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Friday - July 23, 2004
From: Jenison, MI
Region: Midwest
Topic: Wildflowers
Title: Smarty Plants on Germination
Answered by: Stephen Brueggerhoff
QUESTION:
I just planted wildflowers and I was wondering how long before I know if they will grow?ANSWER:
Germination of seed is really dependant on the kind of plant; in general, those plants producing seed with hard seed coats have particular requirements in order to break dormancy. This could be weathering to break down tissue that comprises the "skin" of the seed, allowing for moisture to be absorbed by the seed to aid in germination. Temperature, related to a term called stratification, in which the seeds undergo a chemical change due to storage at colder temperatures that provides signals to the seed embryo to develop at particular times of the year. Other species seed will also be dependant on climatic conditions to initiate germination, depending again on the species.More Wildflowers Questions
Wildflower seed for west central Texas acreage
June 06, 2005 - We have a ranch in central Texas between Brownwood and Brady and want to plant wildflowers that will grow in that area. We'd like to cover acreage and need information on what mix would suit our are...
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More on bluebonnets
March 02, 2005 - There are several different species of bluebonnets that grow in Texas. Which one is the official state flower?
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More on bluebonnets
March 10, 2003 - Clover has taken over and just about covered the Bluebonnets. Is there any way of removing the clover such as with fertilizer or something else?
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Optimum mowing time for acreage with spring wildflowers
November 17, 2003 - I have several acres where wildflowers grow in the spring, & would like to know when and how often to mow this field for optimum blooms?
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Smarty Plants on earliest blooming wildflowers
November 19, 2004 - For Spring, what are the earliest blooming wild flowers and when do they typically bloom?
I know it's terribly early to be predicting these things, but any idea if the 2005 Bluebonnet crop in Austi...
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