Grow Your Own Perennials

www.LoveAppleFarms.com

Welcome to Love Apple Farms

Please keep talking to a minimum to allow fellow students to get max benefits from class.

What this class doesn't cover:● Growing annuals● Every possible method of plant

propagation ● Grafting ● Long term care for perennials

Class Guidelines

Today’s Agenda

● General discussion and slideshow on various propagation techniques

● Demo of propagation by division● Go outdoors and fill trays with soil● Go on a perennial cutting excursion● Add cut perennials to your trays ● Break● Discussion on seed propagation● Sow seed trays

Plant Propagation

The process of creating new plants

● Divisions● Cuttings/Cloning● Seed sowing● Grafting● Layering

Propagation Influences

● Each plant has specific methods and needs - do your research

● Origin - climate○ Heat mat ○ Where to place in garden

● Non-invasive species, resower?● Time of year ● Vigor and age of mother stock● Gain permission from landowner

Division

●Easy and reliable●Reinvigorates parent plant Types: ●Crown●Offsets●Runners●Tuber

Crown Divisions● Clumps of plants are gently pried up with spade forks and roots are

divided by either:○ pulling apart○ cutting with knife or clippers○ 2 spade forks in middle of root ball back to back

Plants Suitable for Crown Division

● Geranium● Echinacea● Lemon Balm

Hostas Daylilies

Yarrow

Anemone

Jerusalem Sage● Oregano● Chives● List on links list

Rudbeckia

Offsets or Rosette Divisions● Small, new plants form at base of mother plant● Dividing keeps parent plant vigorous● Separate when new plant is 1/3 of mother plant● Make sure each new plant has enough roots ● Only keep healthy pieces ● The divided parts can be put into pots or planted out in new

locations in garden

Runners

● Cut runner and transplant ● Ex: Strawberry, Spider plant

When to Divide● When plant is not in active growth

○ Blooms in spring = divide in fall○ Blooms in fall = divide in spring○ Avoid extreme heat or cold

● When it outgrows its space ● When the plant flops open in the middle -- center dies, new

growth on outer parts to use when dividing ● Early evening ● Every 3 years

After Care● Add fertility to new transplant site

○ Compost○ Worm castings○ Organic, dry, time-release fertilizer

● Shade cloth for 1 week if it’s hot● Water well

(except succulents)

Demo: Dividing Chives in 1-Gal Pot

1. Cut back 50% of plant and any dead tissue2. Saw off bottom and sides of roots if mass is very dense3. Knead root ball4. Divide into pieces--not too small or they won't make it5. Transplant into new potting soil6. Water 3 times7. Keep in shade until next day8. Keep in partial shade for 1 week, well hydrated

Plants Unsuitable for Division

● Root-sensitive plants such as Bougainvillea

● Taproots● Legumes● Lavender, rosemary

Tuber Division

●Different than bulbs○Tubers have eyes○Tubers are planted in spring (bulbs in

fall)●Should be divided every year

Tuber Plants

Four 'o Clock DahliaIris

CannaCalla Lily

Rhubarb

Remove last year's "mother" tuber

Remove any damaged tubers or tubers with broken or skinny necks

Remove tubers from clump with clippers, making sure to keep the swollen part that contains the "eyes" attached

Storing Dahlias

● Dahlia tubers don't have to be stored during winter in Northern California, but it is still recommended

● Dry for 3 - 5 days before storing● Store in 40 - 50 degrees Fahrenheit● Store in newspaper lined box filled with peat moss● If not storing, cut back to ground in late fall & flag

Cuttings, aka Clones● Taking a piece of the plant (stem, root, leaf) and wounding

it so new roots grow● Stem cuttings: Herbaceous, softwood, semi-hardwood,

hardwood● Dicots only, not monocots

Difference between Dicot & Monocot

Choosing the Best Stem Cuttings● Softwood stems should snap - otherwise it's too young, not

enough carbs● Use young plant material● Usually avoid stems with flower buds● Don't take softwood cuttings from dormant plants● Make sure mother stock is healthy

