Q.Wild Bergamont
So I have some wild bergamot seeds, and I’m confused about when to plant them. I don’t want to directly sow them, I want to first grow them in plastic cups and then in bigger containers, and when they’re big enough I plant them outside. But I’m confused about when I should plant them. Do I sow the seeds in the cups now (mid-October, after the first frost) after the fir and transplant them in spring, or do I do it in the spring???
Seeds need to go through a period of cold storage to get them to germinate. Most seed companies do this for you. If seed was collected this fall, separate the seeds from the chaff and let them air dry for a few days. If you are sowing indoors, store the seed in a glass jar in the refrig for 2+ months. Some sites advocate "moist stratification"; there is disagreement on this point. It takes 2-3 weeks for seed to germinate and then 2 months to reach planting size. 95% of seeds germinate. Here is a resource: https://npn.rngr.net/renderNPNProtocolDetails?selectedProtocolIds=lamiaceae-monarda-95&referer=wildflower
