Woofie, I found the salpiglossis 'chocolate royale' you sent me last year - I've sowed them. We'll see what happens...

The seeds I collected were in fairly isolated areas, so they mostly shouldn't have been cross-pollinated by the other varieties I was growing. I think those would be the same seeds I grew out this past year.

Even if the saved seed isn't the same as the parent they are still all beautiful. Here are some from last year all from saved seed.
















And the Kew Blue in one of the pots.

How early do you start them under lights?

Karen

I have never been able to take a decent photo of salpiglossis. Great pictures Susie

Count your blessings, Joanne. I've never taken a decent photo PERIOD.

Karen

kqcrna said:How early do you start them under lights?

Karen

Karen, I start them at the end of February and some times, if we have a late spring, they're getting pretty big for their pots but they seem to take off just fine once I get them planted in.

Thanks, maybe I'll look for some seeds.

Karen

And it looks as if your own saved seeds give good germination.
Thanks for sharing your experiences on Salpiglossis.

Caroline, I think the saved seed does better than the seed I've bought and I get a variety of colors.

Saved seed is almost always better!
The commercial seed supply sits in warehouses and stores for far too long,
and is subjected to extremes of conditions.

I don't know that that's always true Caroline. I have good results with a lot of commercial seeds from reliable vendors. And certainly not all of my failures can be attributable to the vendors. I have to bear some responsibility for failures, too.

Then too, in some cases (eg. hybrids) the only way to get the seeds is from a company who hand pollinated and isolated...

Karen

I agree with Karen, mostly, although some seeds do seem to do better when collected fresh. (I have much better germination rates with the seeds I pluck off my own four o'clock plants.) I have only had two or three instances where seeds I bought commercially were dismal failures; a pack of yellow four o'clock seeds where not a single seed sprouted, same with some white dwarf columbine and something else I don't remember. And of course, some seeds just don't keep well. Petunias don't seem to last more than a couple of years and since salpiglossis are related, maybe they don't either. Heh, guess I'll find out this year.

Susie, those are gorgeous! If you have any left over after you sow...

Here's the Thompson/Morgan seedlings ' black trumpet. A few of the T's have also germinated. I found another bag of seeds from trade and have sown them too.



Now to keep them growing is the challenge...

woo hoo!!

Karen

Salpiglossis seeds of a strain called "Bolero" germinated in 5 days under lights.
And a dwarf strain called "Little Friends" has also sprouted in 5 days.

Cool!

Karen

I started some from seed but they all died. Damping off I think.