One pod might make 30 or more seeds, although some might have only a few. Beautiful houseplants that also repel mosquitoes, cockroaches and other pests, Light Requirements When Germinating Marigold Seeds. One pod might make 30 or more seeds, although some might have only a few. Gardening journal (where you learn from mistakes and remember what you've planted year to year), an absolute essential. If hosta seeds are started indoors in January or February, they should be a good size to transplant outside by May giving them plenty of time to grow strong before you plant them out. Great hosta information and pics. Thoroughly wet the soil before sowing the seeds as not to dislodge them later. Great blog! Gently tuck in any sprouts that push themselves out of the mix. A sincere thank you to everyone who supports this site by using my Amazon affiliate links and search box to purchase books and other items. When you plant hosta seeds, you never know what youre going to get! A warm (75 F) place is best, or use a seed-starting heat mat. The pods will start to yellow after that, and eventually dry and split open. Within 4 weeks, they are now starting to look like mini hostas. Since Ive grown so many new hostas over the past several winters, and Im starting to run out of space for new gardens, I have decided that this winter I will not start any new seedlings. To add greater humidity, I made a tiny greenhouse tent. One innovative method hybridizers are now using is to make holes in the bottom of plastic drink cups (see below), which makes it easy to label each with the parent hosta(s); each cup can hold 15 seeds or so, and the cups fit easily into a tray for watering. Here I just used stuff around the house. Seeds from a white hosta are not very viable at all. plant hosta seed seeds pods hostas harvest them propagation plantsgalore insect until spring want I start mine in mid to late winter. Others like to use special heat mats. Some hybridizers set their seed flats on warm appliances like televisions and refrigerators for a little extra heat. Therefore, it is important to make sure all pots, flats, domes, and even the potting media are as close to sterile as possible. Hostas can also self-seed, called a "selfed" hybrid, usually with the help of bees, explains the Delaware Valley Hosta Society's "Hosta Lingo" page. Yes, but First recognize that very few hostas will come true from seed (look like the parent plant). It is still possible, though, to collect the seed, because as long as the seeds in the pods are well-developed and have turned black, they will probably produce seedlings. They look sort of like tadpoles. While there are lots of places online to find information about hostas (see our links), and of course a number of books you can buy for ready references, we didn't feel that there was a good place online for FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions), as experience with the American Hosta Society's Facebook page has shown. See pictures of seed-cleaning. Within each pod are six chambers that hold the seeds. hosta shoots shoot hostas tender eye edible palate treat harvesting tightly wrapped stage each still perfect its Thanks, Ann! Putting the container on the top of a refrigerator is enough to keep the tray warm. I used to loosen the dirt around the whole large plant with a large shove, lift the plant up, and then cut the sections out but that was a pain to do. I have been looking for a site like this for some time. That's a great time to harvest them. hosta plants seeds shade purple ornamental 150pcs perennials flower garden lily pack hosta seeds seed pods hostas pod flower collect gardening perennials shade flowers Just remember that the hostas you start from seed will not look like the parent plant, and even seeds from the same hosta will produce very different looking hostas. Do not fertilize the seedlings until the four-leaf stage, then every two weeks with fertilizer at one-fourth strength. At this point, you have a decision to make - to cover or not to cover the seeds with potting mix. Hosta seeds don't need light to germinate, but they will need good light once they do.

Although hosta seedlings are easy to grow, they do require strong lighting and frequent watering. If the wings are white, the seeds are not good. Then with a small spade or garden shovel loosen the dirt around this section and left out. A green hosta will more than likely produce a green hosta. If you use plastic and the seeds are not completely dry then they will rot. If I harvest the seeds can I just toss them into my very good forest soil? Keep the lights going 24 hours a day until a few days before you are ready to move the plants outside. You can crack open the other seed pods to collect the seeds. Lastly, slowly introduce your hosta plants to the outside weather by gradually setting them outside for longer and longer periods over a few weeks. Hostas are monocots, meaning a single leaf appears first. We hope you find this useful. I'm just thankful that I can easily split them up to get more.lol. I thinned out the germinated plants, leaving the stronger, healthier baby hostas - 1 per each roll. Thanks for your great post. The seeds will be black, dry, and papery when ready. hosta seed hostas pods bitch nature lilac

Problems Encountered While Growing Hosta Seedlings, Hardening Off & Moving Seedlings Outdoors. I do not have great lighting set up in my house, Oh How I wish I had a greenhouse!

