Greetings.

Last year some one was kind enough to put me right on how to germinate
some cyclamans from seed.

This year I would like to have a go with some Snakes heads that have
set seed.

I have done a google but most of the hits were just wanting to sell me
the plants / seeds.

If anyone could recommend the correct treatment I would be grateful.

Yours

Andrew J
Newport

On 2 Jun 2003 08:42:38 GMT, (Nick Maclaren) wrote:

~
~In article ,
writes:
~|
~| Last year some one was kind enough to put me right on how to germinate
~| some cyclamans from seed.
~|
~| This year I would like to have a go with some Snakes heads that have
~| set seed.
~|
~| I have done a google but most of the hits were just wanting to sell me
~| the plants / seeds.
~|
~| If anyone could recommend the correct treatment I would be grateful.
~
~Shake some onto the ground and ignore them - that is what I do,
~and they have semi-naturalised.
~
~As far as growing in pots, I don't know, but I would sow some in
~the summer and leave the pots out over winter, and would save
~some indoors for spring sowing. ONE of the three methods should
~work!

I tried this a couple or so years ago. Just scattered the seeds on the
surface of some compost and left the tray in a corner. When I
remembered it was there, I had a tray of what looked like grass (oh
and liverworts :-I which I 'weeded'). The bigger cormlets are now
about a cm across and the leaves are perceptively thicker. I guess in
a year or two I may well get flowering sized corms.

I may do some more this year as there are a lot of seed pods on my
mature plants.


--
jane

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist but you have ceased to live.
Mark Twain

Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks!

jane wrote:

On 2 Jun 2003 08:42:38 GMT, (Nick Maclaren) wrote:

~
~In article ,
writes:
~|
~| Last year some one was kind enough to put me right on how to germinate
~| some cyclamans from seed.
~|
~| This year I would like to have a go with some Snakes heads that have
~| set seed.
~|
~| I have done a google but most of the hits were just wanting to sell me
~| the plants / seeds.
~|
~| If anyone could recommend the correct treatment I would be grateful.
~
~Shake some onto the ground and ignore them - that is what I do,
~and they have semi-naturalised.
~
~As far as growing in pots, I don't know, but I would sow some in
~the summer and leave the pots out over winter, and would save
~some indoors for spring sowing. ONE of the three methods should
~work!

I tried this a couple or so years ago. Just scattered the seeds on the
surface of some compost and left the tray in a corner. When I
remembered it was there, I had a tray of what looked like grass (oh
and liverworts :-I which I 'weeded'). The bigger cormlets are now
about a cm across and the leaves are perceptively thicker. I guess in
a year or two I may well get flowering sized corms.

I may do some more this year as there are a lot of seed pods on my
mature plants.

Yes seed on these seems to be exceptionally good this year, or at least
it is here.

I also have crocus seed and a load of cyclamen seed which I keep meaning
to do things with!-)

//
Jim

wrote in a message:.

This year I would like to have a go with some Snakes heads that have
set seed.

If anyone could recommend the correct treatment I would be grateful.

I always start my snakeshead seeds off in pots as they tend to get lost sown
in the open ground. Never let the seeds dry out and sow on a good compost,
covering with 1/8" of sifted soil. Keep the compost damp at all times and
place the pot/s out in a shaded part of your garden. I re-pot every year for
the first three before planting the bulbs out in their flowering positions.
They usually take four to five years to flower from seed.

Bill Brewer

On Mon, 02 Jun 2003 08:58:09 +0100, wrote:

Last year some one was kind enough to put me right on how to germinate
some cyclamans from seed.

This year I would like to have a go with some Snakes heads that have
set seed.

I have done a google but most of the hits were just wanting to sell me
the plants / seeds.

If anyone could recommend the correct treatment I would be grateful.

Fill a pot with a soil-based compost, say JIS. Use something
moderately deep, not a shallow seed pan. Scatter the ripe seeds
on the surface, cover with about 1/4" coarse sand, water well,
and put in a shaded coldframe. Germination next spring, 2004.
Leave in pot until the summer 2005, then plant the young bulbs
out after the foliage yellows. Don't let the pot go bone dry;
Fritillaria meleagris is a moisture lover and doeesn't take
desiccation very well.

Important to use a soil-based compost, as the seeds, later
seedlings, will be in the pot for two years; soilless composts
break down sooner than that.

--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Bill Brewer wrote:
wrote in a message:.

This year I would like to have a go with some Snakes heads that
have
set seed.

If anyone could recommend the correct treatment I would be
grateful.

I always start my snakeshead seeds off in pots as they tend to get
lost sown in the open ground. Never let the seeds dry out and sow on
a good compost, covering with 1/8" of sifted soil. Keep the compost
damp at all times and place the pot/s out in a shaded part of your
garden. I re-pot every year for the first three before planting the
bulbs out in their flowering positions. They usually take four to
five years to flower from seed.

