I've missed the impatiens in my mostly shady yard. They came back this past spring but not in flats like they used to. I would have hoped the fungus or whatever it is that got to them has been eradicated by now? No?

We dug up the 4 impatien plants we got last spring and they are thriving in the GH. Maybe if I try real hard, I can try to harvest seeds? But I am clueless as to how?

Ric, my greenhouse is 30x64, and 12 feet tall at the peak. It was a sow breeding/gestation building in its previous life. I keep the heat set at 58. The backup heater is set at 50.

I tried to put a pic on my post..........I'll try again.

That is one huge greenhouse, Anna. That's the size I wish I had, rather than the two smallish, 10x12's.

Well, get rid of your pigs and you can refurbish THEIR old building. LOL

@ShadyGreenThumb, those Impatiens "throw" their seeds when they're ready! You might be able to net them before the seed pod pops.

Thanks, @Bubbles. I am going to go look right now. There are a few flowers on them. I'll see what stage of throwing they are in! It gives me more to obsess over.

@Bubbles (sorry for the hijack, @ecscuba)I had one spent flower but couldn't tell where the seed pod was. I bagged two flowers that are ending their prime. Do you think that is the seed pod in the center? I learned the bagging technique on Google. but I don't see any tiny curly parts like the websites have shown.




The only other pod - like thing is this


But it looks too much like a flower bud:

That's a whole lotta' space to heat. I did get rid of the pigs, years ago. But it never gained me a GH. However, getting rid of the horses did get me a shop area.

Oh, now, I'd have kept the horses. LOL But then again, I don't need a shop.

@ShadyGreenThumb , the first photo looks like a tiny pod. Let it get bigger. Do you have some kind of netting instead of plastic? It would be able to mature more naturally and then pop open in the netting. Very cool that you found one this late in the season!

Okie dokie @Bubbles! I will find some sort of super thin cloth or net to catch them. There are lots of buds on the plants. Maybe more flowers soon? Hopefully now that they are in the GH they can continue whatever they do outside in. They will be some expensive seedlings if the winter temps keeps up like it is! It maybe cheaper to buy them in the spring? Truth be told, I never looked this closely at my favorite impatiens before. Glad I did!

You've probably had lots of them popping and just didn't notice. The pod sort of rolls into a spiral after it expels the seeds!

They must be tiny as all get out!!

They are miniscule to say the least. I have sown these in a commercial GH. They love bottom heat to start and stable humidity to grow on. We have had volunteers below our window boxes, but very few. They can be very prone to damp off, so use sterile mix and ensue good ventilation with the humidity. The mildew can persist for years in the soil, so don't chance it.
I'm waiting for a resistant strain. We've taken to using alternatives such as begonias, or New Guineas.
I used to mix the seed with handmilled Jiffy mix to help sow it thinly. It's almost as fine as begonia seed.

I tried to go in the GH last night and the door would not budge. Apparently it was frozen tight. It was only 10*F and windy.

Ric, you are almost in a heat-advisory area, huh?

We had a regular heat wave today, 30*F.

Break out the swimming trunks, Ric.

Gad, I dont' think it got much above zero today, with a nice, stiff west wind. At least it was sunny and I could spend some time in the sunroom. It was nice and warm in there. a Had a nice little nap with a couple of the cats keeping me company.