But just because they are called weedlings, does not mean they are weeds, at least, not to the home gardener. Unauthorized reproduction of Heidihorticulture is prohibited. After the seedlings have 4-6 leaves, you can feed with a weak water-soluble fertilizer, and take off the humidity domes. For a list of hosta cultivars that have seed pods that have been reported to be sterile or are reluctant seed producers, go to: If you're new to starting plants from seeds, a good book like this one will help. Share it with us! Much of the following information is basic seed growing know-how, but you will find a few tricks of the Hosta hybridizing trade scattered throughout. However, pods that have stripes will have viable streaked seeds inside. Lea, in early spring when the hosta are just starting to grow, take a long sharp bread knife and insert the knife down deep between 3 or4 sprouts. This one is 'June'. Awesome Inc. theme. This is mainly dependent on temperature. Yes, Ive known of a lot of hosta seed exchanges. If you have been bitten by the bug and want to propagate new plants from a hosta in your own garden, you can gather hosta seeds and grow your own but they may not come true to their mother plant. I do this in the palm of one hand over a piece of waxed paper, as many as 20 at once. Hybridizers may start culling their sprouts after only a few leaves are showing. hosta flower seeds collect You're welcome! Since they can fit into an envelop, Im guessing that it might be easy to exchange them. If you picked the pods, you can carefully split them open to reveal the six chambers holding the seeds. hostas spring come And if you dont know the type of hosta, you could include a picture. Are Yellow Light Bulbs All Right for Seedlings? After the seedlings have 4-6 leaves, you can feed with a weak water-soluble fertilizer, and take off the humidity domes. This Hosta plantagenia has rather long seed pods, full of seeds. I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the results. A few people even switch to taller domes as the seedlings grow. :). Guide to prevent invasive species being planted in Southern Ontario, A garden without wildlife is like a kiss without a squeeze. You can, however, produce a large number of attractive plants in a short time. hosta jungseed hostas Does Frugality Mean You Shouldnt Have Nice Things? Covering also helps to keep the seed from accidentally drying out. I will try my luck at sowing my seeds. You may want to put them into new cups or into nursery pots, to give them a little more TLC before they go into the ground. If the wings are white, the seeds are not good. This lets you count the seeds more easily, as each wing may not have a seed kernel. hosta seeds seed collect pods It is especially important to recognize that seeds produced by variegated hostas will almost never grow into variegated plants. If your hosta happens to throw out these seeds and a seedling appears in your garden bed somewhat uncommon but it does happen these also will not grow true to the parent. Hori-Hori Knife Great item for dividing perennials like hostas! Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment. I didnt know that the seeds were in the pod. At that stage, the seedlings are more tolerant of short periods of dryness.

Hostas continue to be one of the most popular perennials in shady and party shady gardens. I certainly continue to divide my favourites too. Small lunch-sized paper bags work well too. recently saw hosta flowers on someones post, and now Ive seen the seeds. When the pod has turned brown or black and has dried out, the pods will begin to split lengthwise. This instructable will show you how to collect and store seeds from hostas. hosta seeds pods seed collect ripe Once the sprouts start to grow, you face the hard task of deciding which ones to keep. They are still small, but no colouration. Some growers have better luck with germination if they put them in the fridge for two or three weeks to "stratify" them, which artificially creates a cold, dormant period, according to Sunset. Click on a header for main topic, or hover and click on one of the drop-down topics. Hit the "Follow" button on our Blog Home Page! Germination takes from about 1020 days. Pots, flats, and other supplies can be disinfected prior to use by rinsing in a 10 percent bleach/water solution. A flat can also be divided into sections using sticks, sections of Venetian blinds, or other common objects and planted with several types of seed. I like to follow the heritage of the seedlings, so I label each group of seed pods. hosta sprouting Growing Hostas From Seed So you're wondering, can I grow a hosta from seed? The potting shed gets freezing temps which help the seed to become ready for germination. I find the tutorial by Josh Spece at In the Country Garden and Gifts to be the best source, with more technical information than above but not too hard to get through in terms of discussing plant genetics. They don't need light to germinate, but as soon as you see the seedlings appear, provide strong light, either an actual grow light or just an LED shop light. Great blog.. If you let them dry a few days, you can rub off the papery wing, as it is easier to plant only the kernels. Heat.

