Green hosta flower pods will form if your hosta blooms are pollinated. The pods will turn yellow and split open after four to eight weeks as they dry up. The seeds are held in six chambers within each pod. A little kernel is attached to a papery black sleeve as the seed. According to Sunset, some gardeners have more results with germination if they “stratify” their seeds by putting them in the fridge for two or three weeks. This artificially produces a chilly, dormant period.
Where are the seeds in a hosta?
True, but… Recognize that only a small percentage of hostas will germinate from seed (look like the parent plant). It’s also crucial to remember that variegated hosta seeds rarely never mature into variegated plants. You can, however, quickly produce a big number of appealing plants. Hosta cultivars were developed from seed cultivated by home gardeners and hybridizers. (The remainder are other hostas’ sports or mutations.) Not all hostas produce seeds, and even those that do may not produce a pod from each bloom (see below). When pollinated, Hosta blossoms begin to develop pods. If the pods come off before they are fully ripe, the seeds inside are almost certainly bad.
Each pod will ripen in approximately 6-8 weeks after blossom (pollination). After that, the pods will become yellow and eventually dry out and break open. Before that happens, pick the pods or place a mesh (organza) bag over the pod to catch the seeds. You can carefully split the pods open to uncover the six chambers that store the seeds if you picked the pods. A little kernel at the end of a papery black wing contains each seed. The seeds are bad if the wings are white. I placed the seeds from each pod in a paper coin envelope with the parent hosta(s), date, and other information. You can rub off the papery wing after allowing them to dry for a few days, making it easier to plant only the kernels. As many as 20 at a time, I do this in the palm of one hand over waxed paper. Because each wing may not have a seed kernel, this makes it easier to count the seeds. One pod can produce 30 or more seeds, while some only have a handful. Seed-cleaning photos can be found here.
How do you harvest hosta seeds?
After fertilization, Hosta seeds are ready after 30 days. Because most of you don’t keep a calendar, the easiest way to know is if a hosta’s top seed pods are dry and cracking open. You can collect the seeds by cracking open the other seed pods. When the seeds are ready, they will be black, dry, and papery.
How long does it take to grow a hosta from seed?
Plant Hosta Seeds: Sow seeds in cell packs or 2 in. pots, lightly cover with soil. Germination takes about 4-5 weeks when kept at 60°F.
Can you plant hosta seeds directly in the ground?
Hosta seeds thrive in soil that is warm, wet, and quick-draining. Individual pots are easier to work with than giant nursery flats, but any plastic nursery container with drainage holes at the bottom would do. Herbaceous perennials like hostas should be started in a potting mix made up of equal parts coir, perlite, and vermiculite, or in a commercial seed-starting mix, according to the Washington State University Master Gardener Program. A few hours before spreading the seeds, moisten the growth mix. Apply a thin layer of growing mix to a few seeds and press them into the soil surface.
Do hostas reseed themselves?
Yes, if the appropriate conditions exist, hostas can self-seed. Not all hosta cultivars, however, are fruitful. It’s possible that some of them won’t generate viable seeds. Furthermore, the new hostas may or may not look like the parent plant.
What time of year should you plant hostas?
Early spring or early fall (as soon as the summer heat subsides) are the optimum times to plant hostas, as well as before the rainy season if your area has one. Hosta cultivars are available in a variety of sizes. Check the plant tag for the proper spacing in the garden. Hostas, with the exception of the tiniest varieties, require a few years to reach their full size, so give them plenty of area to grow. Plant the plant so that the root ball is at the same depth in the soil as it was in the pot when you put it in the ground. After that, make sure to water thoroughly.