Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: Snap Dragon on September 05, 2011, 14:32

Title: when to sow saved seed?
Post by: Snap Dragon on September 05, 2011, 14:32

I've been collecting some poppy seeds from the garden of one of my 'meals on wheels' old dears. They have beautiful pink flowers - not the large bright red traditional sort of poppy.

Any idea what I should be doing with them?

Do I save them for the spring or sow them now and overwinter them in my little plastic greenhouse?

Title: Re: when to sow saved seed?
Post by: Hey Jude on September 05, 2011, 20:54

Hang on to them until next spring as they're half hardy annuals and then direct sow as they hate being transplanted. Jude.

Title: Re: when to sow saved seed?
Post by: arugula on September 06, 2011, 06:21

Yesterday's Beechgrove Garden (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b014b51w/Beechgrove_Garden_2011_Episode_23/) covered how to save and plant on a range of saved seeds. Useful!  :)

Title: Re: when to sow saved seed?
Post by: azubah on September 06, 2011, 20:52

If you have plenty you could get the best of both worlds. Sprinkle some where you want them now, and save the rest until spring. You might get some early flowers, but haven't lost much if you don't.

Title: Re: when to sow saved seed?
Post by: Snap Dragon on September 13, 2011, 14:16

Thanks for all your replies...

I do have plenty so I might just try putting some in a sunny patch out the front and save the rest :)

Title: Re: when to sow saved seed?
Post by: azubah on September 13, 2011, 18:53

I now have self setting marigolds and sweet william coming up all over the place. Even nastirtium seeds often manage to survive the winter.