Datura Germination Problems

Hi All, I've been growing all sorts of things from seed for 'donkey's' years, trees, shrubs, perennials, veg etc, etc, and like to think I'm quite experienced at it but always willing to learn, you can never know everything...

So here's my problem, I've tried and failed in the past to grow Datura from seed; I'm trying again this year with seed donated from members on here (thank you ), but yet again my confidence with them is getting low, I sowed seed for 2 varieties about 3-4 weeks ago and still nothing, should they have germinated by now? I've tried Brugmansias for the first time this year and they're growing away happily..

They are more or less surface sown, you can just about make out the seed on the surface of the compost and they are in a heated propergator. I can see enough of the seed to see that they haven't rotted and there is no mould, but nor is there any signs of germination.

Any ideas please before I give up on my horticultural nemesis

I'm thinking of trying some more on some damp kitchen towel in a plastic bag and kept warm, but I'm not sure??

 

Soak for 24hrs, sow and wait!
Sometimes, I move them from the propagator to the window sill if they seem slow.

 

I know what you mean, I dont put them down as being the no1, fastest germinating seed.
A bit "erratic" is how they put it in the seed cats.

 

Thanks guys, I can't do anymore then other than have more patience lol

 

There are certain species that often make me think stratification might help

 

Maybe - D.metel germinates like billy-o in the spring where the seeds have dropped.

 

I once bought a packet of Datura "le fleur lilac"(spelling).
It just reappears in all kinds of places these days.

I even think the seed lies dormant for a couple of years in some cases.
No amout of winter frost appears to kill ungerminated seed.

 

The seeds are hard enough to take really hard frosts. But they need starting earlier than our climate allows to make any sort of show.

 

If only it had bigger flowers.
It grows pretty big by August with no attention, from self sown seed.

 

It looks rather like D.stramonium Pete - a really vigorous one indeed!

 

Yeah it looks similar, but the last time I saw stramonium growing wild it was white.

 

The one time that I grew it I got the violet flush, although not the colouring in the throat like yours. Too big a plant, too small a bloom for my tastes though.

 

For Brugs I peel the "cork layer" off the seed. Do you do that for Datura too?

 

Never tried it Kristen.
Not sure my eyesight is up to that.