Hellebore seed exchange?
Hellebore seed exchange?
How about we collect some seeds (must be fresh) to trade?
I have double, anemone-flowered, picotee, white, pinks, reds and H. foetidus. Nobody knows what the offspring will look like.
I would recommend one or two dozen seeds/envelope, labelled as to parent type/color. Names do not matter since the offspring will be bustards.
I have double, anemone-flowered, picotee, white, pinks, reds and H. foetidus. Nobody knows what the offspring will look like.
I would recommend one or two dozen seeds/envelope, labelled as to parent type/color. Names do not matter since the offspring will be bustards.
Last edited by viktoria on Mar 20, 2007 8:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
Many a great tune has been played on an older fiddle.
I have scads of seedlings all around my hellebores, Tigger, so I don't know what to tell you! As for sowing them, you need FRESH seed, a neutral (or close to it) growing medium and consistent moisture. Hellebores do not like to have their roots disturbed, so prick out the seedlings and pot up (2-3" pots) as soon as first leaves appear and re-pot into quarts or 1/2 gallons in early September. I use soluble fertilizer at 1/2 strength plus Osmocote (or any other slow-release fertilizer).
Viktoria
Viktoria
Many a great tune has been played on an older fiddle.
It is not obvious, Tigger. The seed pods stay green for a long time but if you wait too long, you will find them open and empty. One way to make sure you "catch" them is to take a piece of nylon stocking (hate to think of you cutting up your pantyhose ), wrap it around a full-size seed head and fasten it with a twist tie, paper clip or clothespin. Then you can wait in peace for it to open.
We may just have invented a new kind of garden ornament?
Viktoria
We may just have invented a new kind of garden ornament?
Viktoria
Many a great tune has been played on an older fiddle.
It is not obvious, Tigger. The seed pods stay green for a long time but if you wait too long, you will find them open and empty. One way to make sure you "catch" them is to take a piece of nylon stocking (hate to think of you cutting up your pantyhose ), wrap it around a full-size seed head and fasten it with a twist tie, paper clip or clothespin. Then you can wait in peace for it to open.
We may just have invented a new kind of garden ornament?
Viktoria
We may just have invented a new kind of garden ornament?
Viktoria
Many a great tune has been played on an older fiddle.
- doublemom2
- Posts: 3918
- Joined: Oct 17, 2001 8:00 pm
- USDA Zone: 8
- Location: WA State zone 8
I've gotten dozens (or more!) of seedlings by just letting the seeds ripen and fall to the ground themselves wherever they please. By early the next spring there are dozens and dozens of babies that have germinated in the ground all around the mother plants. I then pot them up to make sure they don't get covered up by the mommy's leaves completely. Most of my 1-year old helle-babies that I potted up last spring are filling 1-gallon pots with huge root systems. They weren't bothered one bit by being dug up and potted. I do think the seeds like to go through the regular winter cycle outdoors, at least my seeds are happy that way!
If I manage to actually catch any seed pods before opening I'll join in on the trade
Andi
If I manage to actually catch any seed pods before opening I'll join in on the trade
Andi
Andi
Discover Wildlife... Have Twins!!!
Discover Wildlife... Have Twins!!!
My hellebores are only just beginning to show growth! We had 16" of snow last weekend and the ground was still all white yesterday. Sixties today are melting it fast!
Andi, I also have gazillion seedlings around my hellebores and have potted some up. I have not been very successful with keeping the potted babies alive.
Andi, I also have gazillion seedlings around my hellebores and have potted some up. I have not been very successful with keeping the potted babies alive.
Many a great tune has been played on an older fiddle.
- toomanyanimals
- Posts: 732
- Joined: Jan 15, 2004 5:52 pm
- USDA Zone: 6a
- Location: Michigan Zone 6a
Karama, are those seed pods? I got my hellebores 3 years ago. Last year and this year they have bloomed, they are the green ones. But I've never seen a seed pod on them.
I did order a few new ones from a co-op, 2 double, 2 red, 2 metallic blue. The red ones were blooming when they arrived last week, it was pink, not red, but still a nice color.
Yours seem to be very happy and healthy. Mine struggle where they are at ... or maybe this is the 3 year so they will do well now.
Good Luck to you all with the seed trade!
tma
I did order a few new ones from a co-op, 2 double, 2 red, 2 metallic blue. The red ones were blooming when they arrived last week, it was pink, not red, but still a nice color.
Yours seem to be very happy and healthy. Mine struggle where they are at ... or maybe this is the 3 year so they will do well now.
Good Luck to you all with the seed trade!
tma
Be not simply good; be good for something.
Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau
- kHT
- Posts: 10379
- Joined: Oct 31, 2001 8:00 pm
- USDA Zone: 7-8 Z-nial
- Location: PNW, some where over the rainbow?
Yep TMA those would be seed pods!! I tickled several of them with my trusty paintbrushes and it takes a few years for them to catch on. These had plenty of shade up until a year ago but now have more sun than they really like. I was surprised how huge they got this year with more light.
So get out those paintbrushes.
So get out those paintbrushes.
karma 'Happy Toes' (kHT)
The Goddess is Alive and Magic is Afoot!!!!
I'm just a simple housewife.
The Goddess is Alive and Magic is Afoot!!!!
I'm just a simple housewife.
- Tigger
- Posts: 2727
- Joined: Oct 14, 2001 8:00 pm
- USDA Zone: 6b - 7a
- Location: SE Penna Zone 6b (7a?), lat. 39°50'
- Contact:
Wouldn't you know we were doing some early spring rearranging and I found two hellebore babies (one growing right in with the crown of a Krossa Regal hosta we decided to move, the other—of course—growing right against the cement foundation of the house). Hopefully they'll both survive the transplant (back into the hole where Krossa Regal was, with lots of fresh compost).
Kingston Cardinal finally started opening a bloom this weekend, after hanging there with fat buds for ages. And the Pine Knot Select (a gift direct from Wayside) still hasn't bloomed in its third year. I'll try to get seeds from the double one (is that a trait passed on?).
Kingston Cardinal finally started opening a bloom this weekend, after hanging there with fat buds for ages. And the Pine Knot Select (a gift direct from Wayside) still hasn't bloomed in its third year. I'll try to get seeds from the double one (is that a trait passed on?).