Hi, all. I've been trying to grow pink fairy duster (Calliandra
eriophylla, a shrub of the legume family) from seeds. So far, so
good, but the seedlings often can't get rid of the seed coats. Just
today I used a sewing needle to take the seed coat off one seedling
that must have sprouted three weeks ago. The seed leaves were still
fat and pale green inside. Another seedling of the same age has the
seed leaves looking like leaves and a nicely developed true leaf. I'm
hoping this one will develop too.

I also just took the seed coats off a couple of Convulvulus tricolor
seedlings, though they had split the seed coats and were probably
going to manage it themselves.

Is this a known problem? Am I doing something wrong, like planting
too deep or growing the seedlings too cool? Should I do anything
about it when it happens, or just let nature take its course? (The
fairy duster's germination is fast but poor and I don't want to throw
out a seedling that might become a shrub someday.)

On another subject, I posted earlier about transplanting asparagus
that had already broken dormancy. I know everyone has been waiting
breathlessly for the results. Well, they're all alive, but way
smaller than the one I transplanted during winter. Still, I'll bet
this is better than waiting till fall would have been. So you /can/
transplant asparagus that has sent up spears--but I wish I hadn't
waited so long.

--
Jerry Friedman