Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, September 2, 1993                   TAG: 9309020007
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-13   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Joe Hunnings
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IT'S TIME TO SEED FLOWERING PERENNIALS FOR COMING SPRING

Flowers, after all, are either started from seeds indoors or bought in packs in spring, right?

Not necessarily, where herbaceous perennials are concerned. In fact, the home gardener can use fall seeding to great advantage.

Herbaceous perennials differ from annuals in their ability to withstand the winter and to return each year from the same roots.

Actually, many of them not only withstand adverse conditions, but have evolved to require them.

Perennials drop seeds at different times throughout the growing season, depending upon the species.

The fate of those seeds usually follows one of two directions:

With some species, the seeds may remain in the soil throughout the winter and germinate in spring.

Other species produce seeds that germinate shortly after falling to the ground.

The seedling grows several leaves before the onset of winter, but does not flower. Those seeds that wait until spring to germinate generally require cold, moist conditions of winter to erode the seed coat and allow development of the interior seedling.

On the other hand, the perennial seeds that germinate readily after release from the pod often need the cold winter temperatures to stimulate the formation of a flower; without the cold, only leaves are produced.

Many cultivated perennials are easily and optimally started from seeds in August.

However, seed propagation will not yield identical offspring; do not expect dozens of seedlings that all bloom simultaneously with the same plant shape and flower appearance.

Instead, expect to save money compared to purchasing plants from divisions and enjoy witnessing plant genetics in action.

Seeds can be sown directly into a prepared bed:

Clear the space of weeds, old mulch and any overhanging foliage of neighboring plants.

Sow the seeds generously to compensate for the unpredictable germinating percentage sometimes found in perennials, and thin out afterward.

Maintain frequent irrigation until seeds have germinated and seedlings become established.

Work carefully around the new plants during fall maintenance.

Seeds also may be started in seed packs or in a shaded cold frame and transplanted in late August and September.

Protect the seedlings with a light mulch to enhance winter survival. In most cases, you can expect flowering the following season.

Here are a few species worth trying:

Shasta daisy (chrysanthemum x superbum).

Purple coneflower (echinacea purpurea).

Cardinal flower (lobelia cardinalis).

Lupines (lupinu x polyphyllus)

Oriental poppy (papaver orientalis).

Columbine (aquilegia canadensis, A. "MaKanas Giants").

Joe Hunnings is the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service agent for agriculture in Christiansburg. If you have questions call the Montgomery County extension office at 382-5790.