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Their forms are diverse and their origins cosmopolitan.There are perennials that have found their way into our gardens by way of the Crusaders and a stop off in English perennial borders. It is the herbaceous perennials that have made the English borders famous for their abundant bloom and beauty. Our idea of what a garden should look like, particularly here in the East, is strongly influenced by English practices. Although all our perennials had their origins
in the wild, most have been under cultivation for hundreds of
years. Plant breeders have improved and specialized them until
some no longer set viable seed. These sterile perennials must
be propagated by plant divisions or asexual reproduction. There
are , however, many beautiful and dependable perennials that
can be grown easily and inexpensively from seed. Most perennials could be sown directly
into the open garden this time of year. I have decided that it
is easier and more dependable to sow seeds in a soilless mixture
in small flats. When sown in the soil, one day's inattention
can allow the soil to dry out and all your seeds are lost even
before you see the sprouts. I sow seeds for perennials in four or six inch plastic pots filled with a soilless mixture. Sprinkle the seeds lightly in a spiral pattern on the surface of the mix and cover them with about 1/8" of mix. Cover the pot and set it in the shade. As soon as the first seeds sprout remove
the cover and place the pot in the sun. Do not allow the mix
to dry out. Overcrowding becomes a problem fast in the summertime.
If you allow overcrowding to the point that growth slows, the
seedling rarely recover their full vigor. When the plants are between two and four inches tall they should be moved to a nursery bed or into their permanent place in the garden. The plants should be in the ground by September so they can become established before cold weather stops their growth. Without time to establish their roots in the soil the may be heaved out of the ground by frost. A visit to your garden center's seed racks
should present hundreds of possibilities. If they have already
removed their seed displays, a few minutes with a seed catalog
solves the problem. Often seeds in the stores are discounted
at this time of the year.. Don't try too many varieties at one
time. Columbine is a good mid border choice. 'McKana's Giant' and the 'Songbird ' series perform well. The Oriental poppy is another mid border plant that is easy to start from seed. Hollyhocks are an excellent tall plant choice. Check the seed pack or catalog description because not all hollyhocks are perennials.
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