I think that either the soil mix was not good, or I fried the Hosta seeds under the lights.
One kind did sprout eventually.
I only used some of the seeds so will try again with good seedling mix, and maybe farther from the lights.
I have kept the first tray and will see if a chilling revives them.

ViolaAnn said:I've read somewhere that white pods will not produce viable seeds. Not sure how true that is. I also think there are exceptions. Where do you suggest we look up the viability of the seed? I didn't see it mentioned on the site you shared.

I know I've had very good success with seeds from 'Summer Breeze', 'Last Dance' and likely that whole family.
I've also had good seedlings from 'Touch of Class' (a nice yellow one that I'm watching), from 'Deja Blu' (a nice solid blue that I'm watching), from 'September Sun'. Not so good results, but somewhat uneven from most of the 'June' family. 'Cherry Berry' produces fatal white seedlings, but one never knows when there might be an exception.

The link was just point out that not all seed is viable. Mostly the newer cultivars are sterile but the older ones or species have the viable seed (good germination). I have added this information to the database when ever I find out but not all sources are right. For example Summer Breeze, when I looked it up on Hosta Direct's database it said the seed is not viable, but when I looked it up on DG it said yes, it is viable. Another way to tell if the seed is viable is just look it up on the internet and see if anyone has them for sale. Otherwise just find yourself a good hosta forum and look for advice from someone named Ann. LOL.

Well, unless the streaking will show up later, my Fickle Blue Genes seedling is coming up plain green

That seedling will stay solid, but it may produce sports that may be streaked since it carries that gene.

Probably not gonna live long enough to produce sports!

Here are some seedlings.....nothing special but they look nice in a shady garden with a few names varieties.......






This one started out streaked...











Streaked....poor substance

Here are some seedlings.....nothing special but they look nice in a shady garden with a few names varieties.......






This one started out streaked...











Streaked....poor substance

Those are nice!

Paul,

I like the looks of the third one! May have started out streaked, but it has a nice looking margin now.

Me too!

@Rose1656 My Fickle Blue Jeans isnt doing well at all either -- hardly grew the first two years and I doubt it will be back this year. Not sure if it just doesnt like our cold winters or what. I have friends down south in GA where it does great.

Christine,

The one that I bought is doing great. I winter sowed some seeds from it last year, and the seedling was a pretty little streaked one. When it came up this year it was solid, but it's actually getting some streaking on it now! I'll let it get a little more size to it and post pictures if it keeps it's streaks.

I tried some seeds again this winter, but so far nothing is coming up.

Thats awesome Rose!! I wish it wasnt so cold up here - I think I lost about 10-15 this year. :(

I had about 25 I planted from seeds -- all came up green. Hope you get a streaker!!

Christine - don't give up immediately. I've had some green seedlings sport to something more interesting. If you like the look of the seedling and it has decent substance, keep it for a couple of years.

Jewell said:Has anyone here grown hostas from seed. If so how long till gemination; what have your results been; any references you'd recommend?

I'm in zone 4b. Last year I started hosta's from seed.
I placed the seeds in a damp paper towel , put that in a zip lock bag than placed the bag over a forced air vent that doesn't get much sun.
I know it took at least 2 weeks for the seeds to sprout. I transferred them to a mixture of seed starting medium and potting soil before the roots got so long that the roots grew into towel or each other.
I had great success sprouting seeds my issue seems to be starting them to early, as I didn't have a grow light but put them in a Southern window.
I appeared to get damp off with the first 2 batches. The third batch was later, like early spring and I got success. I now have about 90 small hostas growing in my yard.
Before they went in the ground, they spent most of the summer in the starting tray, on my shady side of deck. I did also put some in ground near deck earlier than than seed try ones, and it did not seem to affect the growth rate. My advice would be keep them in trays as long as you can, in case the weather turns really bad so they are easier to protect. Also keeps slugs from tendar plants.
I hope this helps.
Oh, seeds may not be true to plant.
I suggest starting with a larger plain green variety.
Also check out YouTube for tutorial's. I did and it helped.
Most states have a university horticultural exspert you can ask questions of on line. MN does, and are very good about getting back to you.

Welcome patbosiger! Not much activity currently going on in the Hosta forum. It is great that you have grown them from seed. I have grown a number from seed myself. I have several that are mature now and while most have been green there are some yellows and even a few streaky ones in the group.
Gary

Patbosiger suggested paper towels. I use a similar method, but prefer round coffee filters folded and moistened as they aren't as porous and I have fewer problems with roots going through the paper. I put them in zip-lok bags in a dark, warm place for about 2 weeks. Usually they germinate by then, but sometimes they need a bit more. Then I use tweezers to lift the germinated seeds and place them into moist soil in small pots (or disposable cups). I have much better success germinating in this way as they stay evenly moist which can be hard in winter in soil.

I also have a few nice seedlings, but you need to learn to cull brutally or find lots of friends to take those you can't grow yourself. And I'd say it even more strongly - the seeds WILL NOT be true to the parent plant with only a couple of exceptions. But you can get some nice surprises.