Ah, that's good news. I was expecting a quicker return on last years
sowing. I will just be patient and allow them to mature in their own
good time. Thanks.

--
ned

On Mon, 2 Jun 2003 15:23:24 +0100,
(Jim W) wrote:

~jane wrote:
~
~ On 2 Jun 2003 08:42:38 GMT, (Nick Maclaren) wrote:
~
~ ~
~ ~In article ,
~ writes:
~ ~|
~ ~| Last year some one was kind enough to put me right on how to germinate
~ ~| some cyclamans from seed.
~ ~|
~ ~| This year I would like to have a go with some Snakes heads that have
~ ~| set seed.
~ ~|
~ ~| I have done a google but most of the hits were just wanting to sell me
~ ~| the plants / seeds.
~ ~|
~ ~| If anyone could recommend the correct treatment I would be grateful.
~ ~
~ ~Shake some onto the ground and ignore them - that is what I do,
~ ~and they have semi-naturalised.
~ ~
~ ~As far as growing in pots, I don't know, but I would sow some in
~ ~the summer and leave the pots out over winter, and would save
~ ~some indoors for spring sowing. ONE of the three methods should
~ ~work!
~
~ I tried this a couple or so years ago. Just scattered the seeds on the
~ surface of some compost and left the tray in a corner. When I
~ remembered it was there, I had a tray of what looked like grass (oh
~ and liverworts :-I which I 'weeded'). The bigger cormlets are now
~ about a cm across and the leaves are perceptively thicker. I guess in
~ a year or two I may well get flowering sized corms.
~
~ I may do some more this year as there are a lot of seed pods on my
~ mature plants.
~
~Yes seed on these seems to be exceptionally good this year, or at least
~it is here.
~
~I also have crocus seed and a load of cyclamen seed which I keep meaning
~to do things with!-)

ah... cyclamen... I have the small C. persicum growing away inside. I
collected seed this time last year from a pink-flowered plant I've had
for several years and now I have 21 more... a few of which are
astonishingly about to flower. Already. Am waiting to see if they all
come out the same colour which they may not as the leaves vary! Then
there will be the great cyclamen giveaway :-)

C coum seem to love it in a large terracotta bowl - they're now
sprouting everywhere. I just leave them to their own devices, making
sure moss doesn't get a look in.


--
jane

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist but you have ceased to live.
Mark Twain

Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks!

In article ,
writes
Greetings.

Last year some one was kind enough to put me right on how to germinate
some cyclamans from seed.

This year I would like to have a go with some Snakes heads that have
set seed.

Collect the seed, sow them, keep moist, keep outside but not waterlogged
over winter, and they will come up like grass next spring.

Grow them in pots for a couple of years before finally planting out.
--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

In article ,
says...

In article ,
writes
Greetings.

Last year some one was kind enough to put me right on how to germinate
some cyclamans from seed.

This year I would like to have a go with some Snakes heads that have
set seed.

Collect the seed, sow them, keep moist, keep outside but not waterlogged
over winter, and they will come up like grass next spring.

Grow them in pots for a couple of years before finally planting out.
--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

Ok I'm ready to plant out. The three year old plants flowered this year (in
compost contrary to earlier advice, so I was probably lucky). The leaves have
now died back, so when should I plant out? I am on heavy clay so should I pout
some gravel under them?


--
Jonathan Ward
Remove the 'X' when replying

jane wrote:

On Mon, 2 Jun 2003 15:23:24 +0100,
(Jim W) wrote:

~I also have crocus seed and a load of cyclamen seed which I keep meaning
~to do things with!-)

ah... cyclamen... I have the small C. persicum growing away inside. I
collected seed this time last year from a pink-flowered plant I've had
for several years and now I have 21 more... a few of which are
astonishingly about to flower. Already. Am waiting to see if they all
come out the same colour which they may not as the leaves vary! Then
there will be the great cyclamen giveaway :-)

C coum seem to love it in a large terracotta bowl - they're now
sprouting everywhere. I just leave them to their own devices, making
sure moss doesn't get a look in.

Thanks for that.. I may well go and collect up the Cyclamen seed and
redistribute it.. At the moment it is just lying on top of existing
corms.. not ideal for germination I believe, although the exisiting
Cyclamen have established very well..
//
Jim

In article 1fvzb9w.zh7cziqlvu48N%00senetnospamtodayta@macunl imited.net,
(Jim W) writes:
| jane wrote:
|
| C coum seem to love it in a large terracotta bowl - they're now
| sprouting everywhere. I just leave them to their own devices, making
| sure moss doesn't get a look in.
|
| Thanks for that.. I may well go and collect up the Cyclamen seed and
| redistribute it.. At the moment it is just lying on top of existing
| corms.. not ideal for germination I believe, although the exisiting
| Cyclamen have established very well..

