Cup and saucer vine: a sowing debacle

Aside from the tomato seeds detailed below, I also sowed a pot of Cobaea scandens, the cup and saucer vine, which I knew as a child from looking at it longingly in DG Hessayon's Houseplant Expert book. It's an exotic-looking annual climber that I am hoping will jive along nicely with my red/purple/blue colour scheme in my back garden, clambering up a fence or wall. (It's an annual that can be grown either in a conservatory or in a sheltered spot outside).

The seeds were large, papery and round, which at least made them easy to sow - or so I thought. The seed packet wasn't very forthcoming about sowing methods: reading the information on the page linked to above, it seems I have down everything wrong.

I didn't soak the seeds before planting, I planted the discs flat against the soil rather than on edge, and I probably covered them with too much compost. I am hoping that the seeds will stick a metaphorical two fingers up at the expert horticultural advice and germinate nonetheless. I am off now to stick a clear plastic bag around the pot. That much, at least, I can remedy.

Comments

[OyaDancer]

Oh, well at least now I don't feel quite so daft for utterly mucking up the sowing of my Black Futzu seeds then...I didn't put them on their sides or any such thing, and after poking, prodding, cajoling and a bit of cursing they've just adamantly refused to do anything, I think I may need to start over. Gave me an excuse to get some more, and a few Sweet Dumpling seeds while I'm at it.

[al]

I always find seed packet information says something completely different to what books say. You just have to cross your fingers sometimes don't you. I'm attempting to grow a green tea bush this year, and I'm sure that will be complicated to get going.

[ritchie]

Wow I even went as far as nicking the end of each seed before sowing on it's edge. Only about 75% germination rate with this method of sowing. Sometimes I honestly don't know why I go through all the fuss and muss....I guess it's all worth it in the end, what eye candy the flowers are.

[Howard]

I planted my cup and saucer vine seeds on their side on March 1 and thought for sure they had all died when none were up two weeks later. Luckily I left them under the grow lights and heated because three days late - BOING! - they all came up. I have very specific plans for them as a cover up job on a shared fence with a neighbor.

[Kate]

I planted these last year following the packet directions and I don't remember planting them on their sides or soaking the seeds. I put the pots on a heat mat and they were up in around 7 days (that I have a record of). Take heart! I live in Oklahoma and the summers are hot. The vines did well but there was no blooming until it cooled off in the fall and then they were spectacular.