Early Summer – Time To Start Perennials

Early Summer is an ideal time to start perennials seed, and it is an excellent way in which to increase your store of hardy plants. For the most part, many perennials are easy to raise, and require no more care than most annuals. Then, too, in mixed packets of seeds, one often finds new colors and variations, some of which may be worth propagating to replace standard varieties. It is this element of surprise that makes the raising of herbaceous plants from seed so intriguing.

Among the easiest perennials to grow from seed are hardy alyssum; the hardy garden pinks like the cheddar and the Scotch forms; Brunnera maerophylla; coreopsis; Mayfield Giant; delphinium, including the choice Chinese form; gaillardia; pyrethrum; primroses; violas; columbines; lupines and platycodons.

Perennials may be sown in the open ground in a cold-frame or in flats or bulb pans. For the most part. large seeds can be planted in the open ground, but with fine seed it is wise to take the extra precautions required, and plant them in flats of pots during the warm days of Fall. Tiny seedlings may be subject to damping off, especially in humid weather. A seed disinfectant shaken in the package with the seed before planting will help to prevent damping off. Often gardeners are disappointed in raising perennials from seed because they neglect to maintain proper moisture before and after time of germination. Keep your seed bed covered with moist burlap until the seeds germinate, then young plants will need additional attention after they have been transplanted. Mulch to conserve moisture.

A further aid to success in growing perennials is easily accomplished by covering the young seedlings with evergreen boughs after the ground has frozen hard. Some gardeners prefer to carry over all perennial seedlings the first Winter in a coldframe, others provide for good drainage by raising the beds in which the seedlings are grown a few inches above the level of the area.

Related Articles Of Interest:

• Growing Pansies from Seed
• Landscaping with Annuals
• Time to Think of Tulips
• Delphiniums You Can Grow Them