Perennials from seed at this time of year

Evening folks.

I have quite a few seeds to sow that I didn't have room for in spring as my new greenhouse was full. Now my greenhouse is nearly empty, with most of its contents having been planted out now.

Can I sow seeds of perennials now and just keep them in the greenhouse until next spring? I know some biennials can be sown in autumn, but for the most part, the rule seems to be late winter/spring sowing.

 

I have successfully grown plenty of perennials from seed from summer into autumn, as Armandii says in nature a lot perennial seed is naturally sown at this time of year and into the autumn, some lays dormant until the spring but some do germinate straight away.

Its just a case of keeping the worst of the frost off them and not let them get too wet in their first winter, a sheltered cold frame or greenhouse floor should be fine. Any slightly tender perennials can of course be afforded more protection.

Generally though you've nothing to lose, sow them now, I will be

 

I would agree with Bilbo and Armandii - follow nature.

A lot of seeds will fall to the ground at this time of year, germinate and survive the winter quite happily. However I have read that some seeds need a rest period of weeks or months before they will germinate. This is something seperate from a cold period - stratification. This is presumably to stop them germinating at the wrong time (for them). Sadly I can't remember what seeds that refers too.

 

I see both sides to this. Guess I would ask myself which time I start the seeds would be the most successful. My choice would be to winter the seeds over in a cold place and start them with the spring warmth. That way the babies would have all spring, summer and fall to grow some before bedding them down for another winter.

 

I feel an experiment coming on , I may so some seed of a certain variety in the next few eeks and then some more in early spring and see how they get on....

 

I think it really depends on what the seeds are, any hardy perrenials should be OK sown now and should be big enough to plant out in Autumn to get established before going dormant for the winter.
Anything considered slightly tender could perhaps be best potted up in autumn and overwintered in a cold frame.
If its tender, then greenhouse with some heat for the winter.

But I cant see any reason for not sowing right now, but make it quick.

 

I was thinking the same. The greenhouse is nearly empty apart from 4 trays of wall flowers.
Was thinking of sowing some red hot pokers and bellis

 

I guess some reserch is needed as to what to sow and at what time. I've got Wallflower, Aqualigia and Alstromeria seedlings at the minute. I had no luck with the Alstromeria at first so I stuck the tray in the wine fridge for a few weeks and a couple are just coming through now in the Greenhouse.

 

I've got most of a packet of coreopsis seeds remaining, and a whiole packet of rudbeckia. I might sow them in the greenhouse, and just leave them in there until they either die or next spring comes along.

 

Ive got a tray of bellis growing in the potting shed that i took seed from my plant whats still flowering now,the wallflowers seedlings(about 3inch high) ive planted as i think they are tough little plants

 

I've got planty of Aqualigia seeds if anyone wants some btw

 

Post some off to pamdish for the seed swap thread if ya got some spare ,im just in the process of collecting mine so my seed package donation has been halted til tues post and they will be appreciated ,ive got red/white ,blue/white and apricots ones i purchased from Touchwood aquilegias last yr x

 

Hi Joolz, Will do but I'm led to believe that Aquilegias cross pollenate easy? So not sure I could positively say what colours they'd be.

 

I grew Honesty around September time last year, and they've just flowered just have to protect them over winter.