If you are new to gardening, the best I find are the books that are simple. The disadvantage is that a few seedlings will have trouble getting their first root into the potting mix. it has viable seeds. Aiyana. great info,i am getting started in hosta seed growing.i divide alot of plants,for my spring gadden sale then buy more different plants.i will be trying your advice. When and How to Divide your Hosta Whether you want to divide your hostas for the healthy of the plants or to increase the hosta love Fertilizing Your Hosta Plants It's no surprise that hostas continue to be one of the most popular perennial plants in a variety First, it's important to remember that hostas will not come true from seed. Shelley has been writing and editing garden stories for 10 years, and has a Master Gardeners certificate in Oregon. Warmer temperatures will speed up germination, though. hostas hosta boroughs gardening nyc roots alive strong leaves die still Seed-starting images: Seedlings at 4-leaf stage (after first culls), Seedlings under humidity domes (different year/cups), 2014-2022 by Delaware Valley Hosta Society. The media should not be soggy. You may want to put them into new cups or into nursery pots, to give them a little more TLC before they go into the ground.

You can either collect the seed pods themselves into envelopes or if they are open carefully shake the seeds into a paper envelope. Powered by. Once the rolls are watered they can swell and fall apart, so I use string to keep them grouped. All hostas are hybrids, meaning that they are the result of at least two plants with different genetics.

These plants can go as high at $15.00 so I would love to grow and give to my family and friends. Germination takes from about 1020 days. The question is: which seeds are worth growing? Seed starting mixes hold a lot of moisture and the fine texture ensures good contact between moist mix and seed. It will take about 6-8 weeks from bloom (pollination) for each pod to ripen. Blue hosta seeds may result in blue, green, or gold hostas. How Many CFL 60 Watt Bulbs for Tomato Seedlings? Genetics also apparently play a role and seed from Hosta 'Dorothy Benedict' is said to take three weeks or more to germinate. I leave the pods on the hostas as long as the weather lets me, then bring the pods inside and put them in large white envelopes to dry. Making sure they had a wing and a solid seed side. You won't find hosta seeds for sale in any nursery or seed catalogs. The trick to germination, is stratification when it comes to hostas. Home Growing Hostas How To Harvest Hosta Seeds. Thanks for having such a great site and I want to check back on the recipes. Several pods have duds - these pale white seeds that have no embroinic component. Some hostas are completely pod sterile. It is best to water the tray so they take up water from the bottom. Some illustrate the post others show our surroundings and the things we love about our version of simple living and voluntary simplicity. Hosta seeds are ready 30 days after pollination. I put the seeds from each pod into a paper coin envelope labeled with the parent hosta(s), date, etc. I switch from constant light to 18 hours of light once they're growing well. Germination has been reported in as little as two to four days with potting mix temperatures in the 80 degree range. In a nutshell, winter sowing, or winter seed sowing, is sowing seeds indoors in t How to Clean Birdhouses, Birdbaths and Bird Feeders One of my favorite parts of being out in the garden is listening to the sounds of natu Epsom Salt for Rose and Bloomers You may have heard that Epsom Salt is a great, safe, effective and economical garden amendment for use on y What are Sun Tolerant Hostas? Having many deer in my area that love hosta I have found that sprinkling garlic powder on the plants does not damage the plants and the deer stay away. Then think about what interesting traits youre looking for, and grow hostas with those traits. To mature, full size, up to four years depending on the variety of hosta.

