Remember that this information is only a general
guideline so you must make the decision as to whether it is applicable
to your gardening area and weather conditions.
Perennials are
plants that live year after year. Trees and shrubs are perennials.
Many garden flowers are herbaceous perennials. This means the tops of
the plants - the leaves, stems, and flowers die back to the ground
each fall with the first frost or freeze. The roots persist through
the winter and every spring, new plant tops arise. There are
advantages to perennials, the most obvious being that they do not have
to be set out, like annuals, every year.
Culture and maintenance of Perennials: Site location
is very important. Some perennials prefer full sun and well-drained
soil, while others will tolerate partial shade and like a more moist
environment. Check your garden books for specifics on the particular
plant you are interested in or try a search on my favorite search
engine at: http://www.google.com. Maintenance is easy on established
plants. A little fertilizer, water and weeding is generally all that
is needed.
Here are some perennials to consider for your garden
area: peonies, irises, daylilies, hellebores, crocuses, Bleeding
hearts, Columbines, alliums, Garden phlox, coneflowers, and
delphiniunms. To put a perennial garden under shade trees, choose
woodland wildflowers and shade tolerant plants like hostas. Ornamental
grasses are stars of the autumn and winter garden; many bear
spectacular brightly colored flower heads that remain showy on the
plant well into winter.
About Perennial Seeds: Perennials drop seeds at
different times throughout the growing season, depending upon the
species. The fate of those seeds usually follow two different
directions. Some seeds remain in the soil throughout the winter and
germinate in the spring, while other perennial seeds will germinate
shortly after dropping on the ground and grow quickly so as to have
some food storage before dying back for winter, then flower the
following year. The ones that drop their seeds and don't germinate
until spring have tough outer husks that can withstand winter, then
germinate in the spring and flower.
Many cultivated perennials are easily and optimally
started from seeds in July and August. This allows the plant a chance
to grow and get their root system established before dying back in
winter. Of course, only the top part of the plant above ground is
affected while the root system is safely tucked away underground and
quietly waits for the warm days of spring to start growing it's top
again. Seeds that you save from your own plants often will not produce
the exact same plant as what you got the seeds from. So expect instead
to save money compared to purchasing plants from divisions, and enjoy
witnessing plant genetics in progress!
Planting Times. Generally, late-summer or fall
flowering perennials are planted in the spring, while spring-flowering
perennials are planted in late summer or early fall. It is wise to
check exact planting dates for specific perenniais. Regardless of the
time of planting, perennials should be allowed sufficient time to
establish themselves before blooming or the onset of cold weather.
How to start seeds: Seeds can be sown directly into a
prepared bed. Clear the space of weeds, old mulch, and any neighboring
plants. Sow the seeds generously to compensate for unpredictable
germination percentage and thin-out afterwards. Maintain frequent
irrigation until seeds have germinated and seedlings become
established. Protect the seedlings with a light mulch to enhance
winter survival. In most cases, you can expect flowering the following
season.
Here are a couple of hints for you to try: For tough seeds that
require scarification, soak seeds in black tea ( the tannic in the tea
does the trick!). When sowing fine seeds, mix them with unflavored
Knox powdered gelatin, orange or red is best as it is easy to see, and
will actual nourish the seedlings by releasing a little nitrogen as it
breaks down.
Planting Seed Outdoors. Perennials seeded in the
garden frequently fail to germinate properly because the surface of
the soil cakes and prevents entry of water. To avoid this, sow the
seeds in vermiculite-filled furrows. Don't let the seeds dry out
completely or your seeds will dry. Keep seedlings covered with shade
cloth or remay while they are young and tender to prevent sun burn or
breakage from wind, animals, etc. As with any new plant introduced to
the garden, watering is very important so they can establish a good
root system. Be very vigilant about weeds so they don't take over or
compete with your new seedlings.
Perennials will come back year after year, but often
it is a good idea to replace a few of them each season as they usually
will not look good and do well after three years in one spot.
The National Gardening Association has a very nice
chart on perennials that covers Latin name, common name, optimum
germination temperatures, light or darkness needs for germination,
average days to germinate, weeks to sow before planting in your
garden, average heights and outdoor lighting requirements.
Visit their page online at:
Garden.org (Perennials care page).
