Starting Impatiens From Seed

March 18th, 2009 · 2 Comments

Anybody else tired of paying high dollar for Impatiens?

If you have the space under the grow lights or in the greenhouse, you can benefit from starting them from seed. I started a tray of them three to five days ago now (early to mid March) and they are starting to sprout up nicely. Considering they can survive many types of soil, I imagine once I get them sprouted and off to a good start, they should be easy to take care of from there on in. I don’t want to speak too soon but I can’t wait get them in the ground when the time comes. I’m not even going to say it (that I’m getting well…I can’t say it ; )

I am getting that feeling of spring, that it is flying right on in without notice, but I am noticing and am trying to prepare the best I can (when I can). I am starting many seeds indoors. I have expanded my grow room by adding shelves and hanging fluorescent light fixtures. Complete with a min-heater and a timer, Ill just need to add water. The warm temperature is key to keep a high percentage of germination.

I will post photos of my Impatiens sprouting from seed once I get them in the ground.

I will look to gather seeds from my Impatiens at the end of the year as well.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Tags: Flowers · Seeds

2 responses so far ↓

1 Joyce // May 24, 2009 at 8:36 am

I would love to know how to get the seeds off of impatients to start them the falling spring and plant them…Do you keep them in a envelope over the winter months? What do you with the seeds till you plant them? How do you get the seeds from the plant during the summer months? Thank You
2 David // May 24, 2009 at 9:27 pm

Hi Joyce,

I keep my seeds in a freezer or in the refrigerator (or in the garage in the winter). Many seedlings need the cold freeze to actually sprout a new plant, like conifers sometimes need fire or freeze to act as a catalyst to get them started. Also the freezing keeps them fresh like when you freeze berries right at the peak of harvest. You will have a higher sprout percentage if you at least keep them in the fridge. It also depends on the variety of species. Trial and error works best. Try some in fridge and some in freezer.

As far as impatiens I have never saved seed but towards the end of the season they set out seed pods. And if you go out at the end of the season and hold a baggie or envelope underneath the seed pod and shake the pod, the seeds will scatter or burst into the bag. I will try and save the seed this year and post an article about my experience.

Here are some links about saving the seed:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/impatiens/msg0902170328342.html

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/seedsave/msg051810238314.html

http://www.weekendgardener.net/plant-propagation/annualseeds-090809.htm

Here are some videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOiw_-zd2Zo&feature=quicklist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOiw_-zd2Zo&feature=quicklist

Good Luck! -David

Long Island Gardening Community Resource