Hepatica 2011

[kalle-k.dk]

I have a large pot with 100s of seedlings that have only seed leaves - the same they had when they first came in to grow after I sowed them fresh in 2010. What should I do with them?

Mark..The best thing you can do is prick out your hepatica, otherwise I fear losing them.

[mark smyth]

I looked at them today and their tiny leaves are starting to grow.

Prick out! You havent seen how many I have but I must start. What size pot should they go in to?

[angie]

I looked at them today and their tiny leaves are starting to grow.

Prick out! You havent seen how many I have but I must start. What size pot should they go in to?

Mark throw them over here I love pricking them out and putting them into pots.
Well done, I wish I could get 100s of seedlings, will be nice to watch them grow.

Angie

[johngennard]

I would suggest that you prick them out 20 to 30 into 2 or 3ltr.pots rather than individually.They like company and that way you have much more control over the moisture level.Tiny,slow growing plants in individual pots can soon shrivel up or drown.

[johngennard]

Hepatica nobilis showing the variability of colour and the attractive leaf patterns

[johngennard]

Finally some growing outdoors in the ground.

Ellison Spence
    "        "
Mixed self sown seedlings

Nobilis pyrenaica

X Transylvanica 'Harvington Blue'

[Gunilla]

The variability is what I like most about hepaticas . Always something new to discover.  The pyrenacia on picture 019 seems to have very dark anthers. I would love to have a closer look at it.

[Diane Clement]

I understand John Massey keeps his hepaticas above zero degrees during the winter.  Mine are under glass during the winter months without any heating & have come through with no losses despite the intense cold.  I move them out into uncovered frames on the north side of my bungalow during April when the sun starts to increase in strength & then gradually increase shading for the height of the summer.  Seems very similar to Diane's method.  Do you prevent your hepaticas freezing Diane?  

I think John Massey keeps his hepaticas frost free as they are in unplunged pots in a polytunnel, therefore the roots are more vulnerable.  Also he needs them in flower early to take to the February London Show.  My hepaticas have had no frost protection, but all pots were plunged fully in sand.  Some were in the Access frame (the temperature inside there was the same as air temp outside) and some were in the alpine house with a couple of layers of fleece on them at the worst point of the winter.

sadly my H. yamatutai single and double forms died over the winter along with H. n. glabrata and several others. They had rotted at ground level  

Mark if they were in pots, the rotting at ground level could be due to potting them too deeply - they should be potted high with the noses above ground.  

[johngennard]

The variability is what I like most about hepaticas . Always something new to discover.  The pyrenacia on picture 019 seems to have very dark anthers. I would love to have a closer look at it.

Dianne.I'll see what I can do.

[gote]

I understand John Massey keeps his hepaticas above zero degrees during the winter.

Mine are under glass during the winter months without any heating & have come through with no losses despite the intense cold.

I move them out into uncovered frames on the north side of my bungalow during April when the sun starts to increase in strength & then gradually increase shading for the height of the summer.

Seems very similar to Diane's method.

Do you prevent your hepaticas freezing Diane?

Hepatica nobilis of the type that grows wild in mid-Sweden will take -30°C unharmed growing naturally in the ground.
Göte

[Mavers]

Pretty darn cold then Gote!!

Mike

[mark smyth]

Diane their noses were above soil level

[Gunilla]

Hepatica transsilvanica is also very hardy and seems to cope well with black frost. It has been a cold winter here but my plants are OK.

Hepatica transsilvanica 'Karpatenkrone'

[gote]

Hepatica transsilvanica is also very hardy and seems to cope well with black frost. It has been a cold winter here but my plants are OK.

Hepatica transsilvanica 'Karpatenkrone'

I find that my transsylvanica is damaged some winters. I have attributed it to frost damage but of course, my place is some three zones colder than your.
I still have the ground frozen and 20-30 cm of snow - or at least in the past weekend.
You have very nice varieties by the way.
Göte

[johngennard]

The variability is what I like most about hepaticas . Always something new to discover.  The pyrenacia on picture 019 seems to have very dark anthers. I would love to have a closer look at it.

Dianne.I'll see what I can do.

As promised Dianne,it's nice close to isn't it ?