Does anyone know if these seeds have to be sown now and overwintered or kept until next spring please? They are apparently slow to germinate but I can't find out if they need stratification.
The only time I have grown them from seed I sowed wild collected ones, so of uncertain age, in Spring. I don't think, being South African, that they would need cold. Having said that ,I tend to sow all seeds as soon as they are ripe enough.
It gets quite cold in South Africa down to and below freezing at times, so putting them in a fridge for a while wouldn't be inadvisable. I haven't grown them from seed but try both methods, half in the fridge for a month half sowed now, I'd be interested to see what happens.
I tend to sow fresh as well, things always germinate better fresh, but then if they germinate quickly you have very young plants to see through the winter. OK if you have a heated GH to protect them.
I don't know if kniphofia go dormant but they won't need cold to break the dormancy or they'd have died out by now.
It gets down to freezing quite often in South Africa as my hubby found when he had to go there for work. He said there would be a frost on the car in the morning but if it was a clear day it would be in the low 20C by lunch time
seeds need to be cold treated for at least 4 weeks-wet paper towel in plastic bag works-they can take 6 weeks or longer to germinate so you are probably pushing it for this year-feb of next year probably better bet
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The only time I have grown them from seed I sowed wild collected ones, so of uncertain age, in Spring. I don't think, being South African, that they would need cold. Having said that ,I tend to sow all seeds as soon as they are ripe enough.
It gets quite cold in South Africa down to and below freezing at times, so putting them in a fridge for a while wouldn't be inadvisable. I haven't grown them from seed but try both methods, half in the fridge for a month half sowed now, I'd be interested to see what happens.
I tend to sow fresh as well, things always germinate better fresh, but then if they germinate quickly you have very young plants to see through the winter. OK if you have a heated GH to protect them.
I don't know if kniphofia go dormant but they won't need cold to break the dormancy or they'd have died out by now.
In the sticks near Peterborough
It gets down to freezing quite often in South Africa as my hubby found when he had to go there for work. He said there would be a frost on the car in the morning but if it was a clear day it would be in the low 20C by lunch time
Can't grow them in our frost pocket, tried three times, pity as I love them.does anyone know of a substitute?
A A Milne
Thanks a lot - think I'll try both methods!
seeds need to be cold treated for at least 4 weeks-wet paper towel in plastic bag works-they can take 6 weeks or longer to germinate so you are probably pushing it for this year-feb of next year probably better bet
lily pilly rootrot rather than cold probably culprit-really need perfect drainage in winter