--Updated March 30, 2024
I read that strawflower seeds can be challenging to germinate. I had also run across several gardeners that recommend germinating difficult seeds in damp paper towels. Last year I struggled with the strawflowers I tried to start myself, so I figured, why not?
On March 21 I put bunches of strawflower seeds to the test in damp paper towels stuffed into ziplock bags. Strawflower seeds prefer light to germinate, so I put them in the corner of my office, which gets lovely indirect light.
Only 3 days later, on March 24, I noticed that several seed types were beginning to crack. By the next day, 2 varieties, Apricot/Peach Mix and Silvery Rose were sprouting and ready to to planted. Typical germination/sprouting when planted is 7-10 days, so what I had read about this method being faster proved true.
I decided to plant them, mostly, in 1 1/2" soil blocks. I was amazed that almost every seed germinated in both the varieties. The rest of the strawflower seeds were ready to be transferred into soil blocks the next day (March 26).
Even after just one day in soil blocks, the strawflower sprouts look settled in and happy.
As the strawflower sprouts mature I will update this post. I think that I may have found a good way to deal with challenging seeds!
Update -
Since I had great success with my Strawflower experiment, I grabbed my extra seeds for Pincushion Flowers and Snapdragons to try the damp towel method. My Snapdragons in particular have been challenging to get good germination.
The results so far? I sowed the snapdragon seeds in damp towels on March 24 and by March 30 are ready for planting into soil blocks! Especially noteworthy for me are the Madame Butterfly Pink Snapdragons. Of the 40 soil blocks I sowed on March 13th, I have only 1 seedling. In the damp paper towels, I have close to 100% germination on the same variety! I have my fingers crossed that they thrive once in the soil blocks.
Some of the Pincushion flowers have germinated and I planted them into 3/4" soil blocks March 30.
