Green Patch: Start Your Seeds Indoors This Winter
(Page 2 of 3)
December/January 2009
By Kris Wetherbee
For best results, start the seeds indoors or in a greenhouse in January or February. You can increase the germination rate with a treatment called stratification—exposing seeds to cool, dark, moist conditions for a period—before you sow them.
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First, mix the seeds with a small amount of pre-moistened peat moss or vermiculite. Place them in a snap-and-seal bag, then refrigerate for a week or two. Or simply scatter the seeds between two layers of moist paper towels, put the towels in a plastic bag, then refrigerate.
After this chilling period, remove the seeds. Sow them in flats or cell packs on the surface of a well-drained, commercial potting mix. Germination occurs in 10 to 30 days. Once the seeds start to sprout, lightly cover the seeds with a thin, 1/8-inch layer of fine potting mix or vermiculite. For best growth, keep seedlings beneath grow lights or fluorescent lights. Transplant seedlings to your garden in May or June.
Stratifying seeds is not essential for successful germination of E. purpurea, but it is a must for other species. Seeds for narrowleaf echinacea (E. angustifolia) and pale-purple echinacea (E. pallida) require a longer stratification period, from three to six weeks. Stratify seeds for yellow echinacea (E. paradoxa) and Tennessee echinacea (E. tennesseensis) from four to eight weeks.
You also can try planting E. purpurea seeds directly in the garden in early spring, about six to eight weeks before your last spring frost, or when soil temperatures reach 55 to 70 degrees. Be sure to lightly cover the seeds with a thin layer (1/8 inch) of compost or vermiculite. This method is much easier than starting the seed indoors, but getting good germination is not guaranteed.
No More Whitefly Worries
Q. I’m thinking of starting an indoor herb garden but have heard whiteflies can be a problem. What are they and what can I do to keep my plants pest-free?
A. Whiteflies are tiny insects that resemble flat, waxy scales when young. Adults have wings and look more like tiny white gnats or minuscule moths. They gather on the underside of leaves or fly about like miniature white snowflakes when disturbed. Members of the mint family—such as oregano, sage, thyme, marjoram and mint—are most susceptible to these leaf-sucking pests.
The easiest way to protect your plants is to treat them before you bring them indoors. A quick dip in soapy water will help dislodge and destroy any unseen eggs. Use a natural dishwashing liquid at a ratio of about 2 teaspoons to 1 gallon water.