Saving & Sowing Primular Seed

[flowerlady]

What do you do ?

Do you ....

1) save seed and dry in the usual way?  sow next year - seems to be a waste of a seasons growing time :D

2) sow seed into pots now? - saving time and establishing them before the frosts  ;)

3) any other suggestion?  :-\

[flowerlady]

[Robert_Brenchley]

Sow it straight off and don't dry it. It should come up if you do this, but primula seed is notorious for failure if it's dried and stored. My cowslips self-seed all over the place so hopefully it won't be too hard to germinate if you get it in straight away.

What I wonder about it seed from Plants of Distinction; they sell a lot of primulas and other perennials where the seed can't be dried or stored. If it's bought in the early autumn, is it going to be OK from a specialist? Anyone tried?

[flowerlady]

What kind of soil do you use  :-\

[Palustris]

In fact some primula seeds are better sown slightly under ripe, even still green, for optimum germination. I sow mine in straighf forward seed sowing compost.
I don't know how the seed companies go on with short term viable seeds and storage. I know somethings are a waste of time buying as they never germinate, but surely they would have had so many complaints that they would no longer sell them? Or perhaps not.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Stuff like primula is a waste of time form the big seed companies, but I'm hoping that there are better alternatives. I've discovered that Trillium seed can be dried to a certain extent without harming viability, and that could apply to other genera. I suspect it's going to be a question of buying a few packets and trying them.

[flowerlady]

Are there many other kinds of seeds that can be sown 'green' then ? :-\

[Palustris]

Almost all of the Ranunculacae, say wood anemones, Aquilegia, Hepatica. are all more likely to grow from very fresh seed.

[laurieuk]

Most primula seed germinate better if kept moist after sowing (not wet) a good way to do this is,
Get a builders brick, one with a frog (a hollow  or dip on one side) fill the dip with general purpose compost, stand this in a tray that will hold water. With a rose on the can give the brick and soil a good drink, you need to get about an inch of water in the tray. If you leave this then until the next day ,if you look across, not down onto, the compost you will see if it is moist, if it shines it is too wet. You then sow the seed on the surface and keep out of direct sun.All the time there is water in the tray the compost will remain moist and primula seed germinates well.
Another seed that is much better sown as soon as ripe is Meconopsis.

What do you do ?

Do you ....

1) save seed and dry in the usual way?  sow next year - seems to be a waste of a seasons growing time :D

2) sow seed into pots now? - saving time and establishing them before the frosts  ;)

3) any other suggestion?  :-\

[flowerlady]

Wow thanks for this tip laurieuk.  I shall go find a brick!!  ;D