Gentiana purpurea

[Corrado & Rina]

Does anyone have some to spare (the variety from the Alps)? If not, does anyone know where we could buy some?

Best,

[Gene Mirro]

http://www.jelitto.com/Seed/Perennials/GENTIANA-purpurea-Gram.html?listtype=search&searchparam=gentiana%20purpurea

[Corrado & Rina]

Seeds? Mmmm .... it sounds  like a great challenge .... greater than we can cope. Plants?

[Maggi Young]

You aroused my curiosity - checked the RHS Plant Finder-  Gentiana purpurea was last listed in 2004- doesn't seem hopeful.

[Corrado & Rina]

Hi Maggie .... yes, I did the same before posting .... it sounded hopeless .... I am doing also a round of herb specialist on the continent. If I find it, I will post the supplier!

I have to say that in the past I had difficulties in find lutea as well.

[TheOnionMan]

I received seed of Gentiana purpurea from SRGC/NARGS forumist Trond Hoy two years ago, it germinated nearly 100%, and this spring the tiny seedlings showed they overwintered well and starting into strong spring growth.

[Corrado & Rina]

Thanks Mark, very helpful!

How did you germinate (indoor, outdoor, temperature)? What type of compost? Did you scarify and vernalise the seeds?

Best,

[TheOnionMan]

I used my one-size-fits-all technique: sowed the seed in the autumn, in good humus in a "peat flat", cover seed lightly, then cover with a thin layer decomposed pine bark mulch, then cover the flat with wire mesh (keeps chipmunks and squirrels from digging), then left sitting on the ground all winter, seed germinated freely in spring.  Since the seedlings were so tiny, I didn't plant them out into the garden until late summer.

[Corrado & Rina]

mmmm .... what is a peat flat?

You know, I used a similar system with Gentiana lutea (apart from the peat flat and the chipmunks) and I achieved .... 0% germination rate. An absolute record!

[TheOnionMan]

A peat flat is a rectangular "flat" made out of compressed peat.  I like these because they "breath" and when in contact with the ground, will transmit moisture; seedlings in these flats stay more evenly moist, as opposed to plastic seed flats that can become too wet.  Here's a flat of Gentiana clausa alba seedlings taken mid July 2011.

[Corrado & Rina]

Thanks a lot!

It sounds like a very interesting solution. Have you experimented also with peat free options, for example with synthetic material?

Best,

[TheOnionMan]

Thanks a lot!

It sounds like a very interesting solution. Have you experimented also with peat free options, for example with synthetic material?

Yes, but I like the peat flats best because they create moisture equilibrium, and when they break down and decompose in 1-2 years, they go right into the compost. I have recently seen alternative to peat pots, made out of, believe it of not, cow dung, but I haven't tried these yet.  Also, as a fan of eating mushrooms, in the past year or so the producers have switched to thin styrofoam type trays.  While I'm not a fan of styrofoam, I do use these flats, poke holes in the bottom, and re-use them for plants.

The photo shows my seedlings of Gentiana purpurea, taken today. I planted the tiny seedlings in a bowl-shaped slight depression, to hold more moisture in my otherwise rather dry garden.  So far so good.

[Corrado & Rina]

Wow Mark, these are wonderful! They look very healthy.

I will look into this Styrofoam option .... send me a picture if you find one, never heard of them.

PS: Do you know the location your seeds came from?

Best,

[TheOnionMan]

PS: Do you know the location your seeds came from?

The seed came from forumist Trond Hoy in Norway.  I believe the G. purpurea seed was from garden grown plants, originally grown from plants found native in Norway.

Here's a photo of the mushroom styrofoam flats, they came in a variety of sizes.  Easy to poke drainage holes in the bottom with a pencil, and they seem fairly durable too.  More mushrooms to cook up tonight!

[Corrado & Rina]

Very useful! So you sow directly on the Styrofoam?? Or do you fill them with peat?