KC Gardens

Q&A

I’m thinking of trying winter seed sowing. The seeds I want to grow are pansies, stocks and petunias. Has anyone had any success with this germination method? Dennis, what do you think? - Wild Child

Comments

1. 

   Dennis Patton

   4 months, 2 weeks ago

   Winter seeding is one of those fun things to try. For many plants such as larkspur, hesperis and poppies I think it is best to scatter the seed in the fall as these need to germinate in the fall, overwinter than flower come spring.

   Pansies are very slow from seed. I would maybe try some of the violas that are more durable than the large flowering pansies. I have not experimented with stocks. For the petunias I would wait a while longer and like the violas try some of the older heirloom type varieties.

   Hope that helps. I would love to hear some other comments and experiences. Dennis

2. 

   Tina Scarpelli McGugan

   4 months, 2 weeks ago

   I love winter sowing and will put down seeds in the fall and sometimes over the winter months. Here are some of the seeds that I collect from plants for sowing over the winter:

   Love in a Mist: sow in fall so it germinates. Mine is up and still green, even in January. This plant dries up and peters out in the heat of summer, but it’s a real beauty. The seed heads are beautiful.

   Snapdragons Garden Balsam Basket of Gold Alyssum (a perennial) Portulaca

   I also leave my zinnias and annual vincas at the end of the season as they self-sow very nicely the following season.

3. 

   Dennis Patton

   4 months, 2 weeks ago

   Thanks for the ideas.

4. 

   Jerry Niemeier

   4 months, 1 week ago

   Petunias will not grow under fluorescent lights alone. Hang a small clear incandescent bulb with then. It produces a red ray of light that fluorescent lights do not have.

Sign in with Facebook to comment.