Nasturtium seeds - germination time?

Really? Oh well, in that case I'll keep everything crossed. I had honestly assumed that they were never going to germinate.

 

Last year I scattered nasturtium seeds:
1) outside, in a small terracotta "trough";
2) outside, on the top soil of a gap in a wall; and
3) outside in the ground.
Results:
1) couple sprouted within a month; a third sprouted ... 3 months later! (Shady position)
2) only a couple sprouted and didn't do as well as I had hoped they would, but flowered nonetheless (semi shade)
3) Zilch! (full sun)

In #1 they were not planted very deep and in #2, although not planted very deeply, I accept that they could have slipped further down when I put another couple of things in there With #3 I'm going to guess that either some wildlife had an easy meal, or, I may have planted those too deeply from the outset.

This year I planted some in a tall planter, outside, but not very deep, together with some sunflower seeds, watered them well and kept a piece of clear rigid plastic over the top of the pot at night.

This is how they looked one week ago:


They are bigger now though

I have never started them off indoors. Mainly because it isn't necessary and also because the indoor space is needed for those seeds which do need that extra special starting off.

 

I'm glad it's not just me.

Good to see that you have a few appearing for this year though - I have a grand total of two so far .....

I must admit that I do enjoy planting seeds indoors - it's great to be able to keep a very close eye on them for those first shoots. I really need a greenhouse to potter about in, but previous failures have taught me a lesson there (it's just far too exposed and windy where I live - broken glass or blown out perspex and even a damaged frame).

 

I planted some in one of those "mini greenhouse" jobs inside my summer house (not quite a greenhouse but it's mainly glass and warms up like crazy). They sprouted in a little under a couple of weeks and ROCKETED from this to this in 3 days. My head was spinning!

 

Wow - well done, very impressive in just 3 days.

BTW, which mini greenhouse do you have?

 

It was just a seed kit picked up from.. I think it was Poundland? They provide you with a tiny propogator, some seeds and some compost and just put it all together. The propagator was then inside the summer house, so it was toasty warm.
I'm keeping the propagator for the next time I want to grow seeds!

 

I see, thanks.

 

I've only ever bought one packet of nasturtium seeds. That was about 15 years ago. I seem to recall having no bother with them.

Since then, I've collected the seeds they produce in abundance, every year. I used to collect the seeds from the plants that I thought were best, either from resistance to pests or the weather, or flower abundance, or flower colour etc. Over the years I've been getting prettier, more abundant and more resilient plants. Until a couple of years or so ago when I got bored of them for a while. I decided not to keep the seeds. I knew that some would be naturally self sown in the soil, and I still get nasturtiums out there, without any further input from me. This year might be different. I've dug over some of their patches, and grassed other bits. If I don't see any seedlings by the end of May, I might buy a packet of seeds and start again.

 

Do you recall the variety of Nasturtium that you originally bought, or was it a mixture?

I remember growing Nasturtiums as a kid (I was into gardening then too but it lapsed over the years and I've recently picked it back up again) - I don't though recall if I grew them from seed or if I bought them as young plants. I do recall buying young Petunia plants though.

I have a vague memory of collecting the Nasturtium seeds, wish I could remember if I ever tried planting any though and if they germinated or not.

Good luck with yours this year, whatever you end up doing.

 

The original seed packet was "tom thumb mixed".

 

Thank you.