:26:16
Iridium, I've pm'd you. Cheers.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on January 31, 2017, 08:49:18
No sooner said than done......thanks iridium seeds safely here. Just one more parcel then orf we go.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Debs on January 31, 2017, 22:03:39
Sorry for delay (family commitments/ work )

Got mine bagged and will send in post tomorrow!!

Debs  :icon_flower:
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on February 01, 2017, 07:50:29
Looking good!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Debs on February 03, 2017, 00:56:41
Posted 1st class thurs a.m.

Debs  :icon_flower:
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on February 03, 2017, 07:59:08
Great I'll let you know as soon as it arrives, thanks.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on February 03, 2017, 09:27:53
Right chaps ... We are complete thanks Debs . I'll do the honours!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on February 03, 2017, 18:30:42
Yippee!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on February 07, 2017, 08:29:50
Posted yesterday!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: ed dibbles on February 07, 2017, 19:50:15
Arrived today. Looking good. :icon_cheers:
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on February 08, 2017, 16:37:11
Thanks for letting me know ,hopefully the rest are just around the corner and just landed although the lady at the post office said I could send Sunloving's by sea.....how romantic!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: irridium on February 08, 2017, 21:07:29
Mine came yesterday too! Thanks MR!!!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on February 08, 2017, 22:03:13
Surface post is really great for sending heavy things faraway. But if you want it to arrive for Xmas the 1st sept is the last posting date!!

I'm jealous and looking down the lane hopefully each morning!! X exciting to be almost at the starting line. I'm a valentines sower!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on February 09, 2017, 11:14:28
 :icon_cheers: yippee!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on February 09, 2017, 15:09:54
Brilliant , Valentine sowing is go go go!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Debs on February 09, 2017, 23:23:54
Mine arrived Tues - thankyou!! x

Debs :icon_flower:
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on February 10, 2017, 08:30:03
All done and dusted!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: ed dibbles on February 10, 2017, 12:20:13
Thank you markfield rover for doing the honours. :icon_cheers:  :happy7:  :wave:
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on February 10, 2017, 13:15:35
You are welcome , now all we need is some sunshine, meanwhile I'll make do with reading Higgledy Garden website , if you do not already know it ,it certainly worth a peep.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on February 10, 2017, 16:38:14
Thank you mark field rover, you did us proud! I've just been to buy compost yippee! X sunloving
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on February 11, 2017, 17:00:35
You are welcome, I've been for compost too, I think we are onto a winning bouquet !
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on February 11, 2017, 17:43:46
I've been googleing bat face flowers and Russian tarragon, and Chilean glory vine!
How interesting!
Might have to dig some new beds! X sunloving
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: ed dibbles on February 11, 2017, 22:47:42
All the seeds I sent can be sown inside for planting out later apart from Eschscholzia lobbii that should be sown direct in april in a sunny position. "sundew" is the pale yellow form and it may self sow if you are lucky  (mine has) or save the easy to collect seeds if you like it.

The tall French marigolds are great (around 24inches) mixed in beds or with other annuals, so much nicer than the dumpy little things you usually see. The bees think they are great too.

A little tip for sowing french marigolds I found out about last year is that when sowing push the black part of the seed vertically, or almost so, into the compost leaving the white part sticking out. In a warm place germination can begin in three days. :icon_cheers:

The eccremocarpus is supposed to be rather tender but a lot more hardy that you may think from reading the gardening literature. I have one attached to an allotment shed on a rather exposed windy site that has survived this cold weather without problem.

Roll on summer. :happy7:




Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on February 12, 2017, 09:27:33
My hints are
 Cerinthe takes three weeks to germinate but produces a large seedling so don't chuck them out before they are due, has purple and gray foliage goes well planted among othe things like nigella, calendula and is a brilliant cut flower long lasting perfect with sweet peas and cornflowers.

Pink mix antirhynums half hardy and very small as seedlings sow thinly in march , prick out using end of a spoon like you would lobelia. Produce a foot square plant that can often survive the winter , great cut flowers.

Blue boy cornflowers hardy good sized seedling. Plant grow to 3ft bush. A bit floppy so grow close together or string. Great long lasting cut flower perfect with sweet peas. As with hardy geraniums cut whole plant back after first flush and it will flower to frosts. Great under rose bushes.
:) x sunloving
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: irridium on February 12, 2017, 17:09:30
Well, what can I say about mine...? As they were shop-bought  from end of last season (Aug. '16) you lot and myself are going to be first-time growers with my seeds. So, please don't shoot me if they don't all germinate. I shall be checking on germination tips as an extra for those I've not grown before. Hope you were pleased with my choices.

