Lisianthus,
or Eustoma, or Prairie Gentian, or Texas Bluebell
P H N
Gentianaceae:  Eustoma grandiflorum (syn. Lisianthus russellianum)
Lisianthus, 2000
Lisianthus, 2000
2006
May 29:  I bought 14 plants from Ron Paul Nurseries of 4 varities, Malibu Deep Blue, Avila Rose Rim, Cinderella Pink, and Echo Pink. I set them the Malilbus out along an edge and the other among the red tulips, which are dying back. Expected heights: Malibu 80-110 cm, Avila 90 cm, Cinderella 85-110 cm, Echo 30-36 cm.
July 19:  I bought 16 plants from the greenhouse in Petersfield, MB.
20:  I planted them. The ones I set out earlier have done poorly and several have died. I think that's because of the lack of rain. The survivors have been doing better since I installed a soaker hose going by each of them.
August 1: The plants are getting better, with more flowers.
 

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2004
February 28:  I ordered some seeds from Thompson and Morgan:  Eustoma grandiflorum Double Eagle Mixed F1 @ $3.49.
March 18:  They arrived.
20:  I planted 9 cells with 16 tiny seeds.
April 30:  No sprouts so I discarded them.

  2003
January 24:  A few plants are coming along, more whites than blue.
April 18: I transferred the blues to 4-paks.   All the plants are in 4-paks now.
May 21:  They have been in the deck ledge box for about 2 weeks now, and are doing fine.
May 21:  First flower, a blue one.
July 5:  Flowers on half of the plants.   The flowers are slow developing but also long lasting.   I deadheaded that first flower only about 4 days ago.   I do not favour this variety of the species.   The flowers are simple and the plants are small.   I much preferred the Echo variety with its larger plants and more complex rose-like flowers.
August 26:  They died during recent dry weather.   I was very busy and they got no water.

2002
January 12: One seedling.
January 22: None left.   I allowed the cells to dry out.
February 17: I began watering them again.
May 28: There was no regrowth.
December 13:  I planted 18 seeds of Forever Blue and 9 seeds of Forever White, one per cell.   I bought the seeds last Saturday from T&T Seeds.   They are in a seed tray in the living room, with a ceiling track light aimed at them.
21:  No sprouts yet.   Why would T&T say that the seeds need light to germinate, yet put them in the centre of a clay pellet?
22:  13 sprouts today, and many other pellets seem to be being pushed apart.
25:  The seeds of the white variety are doing fine, and the seeds of the blues seem to starting to sprout now.   I moved the tray to the basement grow table.

2001
January 7: None this year.
December 16: I started seeds, one 9-pak, with 3 seeds per cell. It will go in the warming box with one clear light above the cells for light.
20: They are in the warming box in the piano room, at 24°C, with a transparent sheet over the door instead of the clear light.
25: One green sprout is poking out from its pelleting.
26: 4 sprouts.

Lisianthus, 2000
Lisianthus, 2000
2000
January 16: 1 sprout. I planted 9 more cells, 4 seeds per cell, and put them in my warming box. I took a closer look at my seeds, which are pelleted. I found some free seeds and saw their size, and crushed some of the pellets, and have concluded that most of the pelleted "seeds" I planted earlier were just pieces of pelletting material.
25: One new sprout.
26: Many new sprouts. The 1 earliest sprout fell over today upon being watered. It has no root, and its future does not look good.
27: I moved the 12 new sprouts under the lights.
March 11: I finished transplanting my 17 plants into their own cells. The early sprout has been growing well. I think its problem was that it was on the surface, and could not get its root into the ground.
May 21: I set out 12 plants.
22: I set out 5 more plants, including one very slow grower.
July 8: The plants are slow growers. They are about 20 cm tall.
August 4: First flower, very nice and rose-like, pink.
7: The second flower is an incredibly deep blue!
13: I attempted to cross-pollinate the flowers today, but no pollen was visible on my tissue.
September 17: Most plants have a delightful cluster of blossoms at the top of their stems, but most have also fallen over.
October 4: Frost last night does not seem to have affected them.

1999
December 30: Planted seeds of Echo mixed variety from T&T, 12 cells, 2 pellets per cell. The pellets are very small, and I hope they all contain a seed. (22,000 seeds/g)