bulb sowing method

Robin Hansen hansennursery@coosnet.com
Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:24:16 PDT
I think Diane has brought up a very important concern, and that is our own interactions with our particular personal soil mixes, climate, watering practices and personal habits.

I truly believe that regardless of what experts say about what soil mixes and propagation techniques to use, we have to adjust them in a way that works for us.  Some years ago, after losing numerous treasures from plant sales, I finally and firmly fixed my habit of immediately repotting anything I brought home.  It has saved endless grief, not to say money on replacements.

The same goes for sowing seed.  If you get the true basics right, the rest will happen if it's going to.  Use soil mix you understand the qualities of - instead of pumice on the surface, add some to the mix.  Pay attention to temperatures, but consider your own microclimates and humidity, etc.  Nearly always, close enough is good enough.  After more than 25 years of sowing seed every year, I'm less concerned with the procedures than I am with basic viability of seed, which to me is truly the governing factor.

The source of your seed - and therefore the quality - is the most important part of the whole process.  Mother nature plays a much bigger role than we tend to give her credit for...

Robin Hansen
Saunders Lake, Oregon
where bulbs are in Heaven


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