| Neutral | bluespiral | On Jan 28, 2007, bluespiral from Ellicott City, MD
(Zone 7a) wrote:Following are some germination details for this plant:
1) [HYPERLINK@tomclothier.hort.net] - Sow at 20*C (68*F); if no germination in 3 - 4 wks, move to -4*C to +4*C (24*F - 39*F) for 2 - 4 wks.
2) [HYPERLINK@www.onrockgarden.com] - similar to Tom Clothier, except give the warm temperature 3 months, and the cold temperature 1 - 2 months.
3) In the 2nd edition of Norman C. Deno's book, Seed Germination Theory and Practice, Aethionema grandiflorum was researched, but Deno thinks that other species within this genus will follow similar patterns of germination.
He noted that seed dry-stored for 6 months at 70*F or 40*F germinated more quickly than fresh seed, and that sowing the seed at 40*F had a higher germination rate than sowing it at 70*F. Seed sowed at 40*F began germinating in about 7 days, but that process can continue for up to 3 months.
So, although seed of A. schistosum will germinate as in methods #1 and #2, better results might be obtained by sowing seed at 40*F that has been dry stored for 6 months either at 70*F or 40*F.
I would try wintersowing a portion of the seed about 4 - 6 weeks before your last spring frost, and sow another portion with the baggy method to be kept in a refrigerator for 4 weeks to see which works better. Some seeds do better sown outdoors in winter because oscillating temperatures break down their germination inhibitors better than a constant cold temperature as provided by refrigerators.
Information on wintersowing can be found at: [HYPERLINK@www.wintersown.org] and the Wintersowing Forum on DG
There are basically 2 baggy methods: One uses filter paper for larger seeds, and the other uses a pot for tiny seeds. For the filter-paper/baggy method, see my comment in Allium thunbergii, and for the pot/baggy method, see my comment in Haberlea rhodopensis. Seeds of A. schistosum have their quirks, as above, but they are not known to take as long to germinate as Haberlea, nor to have such tiny roots. Still, don't let the pot dry out, nor get too wet.
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