Not all hostas will make seeds (see below), and even those that do might not make a pod from each bloom. This process improves the germination rate for all perennials, but it isn't necessary. Tentative date for our fall banquet: October 22. I do this in the palm of one hand over a piece of waxed paper, as many as 20 at once. seeds hosta plant hostas grow In addition, whether your hosta sets seed or not depends on several factors, including the weather. The primary trait that is unlikely to be retained in an open-pollinated hosta seedling is variegation, but you can still grow beautiful hostas. I love gathering seeds to grow new plants, sometimes successfully, sometimes not..and to share them with friends and family :), An interesting post. Thanks for all the great info Heidi! Green hosta plants result in, well, green hosta plants. About 30 days after pollination, the hosta seeds should be ready to harvest. Peat absorbs and holds a lot of water, which is essential for germinating seeds. Supplying extra heat is usually not necessary in the average home. hosta streaked reliably variegated D. Teager photographs. The stratification initiates the seed to germinate. One way to harvest the seeds in those climates is to collect the green pods and place them in a paper bag to further dry out. I examined each seed. Personally, I prefer working with seedlings because it is so much fun to see the differences. Growing Hostas from seed is much like growing other perennials and annuals from seed. Hi, thanks for the article! The pods will start to yellow after that, and eventually dry and split open. A standard 1020 flat can hold about 16 - 4 inch pots, each holding a different cross.

Typically, Hosta seed germinates in 7 to 14 days. Germination rates for hosta seeds are notoriously low. Hostas (Hosta spp.) At the four-leaf stage, you can transplant each one of your seedlings into a small two-ounce cup to grow on, then later into a four-ounce cup. So if you want a hosta just like the one you have taken the seeds from, there is no way to do that from seed. While there are lots of places online to find information about hostas (see our links), and of course a number of books you can buy for ready references, we didn't feel that there was a good place online for FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions), as experience with the American Hosta Society's Facebook page has shown. I will do a follow up post, once they are fully leafed out. Start with easy seeds from H. Elegans or something similar. Written by Shirley Filed Under: Growing Hostas. Like maple keys, they have a winged portion and a seed tucked in the tip. Grow the seed in a sterile seed-starting mix, just covering the seeds.

Special mixes are not necessary, though, and a good quality, general purpose potting mix will work just as well. , Common Houseplant Pests Part 2 - Fungus Gnats, Springtails, Removing Lily Flower Anthers To Lengthen Bloom Time, Dividing Juncus effusus - Soft Rush for Ponds, Update - Overseeding Turf with White Clover, Plant Profile: Stolwijk Alpina Blue Clematis, Support FoodShare - Toronto Community Gardens, Dirr's Manual of Woody and Herbaceous Plants, Hardiness is a HUGE factor here in Canada. Then, decrease the light to about 18 hours a day to get the hostas used to natural, outdoor lighting.

I really want to give it a try! This lets the seedlings drink up the water they need without the roots being dislodged by pouring from the top. A blog about finding balance in your life, connecting with who you are, and creating a lifestyle where you wake up each morning eagerly anticipating the day ahead. I too did not know what the seeds or even the pods looked like. Seeds from a white hosta are generally not viable at all, while variegated hosta is just a complete gamble.

The key is to keep them dry. Im sure that works well in a warmer climate, but here in the northeast, the seed pods never reach that stage before the first frost. Still, be aware that there are over 10,000 different named hostas out there, and youll have to work pretty hard to create something new and different. More than likely you will get some kind of plain green hosta.

There are as many different planting media as there are Hosta hybridizers - maybe more! Hostas also need air around their root system. So happy to find a garden site from someone just a zone or two away! The second attempt after stratifying the seeds, worked. Using the drink cup method, though, I find that I can grow 6-8 seedlings to good size in a cup before they need to be separated. In colder climates, though, the pods may not get to that point before the first frost. Lily, good luck with your hosta seedlings its really interesting to see how different they all are. I welcome links to my blog or to any of my articles, but please do not copy my photos or content. hosta shoots musa come substance sum forgotten photographs second its name USE FRESH SEEDS. Some form seeds and self-seed readily others not so much. Having tried so many other repellents, this one works. Summer Holidays for Chicken (using Poor Man's Fibreglass). Then think about making crosses by transferring pollen from one hosta to another. seeds hosta collecting daylily pods yet ready still That is the purpose of other components in planting mixes like perlite, bark, grit, and sand. Proudly created with. Golden Glow (Rudbeckia laciniata hortensia). I was toying around with dividing or using the seeds? Once the sprouts start to grow, you face the hard task of deciding which ones to keep. Why do some hostas have seed pods and other hostas do not. Continue to keep the soil moist but not wet. With such a centuries-long fascination, breeding hosta varieties has become an art. later? All my hostas are grown in containers as i only have a tiny garden. Some hybridizers find that leaving the domes over Hosta seedlings causes no problems and reduces the need to water frequently. Until germination, I just want to hold in moisture and humidity. Seedlings at "up-cupping" stage to single plant per cup (discarded seedlings at left), and Sow the seeds shallowly in a sterile potting mix. This can be a simple as fluorescent (or LED) "shop lights," or could be more elaborate if you get really serious about it.

