Growing hosta seed is a fun hobby
Growing hosta from seed is fun too do.
Many people grow hosta seed during the winter months under lights or start them in the garden.
It is very nice to be able to see some green growing when it is cold outdoors.
If you have questions on how to get started or a question about growing seeds please stop at the Forum and ask your question and I am sure we can help you out.
How I grow hosta seed
Let me start by saying that hosta seeds do not grow up looking like the pod parent they came from.
They may carry some of the gene’s or traits of the parent though.
About 99.9% of the time the only way to get variegated seedlings is to plant seeds from a streaked pod parent.
Growing hosta seed in the winter is a fun hobby and help’s make those cold days of winter pass a little easier.
There are many different opinions on way to grow hosta seeds.
This is the way that works for me, after growing a year or two you will find what works for you. So give it a try and enjoy seeing the green in the middle of winter.
1. I start with a course soilless grower’s mix.
2. I add the soilless mix with the same amount of perilite to help aerate the mix.
3. Now I put my potting mix into a large bag (I use 4 gallon Zip-Lock Bags) now I put in enough water to moisten the mix.
4. I now put my mix into the microwave for 15 minutes on high. Take out when done and let cool before using.
5. I use a standard tray (10 1/2” X 21”) that will hold 12 inserts (3 1/4” X 51/4”) I fill the inserts ¾ full of the moistened soil less mix.
6. I sprinkle the seed on top of the soil and cover them very lightly with some of the mix making sure the seed’s are in contact with the soil.
7. I have found that I will use twice as many seeds as I would normally use as the hosta seed does not always germinate at a high rate.
8. Then mark your seeds and mist lightly with water before putting the tray into a large sealed baggie or sometimes I use the plastic tray covers.
9. At this point the seeds do not need light to germinate; I put them on a heat mat for a week to ten days which is a good guess as to the time they need to germinate.
10. After the seed germinates I move them under lights. I use regular 4’ shop light fixtures with the cheap bulbs.
11. I leave them this way until the 3 or 4 leaf stage. If I need to water, I only water from below.
12. At this stage I remove the cover and place the lights 2 to 4 inches above the trays. I will only bottom water at this point and will use a very weak fertilizer every other time that I water.
13. Remember this is what works for me; some other ways work for others so ask around most hosta folks will share their ideas with you. I hope you have fun with this hobby and if you have any questions just send us a e-mail. Contact Us
So have fun and and Happy Growing
