Hi, All -
Today I sowed 30 datura seeds - several varieties. This is my first time trying to grow them from seed. I sowed them in Jiffy peat pellets and have them on a heat mat. After they are established, I will grow them under my Christmas present - A light garden in my basement. :-) My hubby made me two 4.5ftx3.5ft benches with two 4ft florescent fixtures (two bulbs in each). Our basement is heated and is about 70-74 degrees all winter. I sowed the following kinds:
Quadruple purple; triple white; triple yellow, double purple; Lilac le fleur and double yellow. I read somewhere recently that if I want to see flowers by June, I better sow them right now. Any of you experienced with this? I hear germination can be anything from 10 days to 8 weeks! Can anyone tell me how big they have to be to start flowering?
I would appreciate hearing your experience.
Diane
Krnysgirl
Sowed Datura seeds today
Datura blooms much quicker than brugs do. I've had little dats bloom at 8 inches tall in 4-inch pots.
Krnysgirl,
Congratulations on sowing your Daturas. I grew them last summer for the first time, and they dazzled me with their blooms. Check out my Datura album at http://www.picturetrail.com/jccorre
Also, just to let you know, your Quadruple purple and your double purple are the same plant, and your double yellow and triple yellow are the same plant. Datura Metel often produces singles, doubles, triples, and quadruples on the same plant and even at the same time! My Daturas took about a month to come up. The Datura Stramonium was the fastest and the easiest to germinate. Once they are up, they should grow and flower fairly quickly. Here's a good place to read about Daturas http://www.americanbrugmansia-daturasociety.org/abadssitemap.htm
Wow, Clare - your pics are gorgeous! Thanks for the interesting info - I had no idea the doubles, triples and quads can come from the same plant. So - I guess that means the quad seeds I planted, won't necessarily produce quad flowers - i.e. it might just produce doubles or triples?
Anyway..I will eagerly watch my babies - can't WAIT till they germinate!
Diane
Krnysgirl
Thanks, Diane. You are right that you will mostly get doubles and triples, but you could easily get a few quadruples too. The singles seem to come at the end of the summer after the weather cools. I'm not sure why that is!
I don't have any doubles, trips or quadruples, but I'm glad you posted this thread! I was thinking that I should start my datura seeds early this year as I waited too long last year! They do take so long to germinate ~ thanks for the thread :)
clare----------your garden is lovely and so diverse---nice photos. cheryl
KRNYSGIRL,
I'm happy to see that you found seeds. I feel really bad. I know that I had spoken to you more than a month ago to send you seeds. I have to apologize, my computer died on my back around Thanksgiving and I lost most of my email. I'm happy you found seeds and want to wish you the best of luck. I have a gazillion Black Currant Swirl seeds if you need more.
Brinda :)
Hi, Brinda -
Thanks...don't worry I have plenty! I got a brand new grow center in my cellar my dear hubby built me for Christmas - I am itching to get going. I have started these Datura seeds and moved my brug cuttings under the lights. Once my Daturas are up - they will grow under the lights till Spring. Got a SHOEBOX full of seeds to start - Lupins, Spider Chysanthemums, Love Lies Bleeding, etc. etc. etc. Being able to start everything indoors will help me so much to wait patiently for Spring... :-)
Diane
Well, I dove in and made a bid at ebay for some of these ~ I couldn't resist! And, also made a rockwool purchase, too. I can't wait to get started!!!
Morph, I wish I had seen your message before you made a bid for them on ebay. I have plenty of yellow and lavender to share and some single white Datura Wrightii. Send me an email, if you would like some of mine, and we can do a SASE!
Anyone who would like some lavender Datura Stramonium, some double/triple yellow, and some single white Datura Wrightii, send me an email, and I'll send you my address for a SASE.
Thank you, Playsndirt, for the lovely compliment.
Clare,
I sent you an email :)
Morph