SOWING SEEDS 2019?

Quick seed question - I had great butternut squashes this year but no longer have the original seeds. I've got a couple of squashes left - should I be able to use the seeds out of the squash or do they not usually do well?

 

@Snorky85 I've grown from seeds gotten out of store bought squash. There's nothing to stop you trying. What's to lose? I spent three months last summer monitoring pots with King protea seeds and they never germjnated but I didn't regret trying.

 

Did they produce the "fruit" ok then? I was unsure whether to buy a pack of the seeds again or just used what I've got You are right though - may aswell give it a go, nothing to lose!

 

Yup, I got for free, exactly what I'd bought.

Stil 3 months til the ground thaws..

 

I know where your coming from Mike, I too dont sow nearly as much seed as I used to.
I need to get that old enthusiasm back.

 

Hey @pete and @Mike Allen if I can still be happy to be starting from seed, particularly after watching a King Protea seed not germinate, for three month, then you two should get your mojo going!

 

Hi folks...it's that time of year again!

So far I've got mixed cactus seeds in seed compost stratifying in the fridge. I'm testing the viability of Phacelia tanacetifolia (for the bees!) on kitchen towels in a lidded seed sprouter in the boiler cupboard. I've got Leycesteria formosa seeds soaking in water as the pkt is dated 2013 so I may as well try and also Coleus "kong" which have already germinated and are on the windowsill.....oh and there's a pkt of Myrrhis odorata seeds getting cold treatment for a month in the fridge!

 

I have quite a few varities of verbena and agastache I need to get started in January so I'll do my best to get started this week or next.

 

Continued sowing hardy perennial and bulb seed that just needs patience rather than warmth. So Galanthus, Crocus, Erodium and Eryngium.

 

I sow sweet peas and chillies at the end of the month . Most other seeds are early March . Got all my favourites on order , but I do need a bit of inspiration to try a couple of new types.

 

I've never yet managed to germinate any Eryngium other than Miss Willmott's Ghost, Nigel. Have you succeeded with alpinum? If so, what's the secret please?

 

@noisette47 I've grown bourgatii and agavifolium from seed in the past. I think fresh seed and sow as soon as you get it and then leave outside to germinate.
Completely failed with pandanifolium last year.

 

Ah, thanks I suspect freshness of the seed has a lot to do with it, and also impatience! I usually end up chucking the contents of the pots on a shady bit of the border, in disgust

 

Seeds taken up to the Moon by China's Chang'e-4 mission have sprouted, says China National Space Administration.
So GC seed planters have no excuses this year
China's cotton seeds sprout on Moon

 

I grow far too much from seed really but people keep offering me seed, I see seed or plants on the web that I fancy, I find old seed that I forgot to sow etc.................

Anyway, sown so far;

• Caesalpinia gillesii
• Datura wrightii
• Datura ferox (very old seed)
• Solanum laciniatum
• Solanum pyracanthum
• Abutilon Bella (peach)
• Nicotiana glauca
• Allium karataviense
• Calceolaria uniflora

Today I added to that list;

• Polemonium pauciflorum
• Penstemon lyallii
• Salvia forrskoalei

Those three also benefit from a cool spell so are also in the woodworking shed.

Germinated so far;

• Caesalpinia gillesii (100%)
  
• Solanum laciniatum (a couple of seeds)
• Datura wrightii (three seeds)

This weekend I'll start Canna warscewiczii and a couple of Chinese Salvia that also benefit from cold stratification.