Viewing post #719463 by ARUBA1334

Marilyn I followed Paul's advice on starting them so I use the same procedure as Tom the only difference I think may be the soil we use a growers mix similar to potting soil and mine are grown in a Greenhouse to help speed them along. I went 5 weeks this year in the fridge and had many that had rooted right through the paper towel so we planted them paper towel and all and they grew just fine as the paper towel will dissolve. I don't have much advice for planting them outside have seen it done this way but I prefer the greenhouse in our climate the winters are just to harsh, I'm sure I could get some to grow but the greenhouse gave me a really high germination rate quickly. I used Azalea pots for just about everything because the roots grow so fast in a perfect conditions and I wanted them as big as possible in May to plant outside. I was hoping to expermient with some this year and try to get them started now in October and push them to see if they grew all winter and then I set the pots outside for a month to chill in early March could I get them to bloom early or in the same year the growth is so fast in perfect conditions, but that project will have to wait for another time still have lot's of yard work to get done before the ground freezes here and need to take care of what is growing. Here are some pictures that show the growth from seed till the end of August will get some updated ones tommorrow. These pictures show you what can be done in 6 months from seed.

Feb 7th (took them out of the fridge) & Feb 26th ( multiple showing)


March 8th ( about a month after planting) March 20th ( same pot as above)



March 20th & April 1st


April 9th & April 28th


May 6th I got the new bed ready this week and trucked in multiple loads of dirt we spread it with a bobcat and tilled it in which was great on my back but hard on the grass


May 12th I started Lining them out and figured out I need more space


June 1st (good growth) Aug 2nd ( plants have taken now)


Aug 2nd ( my additional space) Aug 28th ( They are starting to set increase still growing)