gomphrena - dark location?

I'm starting gomprhena from seed for the 1st time. I've read in Powell's "From Seed to Bloom" that the seeds should be soaked 24 hrs and then the flats should be left in a dark location. Usually the author writes, "Needs darkness to germinate" when she means the seedlings go under lights once they germinate. But this description seems different to me. Anyone have any experience?

Just curious...

I don't have any experience with this particular plant, but I can tell you that everything you grow from seed is going to need light once it germinates, so if she's saying leave in a dark location it means only until they germinate. I can't speak for why she worded it different this time, maybe just trying to keep things interesting!

Thanks, ecrane. Certainly makes sense.

Peckhaus, Hi, I'm wondering how your gomphrena are doing? I grew Lavender Lady and Strawberry Fields last year. LL was great, 2-3" tall after 5 weeks. SF was not so great but did ok eventually (although never as many or as sturdy as LL). This year though, I'm growing All Around Purple and it is so wimpy! After germinating 3/13, they are still only teeny, 1" or less tall. Thanks....

Hi cedar,
My Strawberry Fields Gomphrena are also slow growing and small, but they look pretty healthy. I soaked the seeds for 36-hrs and 8 of 12 germinated about 24-hrs after putting them on heat. I transplanted them on Mar 26th when they had their first set of true leaves -- they haven't put on a lot of growth since, but there are more sets of leaves. I'm hoping they appear stalled because they are developing strong roots and that a flush of green growth will happen at a later stage. I just realized that I haven't given them any diluted fertilizer yet, so perhaps they are ready for some. It's my first time growing these, so not sure what to measure them against.

Maybe I'll try Lavendar Lady next year since you seemed to have good luck with it!

Peckhaus, How are your SF doing? My AAP are just now showing color and are about 8" tall. Pretty wimpy for this late in my area. Granted, they are not in full sun. I did not soak my seeds! I just checked my log: I did not know about that. :) Live and learn.

Hi Cedar,

Mine are adapting to the garden this week. I just put them in the ground. They actually got a little too leggy under lights and were growing like crazy, so I pinched them to keep them from getting floppy. Not sure if that was the right thing to do, but I figure they'll catch up outside. I'm curious when they will bloom!

I read about soaking the seeds, so 8 of my 12 seeds germinated and survived. It's the first time I'm growing these. So far so good!

Good luck with yours! Do have any photos?

Hi Peckhaus, No photos, we are "between digital cameras" at the moment. And I'm bummed because I just found a caterpillar on my pansies (which I was pulling up: they don't do well here with hot weather) and I can't ID it. It's striped orange and white lengthwise and has black hairs/bristles in groups (not all over) and horns. Any thoughts? I looked at bug files and google....
I want to know if it's a potential butterfly or NOT.

I will try gomphrena again and soak. Our avg last frost date is Apr 15 so mine have been out a while. Good for you : getting to pinch them because they were so big!