Grow Perennials from Seed

While many people enjoy planting fully grown plants (or at least those with a minimum of a year’s growth), for others, their tastes stretch to the planting of seeds and enjoying the excitement of seeing the first signs of green come creeping forth from the ground. A growing trend in gardening is the expanding use of perennials, and so too, perennial seed.

Perennial seed is very hearty, like the adult plants themselves.  Unlike the full-grown version, seeds of this type require a considerable amount of water in the beginning.  They should be planted in soil with proper drainage and of the correct Ph balance (between 6 and 6.5 is usually optimal, though some plants enjoy more acidity or more alkaline soils).  As well, when new shoots appear they are especially prone to the ravages of weeds.  One of the best means for eliminating weeds is with heavy cloth mesh or plastic, which covers the ground everywhere that your plants are not.

Another consideration is pests.  Moles and rabbits, for instance, are quite indiscriminate between what is a beautiful plant to you, and a lovely snack for them.  Nowadays there numerous ways to prevent these creatures from invading your garden, including non-lethal means such as electric wires and electronic sound devices that will discourage not only your common furry garden critters, but also domestic animals such as dogs from digging up all of the perennial seed that you’ve planted.

Of course, a second means of getting your perennial seed started without such disturbances to their growth (at least initially), is by growing them indoors.  Begin them around March or April inside, near a window, or with lights, if desired (though be sure that once the shoots begin to rise, that they are not fried by an excess of light).  It should take about 2 months for your perennial seed to sprout into plants that can then be transplanted outside.

A second choice is to plant your perennial seed in a nursery or in pots.  This can be done as late as June, in fact, and will be ready in the fall for mulching. They will be strong and healthy by spring, and therefore ready for transplant.

A few things to remember.  First, not all perennial flowers will go to bloom the first year, so a little of that famous gardener’s patience will be necessary.  Further, not all types of these hardy organisms can be grown from seeds, and simply must be bought already grown. ( These plants in question come from a pre-existing flower or plant that had to be divided after doubling their shoots in situ.) 

Growing flowers and plants in general can be fun and invigorating –even inspiring.  Especially fun for many is the growing of perennial seed as it allows you to investigate and watch life as it comes into existence from its most primordial state.  A source of great excitement for children and adults both, it is an endeavor worth pursuing.