Growing hosta from seed

Quiet Storm · Post by **Quiet Storm** » Jul 30, 2007 6:11 pm

I have never grown hosta from seed before, and would like to give it a try, but have no clue how to go about it. Several of my hostas have produced seed pods this year. When and how do I harvest the seed? Do the seeds need to be started indoors? If I just leave the pods on the plants, what are the chances of them self-seeding? Hope I don't sound as clueless as I feel. Thanks for any tips.

MollyD · Post by **MollyD** » Jul 30, 2007 6:15 pm

Hello Gloria. I'm fairly new to hosta seeds myself but I did sprout and grow some seeds last year. There is some good information at http://www.hostalibrary.org/hyb/index.html . You sort of have to read through it to find the parts you want since it's directed at people who want to hybridize.
I know that some people get volunteers that have self seeded but I don't know if that works as well as planting them yourself.

MollyD

GrannyNanny · Post by **GrannyNanny** » Jul 30, 2007 7:19 pm

If you sow them in October, under lights, you'll have pretty nice sized seedling plants by planting-out time in May. (About the size of a one year old nursery plant.) Sowing outside, in the ground, takes a lot longer -- probably it'll be the third year before you'd have a plant the size of your October-May seedling. There is a site with detailed directions for growing from seed, but I don't know where it is. Maybe someone else remembers how to find it. Phyllis

Patrushka · Post by **Patrushka** » Jul 30, 2007 8:21 pm

Check out Westside Hosta FAQ, Hostas from Seed, Part 1 and Part 2. The instructions on Page 2 are from our own GrannyNanny.

http://hostafaq.westside.com/wsContentP ... w?RowId=47

VThosta/daylilylover · Post by **VThosta/daylilylover** » Jul 30, 2007 11:04 pm

Read the FAQ post and it was very detailed! One question: Do you need the special grow-bulbs or is an ordinary light from a lamp enough? I'm thinking of just trying a six-pack of seeds the first time to see how it goes.

ademink · Post by **ademink** » Jul 30, 2007 11:25 pm

I used shop lights w/ a 40W flourescent bulb, I think.

eastwood2007 · Post by **eastwood2007** » Jul 30, 2007 11:57 pm

ademink wrote:I used shop lights w/ a 40W flourescent bulb, I think.

Ditto for me...it works the best I have found.

Quiet Storm · Post by **Quiet Storm** » Aug 02, 2007 1:27 pm

Thanks everyone, for your tips. I will give it a shot this winter. My Komodo Dragon, Great Expectations, Gold Drop, Gold Edger, and Frances Williams all have pods this year.

hostarod · Post by **hostarod** » Aug 02, 2007 3:56 pm

Gloria,
growing hosta seed is an enjoyable hobby for the winter months.
If you are looking for more information you can checkout my website to see a few methods and ideas from hybridizers.

good luck and happy growing, hostarod

GibbsCorner · Post by **GibbsCorner** » Aug 03, 2007 12:15 pm

I've grown hostas from seed for two years now, thanks to all the advice here, and it really is a nice diversion in Winter. It's fun to see what comes up!

If you try just a six-pack, one thing to remember is that you won't usually get 100% germination - not every seed will sprout. So if you just do six, you might want to double up and put a couple of seeds in each cell. That way you'll have a better chance of getting six.

Matt

toymr2mk2 · Post by **toymr2mk2** » Aug 03, 2007 6:42 pm

I agree that it is great to grow seedlings in the winter. Gives me a bit of springtime inside when it is too cold to go outside. Plus it is a blast to watch them grow. Another good thing is that by starting them inside under lights you can more or less force them to grow faster. Get a years growth in just a couple of months!
Art