Stem Cuttings Candidates

Rosemary Succulents Hydrangea

Lavender Pelargonium Salvia

How to Take Cuttings

● Must be from growing tip -- not leaf

● Take 3" pieces, cutting diagonally on top (above a node) and bottom (below a node)

● Strip off all but top leaves● Cut 50% or more of leaves

that remain

Preparing Cuttings

● Dip cuttings in diluted bleach solution○ 8 cups water, 1 teaspoon bleach

● Optional: Dip cuttings in rooting hormone, such as Dip N Gro○ Synthetic plant growth hormone ○ Liquid is better than powder○ More important for nursery industry

than home gardeners

Cuttings Mix● Cuttings need to be kept wet while they root, so a potting mix with

good drainage prevents rotting● Always use new, sterile mix ● Bottom of cuttings should be at least 1/2" from bottom of pot

where water can collect● Push mix down around stem cuttings to ensure contact between

stem and mix

After Care for Cuttings● Week 1 & 2: Water daily and keep in shade ● Week 3 & 4: Move to dappled shade

○ Under tree○ Shade cloth

● Bottom heat increases rooting chances (68 - 70 degrees Farenheit)

● Most plants root within 4 weeks● Week 5 - 8: Move to sun, keep hydrated and pot up at

Week 8 or when plant outgrows pot

Now let's go outside, fill our soil trays and take some cuttings

Perennial Propagation by Seed Sowing●Trickier than annual plants (like veggies)●Each plant has specific germination needs

○Temperature - heat mat will increase germination rates

○Darkness vs light○Scarification○Stratification○Soaking

●Always start seeds in new potting mix●Viability●Storage - cool and dry

Seed Sources

● Renee's Garden● Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds● Seed Savers Exchange● New England Seed Co.● Snow Seed● Johnny's Seeds

Seed Sowing Instructions

● Don't poke seeds into soil or make a divot - sprinkle on flat mix surface

● Only sow number of seeds per cell listed on package - more will be competing for space

● Space seeds apart evenly● Half labels, pencil only, push label in so it contacts bottom

of flat● Don't make labels until seed is in hand for that variety● Only have 1 container or packet open at a time

seed seed to sow

Seedling Tray Care

● Flat care instructions will be in links list email ● Water flat 3 times and cover with plastic● Optimal temperature: 70 degrees ● Check under cover daily ● Once first seed sprouts, cover needs to be removed● Keep moist until all seeds sprout● Immediately put tray in sun once first seeds sprout

Seedlings Require 4 Things

●Adequate light ●Adequate air flow ●Adequate warmth

●Proper moisture

Potting Up Seedlings● Separate the plants into onesies or twosies.● Pot up into a 3" pot● Once it grows on, divide again if both twosies grow well.● Pot up each plant into gallon pot● Use G&B Blue Ribbon Blend potting soil

Care of Potted up Seedlings

● Put transplants outside in sun ● Fertilize transplants (not cuttings) with liquid organic

fertilizer at once a week (half strength dilution)

Seeds to Sow TodayEdible Perennials

● Garlic Chive (flat leaf)● Staro Chive (round leaf)● Sweet marjoram● Common sage● Winter savory● Hyssop● Sorrel● Salad burnet● New Zealand Spinach● Lemon Grass● Creeping Thyme● Regular Thyme● Peppermint● Tarragon● Stevia● Summer Savory● Rosemary● Lemon Balm

Ornamentals ● Catnip● Valerian● Lavender - munstead● Salvia mix● Border Dahlias● Butterfly Bush

Upcoming Classes at Love Apple

● Backyard Chicken-Keeping - July 26 ● Pickling - July 27

● Pizza from Scratch - Aug 2

● Winter Vegetable Gardening - Aug 10 or Sept 28

● Using a Pressure Cooker - Aug 17

● HOW-Day Kitchen Skills - Aug 24

Available in our Farm Store Today

● G&B Blue Ribbon Blend● G&B Liquid Organic Fertilizer● Spade Forks● Saboten Clippers● Pot & Tray Sets● Heat Mats