In this first picture I have six seedlings in a reused yogurt cup. (Ok you can barely see number six but he is growing!) As I've mentioned before I like to reuse materials for planting purposes and this yogurt cup has done an adequate job for these heucheras. In the second picture I have three more heuchera seedlings.How easy is it really? Let's look at the steps to grow heucheras from seed.
1. Fill the container with soil. A good seed starting mix is probably ideal but I just used regular potting soil.
2. Sprinkled the tiny (very tiny) seeds into the soil.
3. Wet and wait. I kept the soil moist but not soggy and the seedlings grew happily.
Once the seedlings grow a couple good leaves they can be transplanted carefully into their own pots. The first leaves that come up, called cotyledons, don't look like heuchera leaves. They are rounded and could look like many other seedling leaves. I'll be transplanting these seedlings later this week.
I have no clue what they will turn out to look like. I collected the seed from our corner shade garden heucheras where we have several varieties and I didn't separate the seeds by their variety. I suspect that many of these will be 'Palace Purple' which breeds true but maybe not. I would love to see a unique foliar variation appear as a result of this mixture. If not that's OK too, I just acquired 9 more heuchera plants for free! I like that price.
Good Morning Dave ! .. they look very happy in their container. I am a fan of Heuchera so I say "More Heuchera !!" all the time .. your babies will be very pretty I am sure : )
ReplyDeleteDave, Did you post on collecting the seeds? I would like to try that with Autumn Bride this fall...She's a beauty and I think would love your garden...I can share seeds with you. gail
ReplyDeleteI grew some Heuchera from seed last year. They were named variety but none of them looked the same as each other so it seems the only way to get a duplicate plant is to divide it. I lost quite a few I had in pots over the winter as it was so wet I think the roots just rotted
ReplyDeleteJoy,
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan too as you can see! Great foliage and cool flowers, what more can you ask for?
Gail,
I think I mentioned collecting seeds but I don't remember if I mentioned heuchera. I would love to try the Autumn Bride. It might not breed true but it's still worth doing!
Patientgardener,
The only one I know for sure that breeds true is the 'Palace Purple'. There are probably others but most of them end up being different. Most of what we buy in nurseries are propagated through divisions or basal leaf cuttings. You have to get a piece of the root crown in order to grow more leaves. I love experimenting and seeing the result so growing them from seed is all in fun!
It is exciting when the seeds begin to sprout! I love collecting my seeds and sowing them the next year for more "Free" plants, I like that price too.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine collecting heuchera seeds Dave.Good job! Free plants are always a bonus. I wonder if the heucheras will self seed in the garden? Do you know? I've not seen any in my garden but not sure why not.
ReplyDeleteThey look great. I don't know why but I can't get these plants to do well in my garden.
ReplyDeleteI could very easily become a heuchera horder. I love them! And they go so nicely with hosta.
ReplyDeleteDarla,
ReplyDeleteFree is a price I think everyone can agree on!
Tina,
It seems like they should self seed as long as the flower stalks were not cut off too early. I left mine hanging around for a while then collected the seed. If you rub the dried flower heads between your hands the tiny little black seed will fall out all over. each head has quite a few seeds in them.
Phillip,
They do great here. Part sun/shade is ideal I think.
TC,
Go for it! I'm collecting as many as I can. They stay colorful even in the winter, that's very important here in TN!
Dave -- you rock! That's great. Considering the expense of heuchera, you'll have yourself a great mass planting for little cost!
ReplyDeleteCameron
I am constantly amazed how so much can come from so little.
ReplyDeleteDonna
Hi Dave
ReplyDeleteSo satisfying growing perennials from seed!
Keep us posted.
Rob
I had no idea they would grow that easily. It'll be interesting to see what they look like!
ReplyDeleteI am amazed. I'm also impressed. Okay, that does it! I'm going to harvest a LOT more seeds next fall. :-) Good going! Hope you post on these little fellows later.
ReplyDeleteI too reuse the butter cups and jam cups and they serve as wonderful seed-starters. Good luck with your heucheras. Happy Gardening!
ReplyDelete