I'm pleased with everyone's seeds, so thanking you all for your generosity and kindness :drunken_smilie: :drunken_smilie: :drunken_smilie: :drunken_smilie: :blob7: :blob7: :wave: :wave: :wave: :angel11: :angel11:. I am looking forward to getting them started, but I know it's way too early to be thinking of that, isn't it..?! I'm thinking of sowing tomatoes and chillis soon though... What are you lot doing in the next week or two?

Just realised, I can sow the sweet pea, matucana for early spring planting....!! :blob7: :blob7: (not had much luck with sweet peas in my slug/snail haven for a garden and zillion of pots, so fingers crossed!)
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on February 12, 2017, 17:35:22
Ive yet to look at the seeds , surprises still in store! But I will and get back. Cheers all.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on February 13, 2017, 04:27:17
I sowed the matucana and other sweet peas today, along with some honesty and mountain toms. Hooray the season has begun! X sunloving
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on February 17, 2017, 09:42:48
Matucana have germinated! Lovely to see the first green shoots of the season!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on February 17, 2017, 12:52:24
 Sunloving are the sweet peas in a heated propagator ?
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: ed dibbles on February 17, 2017, 18:30:39
The matucana are a good purple/red colour and the thing I like about them is that they bear flowers from the top to the bottom of the plant rather than just the top like modern varieties making them of more use for garden decoration .

Smaller flowers than the hybrids but the scent is strong and incredibly sweet. You certainly don't have to get your nose in close to smell them. :happy7:
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: irridium on February 17, 2017, 19:45:36
Hi All,

I've just sown Ed Dibbles' matucana too in my heated propagator yesterday, so here's hoping to a quick germination like Sunloving has had. I've also done some new chillis (Numex Twilight and 2 unknowns and 3 toms (Cherry Falls F1, Cherrola and Super Sweet 100), verbena bonariensis, cosmos, viola Black Jack and Antique Shades  and some others that I can't remember off the top of my head.

It's all happening now... what with the lovely weather we've had together; spring is a-coming!! :drunken_smilie: :drunken_smilie: :drunken_smilie: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny:

Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on February 17, 2017, 20:38:30
Yes in a heated propagator. It's the first thing I do each morning propagator check , wee, cuppa.
They do have amazing scent ed just a short stem lovely colour to :)
Hooray it's begun! X sunloving
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on February 18, 2017, 09:19:54
Thanks for that Sunloving , I'll be firing them up later. So keen am I to get started I am growing the tops of carrots ,the flowers look just like  ammi .
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on February 18, 2017, 09:50:23
Mark field that's an interesting tip , leeks make wonderful Pom Pom flowers to. And veg varieties have great inbred vigour to them.
I hate white flowers though and so have a rejects bed for all the white that appears in flower mixes! This is why I've been making colour mixes So there's no more white!
I'm sure more tasteful people can use them but I love garish bright colours! , x sunloving
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on February 18, 2017, 10:15:56
That's why I love dahlias, so brash so brilliant and so easy from seed!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on February 27, 2017, 19:32:24
The verbascum are up ! Were these a particular colour? Fingers crossed!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: markfield rover on February 28, 2017, 08:29:25
Marigolds and sweet peas up in 3 days! Bat face seeds sown if I get it right I think they will be lovely plants to share, coffee break this afternoon will see some more lovelies tucked up.
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: Silverleaf on March 15, 2017, 15:58:36
Sorry I didn't join in with this one, I've been ill for months and didn't manage to save very much. Maybe next time!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on March 16, 2017, 08:34:56
Get planning!
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: sunloving on July 07, 2017, 07:47:24
Hello fellow seed swappers! I was just wondering how everyone got on? My fave swap is the yellow esholtzia that are looking lovely right now. I'm intrigued to see if my verbascum a will flower this year . The cleome grew strongly but turned out to be slug heaven so just have two survivors!  The verbena are doing great so how have you guys got on? Xx sunloving
Title: Re: Ornamental seed saving circle 2016
Post by: irridium on August 18, 2017, 17:53:59
I didn't plant the cleome (made mistake of growing that and it was so so so spiky! easy to grow and the slugs didn't care for it my garden - normally they go mad for anything young and tasty).
The sweet pea matucana were lovely - thanks Ed
Verbascum germinated, but I've only discovered them yesterday still v. young and defo not ready to be pricked-out yet - thanks Sun.

I can't remember the others, but will get back to you all.
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