Winter Sowing Cleome

Greetings Winter Sowing Friends,
Well, I'm trying again this year. I want some of those beautiful purple cleome that I had in the garden year before last. I understand the cleome can be a particularly difficult seed to germinate. I am using seed that I collected in 2011, recycling potting soil, (microwaving first), and placing the seeds in 16 ounce water bottle, (I cut holes in the bottom).
Does anyone have any methods that they found successful they care to share:)
Please Let Me Know,
Cheers!
Marlene

Marlene,
here..... you just have to let them go to seed and the critters pop up ----everywhere! I am not sure why in your neck of the woods there is problems.. what your plan is sounds like a winner. But, I would sow some seed directly after frost danger is past as well ---just to see and to save yourself some extra work next year if it does well.

I agree... I have volunteers all over the place from just one or two plants I let go to seed. I have also started them indoors on the past with great results. They are not fussy and germinate quickly in my experience.

Same here I just toss out the seeds. I figure that when they self sow they go thru freezing temps, I've never started them always direct sowed so I can't tell if the ones that come up are from the ones I've tossed or from last year's flowers.

Thanks All, I'm not sure why I have a problem either. Year before last I purchased a few, and thought that I would have volunteers galore, so I didn't bother planting any deliberately. Last year 3 came back but they were in shady places so I transplanted them into more sun. They died.
I read someplace that they needed weather changes to germiniate. I'm hoping that our constantly changing weather will do the trick this year:)
Thanks Again,
Cheers!
Marlene

I've learned to not move anything, unless it's really in the way, I figure if it decided to grow there it's happy. Some of mine grow in part shade, no problem.

Cleome serrulata grows from reseeding itself here.
It has smaller flower than the showy ones.
I might try them as a WS this year as they do not do all that well when started in the house.
I am not sure as to whether the seeds that I have purchased are any good.
Caroline

Cleomes come right up in the house for me. I usually don't start them until mid-to late April for planting out at the end of May. They get tall very fast in the house unless you have tons of light.