Growing Bananas from Seed

One of the most rewarding plants to grow from seed are bananas. My banana seeds arrived from McFayden yesterday. This is the 4th year I'm growing bananas from seed. The remarkable part is that this giant banana plant, pictured here toward the end of the summer, started as a seed on my light table in February.

While I'll save banana plants from year to year - I also like to have at least one or two from seed. The best germination rate I've had was 80% - and the worst was 0 from a batch of seeds from Chiltern. This is the first time I've tried any seed from McFayden, so I'm interested to see how they do. I start my banana seeds in soil-less mix in a 4" pot that I keep in a tray covered with a clear plastic dome. My basement is a little on the cool side, so I run a heating cable under the tray to help with germination. The first signs of life will be in about a month. Fingers crossed, all five will sprout and I'll have enough for a grove!

Starting Seeds for My Shade Loving Containers

I always like to start a few plants (well, probably over 100) to add to my shade loving containers. My second seed order arrived today from Stokes Seeds - and the growing instructions on the package of Alternanthera 'Royal Tapestry' says that they need to be sown 11-12 weeks before they are ready for sale in 4" pots. (Stokes do a large commercial business.) I'm using my frost free date of about May 12th to count back from so, I must sow them this week. The germination temperature is between 64 to 75 degrees F or 18-24 degrees C - about the average temperature of my basement. I noticed that these seeds require light for germination. So I'll put them in either a zippered plastic bag or put the pot in a tray covered with a clear plastic hood.

This is a trailer that can be used in either sun or shade. The colour will be lighter in the shade, but I'm hoping will still be vibrant enough to show off the other annuals and tropicals I hope to mix it with in my containers.

Cold Days & Thoughts of Warm Summer Plants

The weather has turned quite cold - -30C. Yesterday, I went down to the lake when the wind picked up to see if I could get a shot of the water crashing against the shore - unfortunately it was a strong north wind blowing off the land - so no large breakers, but still a lovely scene. On the horizon were the snow squalls blowing around the Niagara area.

My first seeds have arrived from Veseys in Prince Edward Island. I'll be starting my Hibiscus 'Red Shield' the week of the 24th of February - 10 weeks before my last frost date of May 12th. I use it as an accent plant - it grows about 3-5 ft high and has never bloomed for me; but that's no problem as it has lovely dark burgundy leaves that secure its pride of place in the garden. It has a very narrow growth habit, so I try to grow 5 or so very close together so that it makes a really good show. You can check it out at http://www.veseys.com/ca/en/store/annuals/hibiscus/redshield.