Joe Pye Weed. Start from seeds. 3.5.15

Joe Pye Weeds to stratify.  3.5.15

I read that Joe Pye Weed seeds need to be stratified.  I bought the seeds via mail order.  This plant is considered an excellent bee and butterfly plant.  I placed the seeds on damp paper towel, in zip-lock bag.  They should be in fridge for 2 or 3 weeks, then planted.  I have a few left.  If there is a chance, I can plant those outside.

Hollyhocks, Carnations from seeds. Saving Four O'Clock seeds. 8.21.14

Four O'Clock Seeds.  8.21.14

Collecting 4:00 Seeds.  8.21.14

 I collected seeds from the Four O'Clock plants.  They might grow fine from the roots.  I collected seeds just because I can.

They are open pollinated.  There is a good chance they may not come true from seeds.  That's fine with me.

I just lean the seed-containing tips into a labeled envelope and shake.  The ripened seeds fall in with no effort at all.  In fact, moving the plants, lots of seeds fall off.

I labeled the envelopes with the color of the plant I collected from.  Even if they don't come true, If I start them next year that should give me a diversity of types.  I can grow separately from red, yellow, white, yellow marble, and orange marble.

This is about 6 weeks for the carnation seedlings.  I just sprinkled the seeds on top of the potting soil, scratched them in a little, and kept them watered.  I didn't know they would grow so easily.  Soon I need to divide them and pot them up either separately or in much smaller bunches.

The Hollyhocks are ficifolia  "Happy Lights".  I started them about 8 weeks ago.  I have other plants in containers, either Fordham Giant or Carnival Mix, that are almost ready to bloom, from seeds started mid June.  I mixed the varieties so I don't know which one.

Saving 4:00 Seeds for Next Year.  8.21.14

All of these are new to me.  It's great trying new plants.

Carnation Seedlings.  8.21.14

Hollyhock Seedlings.  8.21.14

Seedlings. 7.7.14

Morning Glory Seedlings  7.7.14

Holllyhock "Happy Lights" seedlings   7.7.14

Hollyhock mixed double seedlings.   7.7.14

These are the seedlings I started in June. 

I started morning glory seeds because Ning wanted some fast vines, and I ran across the seed packets in Lowes.  I don't know if they will actually bloom this year, but no harm trying.

The hollyhocks are planted now for next summer's flowers.  There is a lot of conflicting info on the internet.  The first - mixed double varieties - I also bought the seeds on impulse at Lowes.  Then, researching the internet, most Alcea rosea - like those mixed doubles - have problems with leaf rust fungus di sease.  I'm sure that will be an issue here.  So I bought some seeds of a more rust resistant species, Alcea ficifolia "Happy lights".  I think the single flowers will be nicer looking, too. 

The A. ficifolia were started  about 2 weeks after the A. rosea,but I think they will have plenty of time to catch up.  The seeds can be planted summer to early fall.

I also planted columbine seeds.  Not up yet.   I have some carnation seeds, which I want to plant soon, if I get the energy.  This is a good time of year to start some of next year's perennials from seeds.