Just checked my jugs and the oriental poppies are germinating. Not all but some of them. That's a good thing! Planted them 3/18

Some of the seeds that I planted in Janurary that have not germinated, I'm only going to give a few more weeks and then consider them unsuccessful attempts. Sciabosa planted 1/27, Drummond Phlox planted 1/10, Mexican Hat 1/10, heuchera 1/10 malvasylvestris(mystic merlin)1/10(planted in styrofoam coffee cups)
1(1/2 jug. forget-me-not planted, Some others that were planted in March I am not concerned about yet.

It's only March 31! How long have you been having nice, warm, sunny weather? I mean like 70° sunny days? Probably not quite long enough for the seeds to know it's time to wake up. Give them some time.

Every seed has it's own requirement for germination, and when that's met, they pop. I only have a couple of sprouts in my forget-me-nots. I never give up until the end of May. Some people hold on to them until the next year, and they sprout.

Karen

Congrats on the Poppies! I agree with Karen, with wintersowing it doesn't have as much to do with the time sown as the weather conditions, and what the seed requires. I've even had some Columbines germinate in June (that I discovered while tossing duds).

My columbines already in flowerbed from last few year's growth are bushy out beautifully..I've been thinking about direct sowing some seeds that I had collected last summer from them, but since I didn't keep them separated by color, they'll have to be mixed colors. Didn't know about gathering seeds then or wintersowing. Should I just scatter on ground or work up soil and lightly cover the seeds? I thought when you wintersown them, it says not to cover.Would that apply to direct sowing too?

To direct sow I usually just scruff up the soil a little with a rake or cultivator, smooth a little, scatter seeds, smooth again. Smoothing out puts just a tiny bit of soil over them. Or sprinkle a tiny bit over them. Keep the moist but not soaked, just mist lightly every day.

Karen

Columbines usually germinate better if they've had a cold period. You could put the seeds in the freezer for a couple of weeks before sowing, I think that may increase your chances of success.

Neil..your post about putting the columbine seed in the freezer for a couple of weeks before sowing would increase chances of success..are you putting the seed pkt. inside a ziploc bag or an airtight container like you'd store leftovers? Looks like they'd get too much moisture inside a ziploc bag.

Pippi, if you're intention is stratification, as Neal is suggesting, the seeds have to be moist. You can mix them with a little moist vermiculite or sand, seal, and put in the fridge. Most things don't require freezing, just temps around 40°, like the refrigerator.

Karen