Seed heads

[Jasmine]

Looks like the remains of some sort of allium theinsidegardener.

[owdboggy]

I concur. Sow the seeds fresh if you want to increase your stock.

[theinsidegardener]

Thanks Jasmine and owdboggy, I'll be delighted with them. Do you think I could just scatter them around or would I be best to sow in pots?

[Ladygardener]

I found this advice theinsidegardener.
A happy allium will self-seed freely. If you want to decide where your new plants will appear rather than leaving it to chance and chaos, you can collect the seeds from the plant before they fall. Remove the heads (and stalks) as soon as they turn brown. Put into a paper bag ready to collect the seeds as the pods open. Either sow the seeds directly into the soil where you want them to grow, or keep in the bag in a cool place until the following spring. Most alliums germinate in 12 weeks, but it can take up to a year, so patience is required.

If it were me, I'd just sprinkle them where you want them and put a marker there so you don't mistake the shoots for grass or something when they start to grow. I was reading recently that perennials do better if sown right away. Some of the Alliums need alternating cold and heat and can be quite complicated if you try to do them in a pot in springtime or late winter.

[Jasmine]

I scatter some about like Ladygardener suggests theinsidegardener but I also sow some in pots as I'm a bit of a weeding fanatic and I think I've pulled lots of 'grass' out in the past that might have gone on to be something lovely!

[owdboggy]

Sept 28, 2013 20:07:49 GMT theinsidegardener said:

Thanks Jasmine and owdboggy, I'll be delighted with them. Do you think I could just scatter them around or would I be best to sow in pots?

This works for almost all hardy bulbs.

Sow the seed fresh. It germinates better straight from the plant rather than being dried off.
Cover lightly with grit, gravel or whatever rather than compost.
Sow in a deep pot rather than a seed tray (reasons later).
Leave exposed to weather. They need a period of cold followed by warmth to initiate germination.
When (if?) they germinate do not be in a hurry to p rick them out. This is the reason for deep pot rather than seed tray. They have only one root to begin with and if it is damaged, it dies and a new one has to be produced from the base of the seedling. usually they die.
Feed the seed pot with dilute Baby Bio type stuff, until the leaves go yellow then allow the pot to dry off.
Repotting may be done when they are dormant. Some types never really go dormant so be careful.
I often do not repot until they have had another seasons growth. Remember many of them actually grow in late winter/early spring.
Cannot think of anything else for the moment.
Not as hard as it seems.

[theinsidegardener]

Thanks everyone, I think I'll throw some but pot up more! With being new to gardening I am still finding it hard to work out which are weeds and which are little seedlings, so that might give them the best shot! I really appreciate all the advice Ladygardener Jasmine owdboggy

[Ladygardener]

I've been gardening for a while now theinsidegardener and still pull things up and then wonder months later, what happened to the seeds I threw around. It's very difficult sometimes to know what is a weed and what is a seedling.

[Rosefriend]

I do think this is lovely - the seed heads and the odd left over flower from Verbena bonariensis !!



RF

[Ladygardener]

Really beautiful Rosefriend, your pic shows them better than I can see even with my glasses on.

[Jasmine]

Not really a seed head...well, I suppose it is sort of...but this Hydrangea Annabelle caught my eye this morning...