Growing hosta from seed is fun to do and is a great hobby, how to grow hosta seed.
If you have questions on how to get started or a question about growing seeds please ask your question and I am sure we can help you out.
To collect your own hosta seed I usually wait until the pods turn a darker color in early fall. I will gather the seed and place then in small brow bags for a week or two and than remove the seed from the pod.
Here is a short version of how I grow hosta seed.
This is my way.
Let me start by saying that hosta seeds do not grow up looking like the pod parent they came from.
They will carry some of the traits of the parent plant though.
About 99.9% of the time the only way to get variegated seedlings is to plant seeds from a streaked pod parent but one never knows. You can always try anything you wish to try. Herb Benedict got hosta 'Dorothy Benedict' from planting thousands of 'Francis Williams' seed'
This is the way that works for me, after growing a year or two you will find what works best for you. So give it a try and enjoy seeing the green in the middle of winter.
I start with a good soilless grower’s mix.
Moisten the mix, not wet, just moist.
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 soilless mix.
I sprinkle the seed on top of the soil and will lightly cover the seed and make sure they are in contact with the mix. Some hosta seed take longer to germinate than others.
I find this will vary year to year and from plant to plant as well. Remember to mark your planted seeds to keep track of what you have planted.
I will mist tops lightly with water before putting the tray into a large sealed baggie or sometimes I use the plastic tray covers. Hosta seeds do not need light to germinate.
After the seeds germinate I move them under lights. I use regular 4’ shop light fixtures with the cheap bulbs as well and sometimes I will use cool temp bulbs. I put the lights within a couple inches above the top of the tray. The lights stay on 24/7 until spring.
I leave them this way until the 3 or 4 leaf stage before I transplant to 2" pots.
Remember to cull when you transplant, you will find that you can't keep them all.
I will also only bottom water from this point on and will use a very weak fertilizer every other time that I water. Miracle Grow Tomato fertilizer at half stregth seems to work well for hosta seedlings.
Remember this is what works for me; some other ways work for other growers 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 Happy Growing
First you need to buy hosta seeds or collect your own seed.
