After two seasons of apparent failure to germinate, I decided to watch these seeds closely this year to try to determine what is going on.

Seeds were started moist and warm 4 days ago. I expected to see sprouting action (if any ) at the end of the seed, but the first thing I've noticed is that they're splitting along the long sides. Does anyone know if this seems normal, or should I start over?



I know that I could just wait and see, but I'm tossing the question out anyway.

I think that that's normal. Just judging by the seedlings I had. When they came up in their pots, the seeds there were attached at first with the pointed side up and the rest split over the seed leaves, so it must grow from the wider side.

Thanks, Linda! I'll watch these at least another day or two before starting any others.

I'll have to take a magnifying glass down and inspect these-they are just sprouting under lights.

They sprouted with the seed attached----but then they just seemed to wilt ???

I am going to try another pkg, but keep them further from the lights.

Yippee! I have at least one sprout!

They're beautiful flowers, and the butterflies love them. I planted a hedge of them a few times.



Karen

That's neat, Karen!

I've had the orange blooms before...I'm just really excited about seeing this plant with yellow blooms! I'm really drawn to big yellow-flowering plants.

What a neat hedge! I have never seen tithonia grown like that!
Congratulations on the sprouts! Chelle!

I am trying again, but there are three sprouts standing--
since I moved them away from the lights.

Can yours go outdoors yet, Caroline?

I have mine outside all day, then I bring them back under cover overnight.

It looks like our weather might be settled enough to plant them out pretty soon.

Actually we are having a warm spell and I am slowly , but cautiously,
placing trays or basins of plants outside.
But might get a cold snap so we must be ready to bring them back inside.

I guess we're supposed to cool way off this weekend, so I'll definitely wait till it's over before I plant this one out.

I'm not dragging the houseplants back indoors though, they're out for the duration.

Funny story: A friend gave me some seedlings years ago and I didn't really know what they were. I put them in a window basket that hung on top my fence. An absolute ridiculous display and I was so embarrassed that I didn't take a photo to show where "not" to plant these. I love the foliage..very soft and velvety. I started some this year and lesson learned, they are planted in the ground, in a flower bed. I feel sorry for all the folks that drive by and see my poor choices of plant placement

how funny!!!

Joanne does not have any poor choices of plant placement!
Every plant is well displayed in her garden.

LOL Caroline, I do a blooper every year. That's the fun thing about starting seeds and trying different plants. I rearranged an entire flower bed last fall. I'm certain there will be a few odd placements in there once things start blooming.

Odd Placements could be the name of my gardens.


I had just one sprout of the yellow Tithonia. I sure do hope it survives and prospers; it's been quite an adventure just getting this far.

My tithonia just is not getting past the beginning of the germination stage so I will pick up plants.
My baskets and containers will be strange again this year as all my plants are from colour mixes.
And I was late starting seeds so I will be transplanting to containers---green.

My mother always said she likes all kinds of colors mixed because growing up during the depression they didn't have much color. So I never apologize for my color combinations! And i have some pretty wild ones

I like that! I had parents who grew up during the depression also. My father actually taught me the literal meaning of "penny-pinching". Yes, if he offered a coin, we had to literally pry it from his fingers...until we were preteen age. I don't coordinate colors in my garden either. More because ADD impairs my ability to plan things than anything else.