2002 April 15: I started 27 seeds in a 9-pak.
I found the seed head outside after the snow melted.
The seeds look fine. I don't know what happened to the 2 heads I harvested!
May 28: I set out my 1 plant.
September 7: I have no idea what happened to it.
2001 May 5: I started my last 5 seeds, in peat moss and soil in a 9-pak in the basement.
May 6: I moved them into the warming box.
May 27: One sprout.
June 18: I set out 3 plants.
August 18: First flower. All 3 plants will be flowering soon, with multiple blossoms per plant.
August 29: Two plants are flowering now, with multiple blossoms per plant. The blossoms on the third plant dried up, and the plant does not look well. I notice that the flowers close up at night!
September 18: Both plants have gone to seed. I guess they have to be deadheaded to keep them going, but as I want the seed, I don't mind this year.
2000 April 15: I started 9 cells, 1 seed per cell plus 1 seed extra.
The seeds are from McKenzie Seeds, and are rather large.
I bought them 2 days previously.
May 1: No sprouts.
6: Still no sprouts.
An internet search indicates they should sprout easily.
7: I sowed about 12 seeds in starter mix.
26: One sprout.
June 1: I set it out. Another sprout appeared in the evening.
3: I set the new sprout out.
6: The new sprout is gone, but 2 more seeds have sprouted. I soaked their starter mix. I suspect it had dry peat parts in it before.
August 7: One plant remains, of a modest size, with a flower bud forming.
13: I recognized another plant, the same.
September 1: A first flower is opening.
October 4: Fairly heavy frost last night. I harvested 2 heads, but I am not sure if any seed will be viable, as the older head had to be self-fertilized, and the younger head may not be ripe and may be self-fertilized too. The flowers are nice and very thistle-like, but not tremendous. The plants were not as tall as the package said they would be, but of course they had a late start.
