Germination Superstars !

I know this won't be a record for germination , but I sowed "Mina Lobata Jungle Queen" , on Wednesday evening. I had presoaked the seeds for 24 hours. This morning 16 out of the 20 seeds had germinated some are now 2" tall. That is 2 and a half days What is the fastest germination of a seed that you know ?

Mina Lobata is a lovely climber to 2 metres also known as Spanish Flag ( due to its colours ) , web photo below

 

One of my favourites and always quick off the blocks. It's always a joy to see those little wings unfold. Keep them cosy till May, though

 

Hi H

they look fab , I have never grown before , how big do they grow ? , can you put one or two into a basket ? and let them trail over

Spruce

 

Spruce , I grew Mina Lobata Exotic Love , late last year . Yes it sounds more like a porn star than a plant ! It grew to about 4 feet and flowered late . So I am trying the other variety , and as Madahhalia recommends , keeping it under cover until well into the season . Not sure if it can trail - only one way to find out ! I got my seeds from Premier on Ebay £0.99 for 20 plus p and p
http://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/Plant-trials-and-awards/Plant-awards/Latest-AGM-plants/Ipomoea-lobata
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MINA-LOBA...arden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item417156c084

 

Do they need more light Harry? That's quite tall for seedlings with small leaves - don't want them straining themselves

I find Amaranthus are up in under 4 days (and no soak required) so about the same I guess - Amaranthus want to grow as weak and leggy as a leggy-thing unless they are already under strong light when they germinate ...

 

Mina lobata is a twiner so may not be very comfortable trailing. In fact, their urge will be to point upwards and twine around themselves if no support is available. Worth a try though, no matter what.

 

I preferred its old name, Quamoclit lobata!

I've grown this s few times now and although I get large plants, I've never had any flowers.

 

That's a bit disappointing Coolsox , I hope mine flower. They may not need any feed that promotes leaf growth

The heated prop was on a windowsill , but I have taken the cover off and removed them from the heat . They have got the last windowsill place now facing south . I am going to have to find some more room for my plants !

 

On the subject of fast germination, I was astounded by some pak choi seeds I sowed 2 years ago, a freebie, or in one of those multi packs, I only sowed them because I had them, 2 days, and they were up.

 

I seem to remember that Kochia germinated after 24 hours for me. This site http://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ajps.2006.71.75 quotes 50% germination after 28 hours. That will be difficult to beat.

I am also growing Mina Lobata for the first time - and grateful for the advice to keep them warm. And yes they did germinate very quickly for me too. Some climbers can be fast growers - my Cobae scandens are already over 2 feet tall.

 

I've grown Mina lobata from seed before and planted them in a large pot with a wigwam to climb up, mine flowered but if I remember it was a fairly warm summer 3 or 4 years ago .
The seed I find germinates the fastest is Cosmos, 2 days in my heated propagater.

 

Me too ... from a packet of seed dated last year - so I must have intended to sow it then too ...

 

Hibiscus trionum - put to soak in the morning before I went to work and sown (paper towel method on the radiator) when I got in. Eighteen of the twenty had germinated when I got in from work the next day with the other two out when I got up the following morning!

 

People were probably too embarrassed to ask for it by name, sounds like something that should be arriving in a plain brown wrapper.

I find it flowers late but has always produced some. Do you give them plenty of sun, assuming it's available?

 

Snap, I planted 7 seeds, and today all but 1 was in leaf, re-potted the seedlings and
put the other back in the propagator to see if he /she shows it little head.