Seeding hostas.

[probasesteal]

I dealt with the ugly stalks and harvested seeds this year. I've done a little reading about hosta seeding and hybridization (which I've let mother nature take care of). I'm actually quite fond of my generic green hostas and have a few shady areas in need of ground cover.

Anyway, just wondered if anyone has had success seeding? I plan to start them indoors late Feb/March in a sterile peat/perlite medium, expose to light and harden off before moving them outside (assuming I can get them to grow at all). I've previously tried sowing them in a mulch bed with no success.

I divide mine every 2-3 years with excellent success. Also a decrease in deer population around my house has helped.

[andy10917]

The "native" hosta are far more robust than their pretty-but-weak brethren.

Treat the hosta seed as hit-and-miss -- the wild/native stuff will often be close to 100% good, but many of the seed that is of hybrid or tissue-culture heritage produces seed, but the seed is 100% a failure (not viable).

Hosta from seed are very slow to grow -- expect teensy plants by season-end even with great care. But they will definitely follow the sleep/creep/leap and become big plants, given time.

[probasesteal]

Thanks for the info, I'll post any success pictures.

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[probasesteal]

Well it's been 5 weeks and no germination in my "greenhouse". I have vegetables, marigolds and grass pots growing happily.

The seed was picked and sat for nearly 3 months. I read that often times hosta seeds need to be stratified, we'll see how the ones placed outdoors fair as they were subject to freezing temperatures in a small pot. I've also read some are able to pick the seeds out and refrigerate them, hosta seeds are black and WAY too small.

I'll stick with divisions for now.

[andy10917]

Many hosta varieties produce sterile seed. It may have been a nonstarter all along.

[probasesteal]

Many hosta varieties produce sterile seed. It may have been a nonstarter all along.

Thanks for the pep talk.

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[probasesteal]

After the first failed attempt, I turned to eBay. 4 weeks after sewing the new seeds I was thinking of throwing in the towel. But tonight, I saw a few sprouts. Can't be sure they are hosta, but there is hope.
Poor image.
Anyway, thought I'd update. If for no other reason to entertain myself.


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[andy10917]

You have at least one interested follower.

[probasesteal]

Just transplanted a few of the largest seedlings. Moved them outside in the shade on the deck for now.
And yes, those are soil moist polymers that I didn't mix in well enough.


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[andy10917]

OK, so the effort wasn't a total loss.

[probasesteal]

Not yet, still have four flats under the grow lights. Wasn't prepared for how slow the process would be.
These are Empress Wu hosta seeds, so no telling what these might grow up to be one day. That's assuming I keep them alive through the summer.
You just had to tell me about Empress Wu....

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[probasesteal]

My babies are growing, albeit very slowly. They are in the shade of a raised bed and mother nature has provided water. Maybe I'll toss them some vitamin M...




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[probasesteal]

One more update before transplanting. 7 hosta still living, despite being neglected this summer.




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[andy10917]

An alternative to transplanting them late-season is to bury the pot so that that dirt levels are equal. Transplant them in the Spring - it works better for me.

[probasesteal]

Good idea.

I've found hostas to be very hardy. I usually divide mine every other year, last winter i left two bare roots above ground and they took of this spring with no soil cover.

Hostas and autumn ferns are my favorites for shady beds.

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