Cyclamen seeds

Has anyone grown these hardy delights from seed before and are they easy to germinate.

 

I grew some hederafolium and coum some years ago, I dont recall any problems.
I do believe the seed needs to be fresh though.

 

Scotkat they are quite easy some of mine self seeded inthe garden probably as pete said better fresh.

 

Yes they spread readily. I started with a couple and now have a large area under a Silver Birch.

First flower open now a little early this year.

 

How long do the seeds take to germinate?

Should I start them off in my elec propagator or not?

 

Hi Skotkat,I have found this address and phone number where you can buy cyclamen seed and plants....

Willows Nursery
Walgrave
Northampton
NN6 9QA
Telephone 01536-791371
www.willowsnursery.co.uk
[email protected]

Good luck and I hope that they can give you all the help and advice you need.
If I harvest the spiral seed pods,I tip out the seeds,wash them in a drop of soapy water then sprinkle them where you want them to flower I think I covered them with a little compost but cannot remember exactly what I did

 

Good Morning Kandy have already sent for pack of 50 seeds from ebay should arrive next week sometime.

 

Kandy,

have copied that site you mentioned aswell :D thank you

 

Do not put them in the propogater under any circumstances. I use John innes compost ( not peat based cause it gets too wet and acid). I also mix in extra grit in cause they need good drainage. I then put a thin layer of grit in bottom of a pot and fill with compost. I sow fresh seed on top, cover with a thin layer of grit, water and leave in shadey place outside. They will probably germinate autumn.
You can also pre treat the seeds by washing them in soapy water to remove the sticky covering on fresh seed that might be an inhibitor.
There is another technique that even works with seed that is not fresh. Wash seed and then soak for 24 hours.Place seed on damp paper in darkness. Container needs to be somewhere with a constant, cool temperature. I use a cupoard under the sink in my cool utility room. When the seed produces a shoot very carefully transfer to a pot set up as above. I got 100% germination of old cyclamen seed that i had been sent using this technique.

 

Geoff is right, hardy cyclamen do not need a temp of above 16c. to germinate. Any higher then they go dormant. If you try the paper method, then do not be in too much of a hurry to plant them up when they have germinated. They form a tiny bulb first from the food in the seed. Take care not to damage the delicate root which comes from the bulb into the paper. I often cut the paper and plant that as well.