Germinating Cleome?

I've posted a query on the Annuals forum about germinating cleome and would appreciate any helpful hints from your experience. Perhaps I should have asked here... The link is: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/714237/

Thanks!

Andy I germinated cleome last year inside with no problem. I don't remember doing anything special so that means I simply started them on a heat mat then moved them under the light after they sprouted. I saw someone post that they had used the paper towel-baggie method, so you could always try that, but honestly I did just fine planting them in soil.

La

Let no seed be started before its time! What finally worked for my cleome was temperature fluctuation, to mimic the effects of late-spring germination: hot days and cool nights. I soaked the seed for two days, transferred to ProMix (not an easy task) and then used full sun in the day and cool nights. A bit like wintersowing. After prinking out, I now have alomst 300 seedlings to go into my big dramatic planting, this week or next.

Well, let's see a pic!!!???

I am glad you had good luck with the cleome--mine have been very touchy....

Here's a pic of the seedlings... sorry about the lighting. Most have gone in now, and when they grow and bloom, the next pic should be a spectacle!

Oh, my goodness! Your seedlings look picture perfect! I wish I were your neighbor so I could bum some from you! Your display will be fabulous!

Andy--do you have a lot of experience with growing from seed? ...because I have a question....

Here's my question-- I just purchased a stokesia "peachie's pick" plant from the garden center today. http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Current/Detail/04726.html

I wanted to let it bloom and save the seed heads to plant up for next year. The thing is, I'm guessing this plant is Tissue Cultured (from the catalog description). So, do you think the seeds are viable? And is there a chance they will come (somewhat) true to the parent?

Just wondering (and sorry, didn't mean to hijack the thread...)

I'm not a seed-saver, sorry, tabasco. This year is the first time I've grown some salpiglossis (the blue ones) from seedheads I saved last year, and they're not a happy bunch. Growing hybrids makes seed-saving very hit-and-miss so I usually don't bother.

This spring, I re-used some potting mix from last year's cherry tomato pots. In the fall last year, there were many green babies that must have been on the top of the soil. This year, where I used the soil, there are tomato plants growing everywhere from the seeds!

Thanks, andy, for your thoughts. Similar to my thinking...oh, well...