Mine do exactly the same in a bed which is in the rain shadow of the
house. They are adapted to growing in places which dry out totally
in summer and freeze in winter, but don't like waterlogging and
can't take much competition.

Note that is C. coum, not C. persicum.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

In article , Jonathan Ward
writes
In article ,
says...

In article ,
writes
Greetings.

Last year some one was kind enough to put me right on how to germinate
some cyclamans from seed.

This year I would like to have a go with some Snakes heads that have
set seed.

Collect the seed, sow them, keep moist, keep outside but not waterlogged
over winter, and they will come up like grass next spring.

Grow them in pots for a couple of years before finally planting out.
--

Ok I'm ready to plant out. The three year old plants flowered this year (in
compost contrary to earlier advice, so I was probably lucky). The leaves have
now died back, so when should I plant out? I am on heavy clay so should I pout
some gravel under them?

As soon as possible,

When I bought some from a garden centre in a pot, I did not put gravel
under them - I too am on heavy clay - and they have flourished. They are
a plant of damp meadows.

My seedlings are only two years old - gone from grass like leaves to
broad leaves, but no flowers yet.



--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

On Tue, 3 Jun 2003 11:51:23 +0000 (UTC), Jonathan Ward wrote:

In article ,
says...

In article ,
writes

Last year some one was kind enough to put me right on how to germinate
some cyclamans from seed.

This year I would like to have a go with some Snakes heads that have
set seed.

Collect the seed, sow them, keep moist, keep outside but not waterlogged
over winter, and they will come up like grass next spring.

Grow them in pots for a couple of years before finally planting out.

Ok I'm ready to plant out. The three year old plants flowered this year (in
compost contrary to earlier advice, so I was probably lucky). The leaves have
now died back, so when should I plant out? I am on heavy clay so should I pout
some gravel under them?

Put them straight into the soil they have to grow in, no
amendments. Water well *once* after planting to settle them in,
and if you have dry spells, give occasional light sprinkles to
prevent total desiccation until active growth starts in late
summer.


--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

On Mon, 2 Jun 2003 15:23:24 +0100,
(Jim W) wrote:

~jane wrote:
~
~ On 2 Jun 2003 08:42:38 GMT, (Nick Maclaren) wrote:
~
~ ~
~ ~In article ,
~ writes:
~ ~|
~ ~| Last year some one was kind enough to put me right on how to germinate
~ ~| some cyclamans from seed.
~ ~|
~ ~| This year I would like to have a go with some Snakes heads that have
~ ~| set seed.
~ ~|
~ ~| I have done a google but most of the hits were just wanting to sell me
~ ~| the plants / seeds.
~ ~|
~ ~| If anyone could recommend the correct treatment I would be grateful.
~ ~
~ ~Shake some onto the ground and ignore them - that is what I do,
~ ~and they have semi-naturalised.
~ ~
~ ~As far as growing in pots, I don't know, but I would sow some in
~ ~the summer and leave the pots out over winter, and would save
~ ~some indoors for spring sowing. ONE of the three methods should
~ ~work!
~
~ I tried this a couple or so years ago. Just scattered the seeds on the
~ surface of some compost and left the tray in a corner. When I
~ remembered it was there, I had a tray of what looked like grass (oh
~ and liverworts :-I which I 'weeded'). The bigger cormlets are now
~ about a cm across and the leaves are perceptively thicker. I guess in
~ a year or two I may well get flowering sized corms.
~
~ I may do some more this year as there are a lot of seed pods on my
~ mature plants.
~
~Yes seed on these seems to be exceptionally good this year, or at least
~it is here.
~
~I also have crocus seed and a load of cyclamen seed which I keep meaning
~to do things with!-)

ah... cyclamen... I have the small C. persicum growing away inside. I
collected seed this time last year from a pink-flowered plant I've had
for several years and now I have 21 more... a few of which are
astonishingly about to flower. Already. Am waiting to see if they all
come out the same colour which they may not as the leaves vary! Then
there will be the great cyclamen giveaway :-)

C coum seem to love it in a large terracotta bowl - they're now
sprouting everywhere. I just leave them to their own devices, making
sure moss doesn't get a look in.


--
jane

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist but you have ceased to live.
Mark Twain

Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks!

In article ,
writes
Greetings.

Last year some one was kind enough to put me right on how to germinate
some cyclamans from seed.

This year I would like to have a go with some Snakes heads that have
set seed.

Collect the seed, sow them, keep moist, keep outside but not waterlogged
over winter, and they will come up like grass next spring.

Grow them in pots for a couple of years before finally planting out.
--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm