I need some gardening/planting advice

[ZenLefty]

Several of the plants I put down in the spring have now produced little seed pods on the remains of their flower stalks. The lupines produced about two dozen seed pods, and I have some hostas that have seed pods as well. Having spent a lot of cash on plants this year, this looks like free money to me. I'd love to plant these things and make them into new plants but I've heard several different methods.

Should I cut the stalk off once I see green pods, or should I let the seeds mature on the plant for a while? (people have told me to cut the stalks right away and I'll get more flowers, but I could give a rat's buttocks about more flowers; I need the foliage to cover the ground right now).

I don't think I should plant the seeds right away; this is Colorado, and we've just entered our hot & dry season. Do I let them dry out and then soak them sometime later (fall or spring? you tell me.) until they get little roots? Can I put them right in the ground or should I put them in little paper cups with some soil?

Any advice will be most appreciated. :)

[Malva Zebrina]

1. I had an area around an old dug well that I planted one lupine that I dug

up from a shady area where it was not doing so great. I have no idea how it got there. Perhaps from the former owner. I planted it around this old stone lined dug well, and did nothing more. Within three years, the circle around the well was filled with Lupine--and some pink ones appeared as well as a few white ones. They are really magnificent--and we have some absolutely stunning fields here that are full of these beautiful flowers.

I simply let them be and die down naturally. They do not look great when forming the seed pods , in fact they look rather ugly, so where they are planted should be in an area that is not really important to the landscape--like in a field , but being too neat and fussy about it, does not pay off in the same oppulent looking blooms.

We did that last year, having had a fit of neatness, and trying to control the growth and this year we have not had the growth or the magificient display we have had in other years.

Lupines need to be in a place where they can be left alone to spread as they like.

I live in Maine. The fields of Lupine are breathtaking.

[TrogL]

2. Rip it all out and plant raspberries

They're nice looking, tasty and apparently indestructible.

[NorthernSpy]

3. for highest viability...

You'll want to let the seeds mature fully on the plant. In fact, since you live in a fairly dry climate, you might be able to leave them on the plants to dry as well; if not, collect the seed, and let it air dry inside your house. Store the seeds in a dry and cool location until you're ready to plant them. Seed varies in it's length of viablity, and germination rates drop over time; some seeds will still grow after years of storage, while others are best planted right away upon maturity.

Some seeds require such things as repeated freeze/thaw cycles or exposure to light (or NON-exposure to light) to break dormancy. Most don't seem to need any special treatment, though a brief pre-soaking is usually beneficial. As far as planting is concerned, my advice is to do whatever works best for you. Prestarting in peat pots is good if you're growing a species that is intolerant of root disturbance. Direct seeding is fine IF you can keep the seedbed consistently moist.

If you're planting perennial or biennial varieties, you could get them started this year so that they reach blooming size next year. For annuals, I'd wait until next Spring, unless you have a very long growing season with warm Falls.

Warning: if you've collected seed from hybrid plants, the offspring may closely resemble the parent plant -- or may differ from it markedly: it all depends. Some hybrids don't set viable seed at all (bummer).


Happy experimenting! It'll be interesting to see what you get.


Mary

[ZenLefty]

4. Thanks for the tips

I think I'll try to start them up in peat pots next spring, before putting them in the merciless Colorado ground.