Thanks, that's the info I was looking for. I had no idea that they would take so long to mature but if I can get seeds this year I will certainly try again. Richard ----- Original Message ----- From: "Laura & Dave" <toadlily@olywa.net> To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Saturday, November 11, 2006 7:28 PM Subject: [pbs] Codonopsis advice > Richard and all > > Sorry to hear that you lost the seedlings, but don't give up as > they're definitely worth growing! My guess is that the transplanting at > an early age was the main cause of your problems. I sow seed through a > 1/4 inch layer of chicken grit (granite) into 4" inch pots of a > moderately organic, well draining soil. I then plunge the pots to the > rim into a sawdust bed and leave them there for a couple of years. This > provides the cool roots they prefer. I can grow Codonopsis in full sun, > but I'm further north (47 N latitude) and on a lake, which keeps the > humidity high. After two growing seasons, they have usually developed > tuberous roots capable of surviving a bit of handling and dormancy. > Don't sow too thickly, as the two year old roots seem to take delight in > creative knot work, despite ample space in the pot.. For me, 3 or 4 > years need to pass before flowering, rather than the 2 or 3 often > quoted. But I'm a "slow" grower, not liking to push plants into > maturity as fast as possible. > > Dave Brastow > Tumwater, WA (USA) 7A > After a dry fall, we've had over 13" of rain since the first of November > (Glub!) > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php