I am a new hosta gardener and wondered if you would mind sharing some tips on how to grow hosta from seed. I have a pretty big yard with lots of shade and I'm newly addicted to hostas.
Thanks in advance!
Amy
tiG, about hosta seeds...m
I winter sowed them. Planted just barely under soil in a tray outside two winters ago. I put a plastic lid over it with small holes to let just a little water in, put a rock on top and forgot them. I had excellent results. I have about 30 or so that I have planted in my beds now. I'm sure if they were cold treated you could plant them now too.
Good luck, I love raising things from seed.
I grew some from seed a couple of years ago by placing the seeds on wet paper towels placed in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Once they sprouted, I transplanted them to small pots and then transplanted them into the garden once they got a little bigger.
I just checked, plant them 1/16" deep in a peaty based mix. Can take 30-90 days to germinate and germinate is slow and irregular.
Thank you tiG and Karen for your answers. Do you think I should go ahead and try to grow them or wait until fall and grow them indoors over the winter?
I keep reading that the seedlings you get from growing hosta seeds are usually "not worthy of planting in the garden." Do you agree? Karen, you said that you moved them into the garden... so they must've been worthy, right? Any hosta is worthy to me at this point with all this yard. When I fill it up with my named hostas then I guess I'll decide if they're not worthy and give them to my non-hostaphile friends!
Thanks again!
Amy
I was the same way, mine were worthy cause I needed so many. I got seeds in trade and bought some from ebay. I got some nice hostas. I hope they get bigger than they are now, I wish I'd gotten them in the ground sooner (just too many things to do, been there?)
The TM seed sowing chart doesn't even say to cold treat them, I'd sow them now.
About what is worth saving: only seeds from variegated or streaked pod parents (first named in the cross) are potential streaked babies, more likely candidates to grow on to see how they develop.
I love hostas and also like to grow things from seed. I have some 1 year old, some 2 year old and some 3 year old that are blooming for the first time.
I harvest my seed when ripe, let them finish drying in a paper bag. I have a light shelf inside, so as winter entertainment I start seeds.
One method I use is to put a dozen or so seeds on top of damp seed starter mix, top with a thin layer of vermiculite and put in a plastic baggie with a twist tie on top.
Another method I use is to save a "to go" carry out box with a clear lid. fill with damp seed starter mix, top as above and snap the box closed.
Either way works for me. It usually takes 2 or 3 weeks, then you start seeing the root and first leaf. At that point, I pick them out and plant in a 6-pack and keep under lights. When the weather warms up, move them outside. I have many in the ground, but like to keep some in pots to give away. My daughter has just moved into a new home and was delighted this afternoon to go home with about 50 babies.
Thanks guys, for posting all this wonderful information. I too enjoy the seed starting process. I'm fortunate and have a greenhouse, so I get my fill every late winter and spring. But, I've never tried Hosta from seed. I usually deadhead them long before seed pods form. But every spring, just when they're poking their little heads out, I spade around the edges and have lots of new babies. My plants are 8 years old now, and very mature,,like me!. I have a nice variegated one I think I'll let go to seed this year. Thanks for all the tips!