Miscellaneous Woodlanders

[McDonough]

I'll be sowing seed of Polygonatum biflorum..should I soak these first or sow just sow & stratify?

Not sure about sowing Polygonatum seed, I have no experience growing them from seed, but I'm sure someone else here will be able to answer; I'm anxious to learn how to grow these from seed too.

[RickR]

I'll be sowing seed of Polygonatum biflorum..should I soak these first or sow just sow & stratify?

Deno says:

P. biflourum seeds collected in October. Washed in water and cleaned with three rinses with water daily for 7 days, and placed outdoors germinated 90% in May-June.  None germinated in 70F with light, 70F in dark or 40-70 (3 months at 40F then 3 months at 70F).

[AmyO]

I'll be sowing seed of Polygonatum biflorum..should I soak these first or sow just sow & stratify?

Deno says:

P. biflourum seeds collected in October. Washed in water and cleaned with three rinses with water daily for 7 days, and placed outdoors germinated 90% in May-June.  None germinated in 70F with light, 70F in dark or 40-70 (3 months at 40F then 3 months at 70F).

Thanks Rick! Outdoors they go! I love this forum...I always something new!

[Hoy]

Amy, have you remembered rinsing the seeds several times a day for a week

[Afloden]

 With Polygonatum there have been a few germination studies to facilitate their production for vegetables in Asia. In all cases (P. cirrhifolium, P. macranthum, and P. odoratum) cleaned seed stored cool for 30-40 days, then warmth for 60-90 and then cool/cold again for the same duration gave a green leaf upon warmth again. This means a whole 2 seasons are gotten through in the first year. I have flowered verticillate species in 3 years this way.

  There are exceptions to this; Polygonatum punctatum will germinate immediately and form a root and shortly thereafter it will put up a leaf. There are several related species and as yet unnamed that do this also.

 Aaron
 

[Lori S.]

... cleaned seed stored cool for 30-40 days...

To clarify, when you say "stored cool", I take it you mean seed sowed in or on a moist medium (not dry storage)?

[stephenb]

With Polygonatum there have been a few germination studies to facilitate their production for vegetables in Asia. In all cases (P. cirrhifolium, P. macranthum, and P. odoratum) cleaned seed stored cool for 30-40 days, then warmth for 60-90 and then cool/cold again for the same duration gave a green leaf upon warmth again. This means a whole 2 seasons are gotten through in the first year. I have flowered verticillate species in 3 years this way.

Aaron: Do you have any references to cultivation of Polygonatum as vegetable in Asia. I have various references to their wild collection as vegetables, but can't recall seeing anything about their cultivation for food, although I haven't searched very hard...

Thanks

[Afloden]

Yes, stored moist. Sow them and then give a cool period.

 Stephen, in the papers on seed germination they mention them for cultivation in Japan, and for P. cirrhifolium they mention cultivating that species due to scarcity in the wild in India.

[AmyO]

Amy, have you remembered rinsing the seeds several times a day for a week

Trond....these are from the NARGS exchange and so are already cleaned.

Yes, stored moist. Sow them and then give a cool period.

They are sown in 5" plastic deli containers in moist potting mix and in the fridge for the next few weeks. I will follow your directions and see what happens! And thanks.

[Hoy]

Hylomecon vernalis (syn H japonica) is one of my woodland favorites. Although the flowers don't last long they are very welcome. The plant tolerates deep shade and fits perfect in my woodland. Seems that the former 2-3 species are lumped into one.

[cohan]

Nice one- I don't think I've heard of these..

[Lori S.]

I grew a clump of it here for a few years, until it eventually disappeared (have unlabelled photos somewhere on my hard drive).  I'm trying to start more from seed this year.  It's probably worth a try for you... but then, I think pretty well everything is worth a try. 

[AmyO]

Hylomecon vernalis (syn H japonica) is one of my woodland favorites. Although the flowers don't last long they are very welcome. The plant tolerates deep shade and fits perfect in my woodland. Seems that the former 2-3 species are lumped into one.

I love this one too! It can spread around a bit by seed when it's happy and it's easy to divide. Yes a great plant for deeper shade and it's under huge pines so it like or tolerates dry soils. My kind of plant!  

[RickR]

Looks very nice.  The Hylomecon foliage doesn't look like it would be very durable though, is that true?  How does it look by late summer?  Or is it ephemeral?

[cohan]

I grew a clump of it here for a few years, until it eventually disappeared (have unlabelled photos somewhere on my hard drive).  I'm trying to start more from seed this year.  It's probably worth a try for you... but then, I think pretty well everything is worth a try. 

Good to know! Did you get seed from one of the exes, or find it commercially?