Allotments 4 All
Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: brownthumb2 on April 24, 2018, 10:02:03
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i bought some Hellebore's seeds and seen in the growing instructions. The following After sowing seal container in a poly bag and leave for three months at 20 c then place container and bag in the fridge for another three months. return to 20c again as Germination can be slow.I`ve never grown them from seed before,so do I need to go though all that or is some one here have another method
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Tricky aren't they?!
I find neglect and a poor memory works best for Hellebores. I sow fresh seed in trays and put them in a neglected corner for a couple of years, they need cold spells to trigger germination when it warms up. I sowed a tray a couple of years ago from purchased seeds, and have two surviving seedlings, just about ready to be potted on now! I have patience, but TBH I don't think I would bother again.
I expanded my collection by waiting until early summer when the garden centres are getting rid of their stock once its flowered and set seed pods, I got a trolley full for less than £30, and some of the big plants were originally selling for £15 each! Planted them out and they all flowered brilliantly the following year, still going strong.
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That's a good idea and one I will follow
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If you do that and the seeds on them ripen, then sow them fresh from the plant. They germinate the following spring with no trouble at all.
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Do hellebores germinate?!! Bought several packets as end of season bargains but never seen anything. However I went to a National Trust Garden and they were thousands of self sown seedlings.
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I bought 2 plants but have seedlings popping up around them. The seedling flowers are never the same as the parent plant, but most of them are worth keeping, I only throw away the ones with completely green flowers ;)
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Dried out seeds almost always fail. They really do need to be sown fresh.