Jan 2 Took one Sassafras seed, two Sugar Maple seeds, one Mapleleaf Viburnum seed, and one Spicebush seed from fridge. All have been in fridge since 10/26/97. Soaked in warm water for two hours and put in old plastic container with soilless mix. Put lid on container and placed in warm location. Brought Sugar Maple seedling in from garage and placed under lights. Standard flourecent shop light on a timer 7AM to 10PM in front of south facing window.
Jan 3 Carefully scraped skin off of Spicebush and Sassafras seeds.
Jan 10 Maple seeds are not good, thrown away. Spicebush seed is swelling.
Jan 12 Spicebush seed germinated.
Jan 17 Transplanted Spicebush into small container, made sure soil was very wet.
Jan 25 Spicebush now over 1 inch high, Sassafras is swelling but no root yet. Pictures below show Spicebush, Sassafras seed, and Chinaquapin Oaks that I started last fall in quart milk containers.
Jan 27 Sassafras seed died very quickly, pffft. Put a Spicebush seed in the container to take its place. Might as well stick with something I have good luck with. Started Big Bluestem and Northern Dropseed grass in a plastic 6-pack from a starter tray. Put the whole thing in a plastic freezer bag to help keep the humidity up till they germinate. This is the first attempt at growing grass seed indoors. Did the same thing with 1 Spicebush, 1 Sassafras, and 5 Tuliptree seeds. Doubled up 2 of the Tuliptree since viability in this species is so low. These are in a plastic bag like the grass seed but I set them on top of the light to keep warmer. The score so far: growing 5 oaks and 1 Spicebush. Trying to start 2 Spicebush, 1 Sassafras, 3 Northern Dropseed, 3 Big Bluestem, 5 Tulip Tree. I also have 1 Sugar Maple seedling (3 inches tall) that appears to be budding.
The Vernal Witchhazel out front is just getting ready to bloom, buds barely opening. Unusually warm weather is forcasted for the next couple of days. The Witchhazel bloomed February 18th last year.
Feb 5 Sassafras germinated and grew quickly, transplanted into container.
Feb 8 Planted a Sassafras seed in 6pack in plastic bag.
Feb 12 Planted a Spicebush seed in 6pack in plastic bag. Vernal Witchhazel is in full bloom.
Feb 15 Planted a 6pack each of Dropseed and Switch grass.
Feb 21 Planted a 6pack of Indian Grass, 4 6packs of Big Bluestem, and 5 Carolina Rose seeds (2 years old - put in plastic bag). Moved 2 White Ash seeds from flat outdoors into 6pack in plastic bag. Neighborhood Silver Maples are in full bloom.
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Sassafras seedling Sassafras albidum |
Kentucky Coffeetree seedling Gymnocladus dioicus |
Red Oak seedling Quercus rubra |
Feb 23 Spicebush seed has germinated.
Feb 24 9 Dropseed germinated. Transplanted 3 into another flat.
Feb 25 Sassafras seed rotted. Planted 20 Liatris spicata bulbs in front yard. Elm trees in bloom now.
Feb 26 Big Bluestem germinated. Moved 6 more Dropseed into another flat, still more germinating and will need to be moved. Transplanted Spicebush into container, planted another Spicebush and 2 more Sassafras into 6pack in plastic bag.
Feb 28 Indian Grass germinated. Transplanted 6 more Dropseed. Purchased Sweetbay Magnolia from Builders Square. Who would have guessed they would have this tree, and this early. Figured I should buy it now before they have a chance to kill it. Also purchased a coral colored rose to replace the hot pink rose on the side of the house. I am going to purchase a couple of roses this year to plant around the yard. They must be disease resistant, shrubby, and not reseed (like rugosa and multiflora do). I will also be purchasing a Carolina Rose if I can't get my seeds to germinate.
March 1 Planted Sweetbay in back near laundry room door. Sugar Maple seed from back woods germinated in the fridge. Transplanted into container. Purchased book 'Gardening with Native Wild Flowers' Jones, Foote from Timber Press. Discovered that the biennial waterleaf that we have growing in the woods is actually Spotted Phacelia Phacelia bipinnatifida . Good book!
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