Thanks for the encouragement! You are able to use the hosta seeds as soon as they're harvested.

After a few weeks, the pods will have dried enough so that some of the seeds will start to fall out of the pods, and the rest of the seeds can then be removed easily. It may take over six weeks. If youve ever grown tomatoes from seed, its not very different. How We Removed an Enormous Tree Stump or How We Saved $576. It is best to water the tray so they take up water from the bottom. Another idea sometimes hosta nurseries will leave seed pods on their hostas and are glad to let customers take them if they ask. To grow the seeds, you dont have to wait if you dont want to, although there is some evidence showing that a month in the fridge increases germination rates. Love this info! These are much too heavy to use as a seed starting media or for growing small seedlings. If you started hosta seeds in February, they should be ready to put outside in about May, still in their pots. hosta eskimo Great information here. I decided to plant some of the seed anyway, and now (many years later) those first seedlings have grown into giant hostas with the most pebbly leaves I have ever seen, miniature hostas, hostas with shiny leaves or round leaves or long pointed leaves, hostas with rippled-edged and twisted leaves, blue hostas, golden hostas, and even some hostas with variegation! We've hit over a million visitors! I hope youll try growing some hostas from seeds. I'm so excited! For much, much more information, there are a few sites on the Internet giving guidance on growing seeds, and a few forums on Facebook and elsewhere for hybridizers. We hope you find this useful. I left them in their little envelopes, in a sealed dry container in my little potting shed - outside all winter. Smaller batches can be microwaved for 10 minutes. planted seeds hosta ever Collect the seeds from the plants. Sow them early. Has anyone ever used an aerogarden to start hostas? I only had enough viable seeds to fill 16 half rolls. Lovely photos. After four to eight weeks, the pods will become yellow as they dry out, then split open. I like your blog stuff, thanks for sharing this info! Seeds from a green hosta will only produce a green seedling with the same or different characteristics. One innovative method hybridizers are now using is to make holes in the bottom of plastic drink cups (see below), which makes it easy to label each with the parent hosta(s); each cup can hold 15 seeds or so, and the cups fit easily into a tray for watering. This lets you count the seeds more easily, as each wing may not have a seed kernel. Sticking skewers into the rolls, I have made posts for the cover. If you picked the pods, you can carefully split them open to reveal the six chambers holding the seeds. Delaware Valley Hosta Society: What Is a Hosta? This is best done in the early morning before bees and such can get to them. Danyelle, when I first started growing hosta seedlings, it was all such a big mystery to me because I had trouble finding information or even what the seeds looked like, so Im glad this was a help to you. I like so many things about hostas their differences in size, leaf texture, and color, how easy they are to grow, and how impressive they look all season long. Germination chamber constructed of rigid polystyrene insulation sheets with a heat mat in the bottom. I especially love the hosta information. hosta 'Ventricosa' is one of the only hosta that comes true from seed.

I have hostas at the edge of my woods and have always removed the stalks after flowering because I thought it somehow taxed the plant If left on their own do they self seed? I have several grow lights set up with shelving and usually start seedlings between November and January. Previously used potting mix should ever be re-used with seeds or small seedlings. Moisten the mix until it is thoroughly moist to the touch.

A seed. All comments are moderated your email address will not be published. The usual advice is to let the seed pods dry on the stalk in the garden until the pod is somewhat dry and about to open. Most people cover them with a humidity dome, or, in the case of drink cups, a second smaller clear cup. My Krosse Regal, in its 2nd year and lovely in a large container, has only just started to bloom (September) and am truly gutted that it is sterile. Whole societies are devoted to this beloved plant, which appears in Chinese documents as far back as the Han Dynasty, 206 BCE to 220 BCE, according to the American Hosta Society. Sow the hosta seeds thickly. Reply These inadvertent seedlings are the result of uncontrolled, "open pollination," and are called "weedlings" to distinguish them from a hosta that has been purposely developed by a breeder.