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Growing chrysanthemums from seeds at home is quite simple. To do this, they are sown in early spring, germinated in a greenhouse, and then kept at room temperature.
Is it possible to grow chrysanthemums from seeds?
In most cases, chrysanthemums are propagated by cuttings. However, they can also be grown from seeds that you get yourself or buy in a store. Seedlings are grown in the traditional way. Sowing begins at the end of February or in the first half of March. First, the seedlings are kept in greenhouse conditions, and after 2-3 weeks the glass is removed.
The seeds can also be planted in open ground. To do this, they are planted in a previously dug and fertilized flower bed in the first half of May. Immediately water and cover with film. In the future, care is approximately the same - but there is no need to pick, and after 1.5 months the plants are planted at intervals of 30-50 cm. This method of propagation is simpler, but it is used only in the southern regions. In this case, it will not be possible to get seeds from chrysanthemums.
When to sow chrysanthemums for seedlings
The timing of planting chrysanthemum seedlings depends on the climate of the region. For the Moscow region, the middle zone and most other territories of Central Russia, early March is suitable. In Siberia and the Urals it can be planted in the middle of the month, and in the southern regions - at the end of February.
Where are the chrysanthemum seeds?
The fruits of chrysanthemums are achenes with volatiles. This is the name given to a seed with a parachute of hairs (like a dandelion). Depending on the variety, they begin to appear from September to November (and even December). The seeds form in the very center of the flower, and then quickly fall off and disperse. Therefore, it is important not to miss the moment of collecting seed.
The grains are formed in inflorescences formed like a basket. They are collected immediately after drying, then stored in a room with moderate humidity.
What do chrysanthemum seeds look like?
The seeds of this flower are quite small (5-7 mm in length). They are brown, grayish or light brown in color. A large handful fits in the palm of your hand. When working, it is most convenient to take them with dry fingers.
The seeds are small, so you need to work with them carefully
Chrysanthemum seed material can be purchased at any store or collected independently. It is important to take into account several practical points:
- Large-flowered and double varieties have very few seeds, and besides, it is difficult to grow seedlings; it is much easier to propagate by cuttings or other vegetative methods;
- small-flowered and semi-double varieties, on the contrary, have a lot of seeds, making it easy to grow seedlings;
- It is recommended to collect seed material from varieties that are classified as early or mid-early.
How to plant chrysanthemum seeds at home
Planting crops at home is not difficult. Growing chrysanthemums from seeds step by step is as follows:
- Collect seed material. Usually, flowers are transferred to a greenhouse for this purpose or transplanted into a pot and taken home.
- In winter they are stored at room temperature.
- At the end of February, the soil mixture is prepared.
- At the beginning of March, the planting material is treated and planted in individual containers.
- Placed in greenhouse conditions, providing comfortable temperature, lighting and watering.
- They are picked and grown until they are transferred to the ground.
Seed collection and soil preparation
The seeds are collected as soon as the inflorescences turn brown and begin to dry out. If you miss a few days, they will fall asleep, then the seed will spread throughout the ground and may die in the winter. To be sure to get seeds, you should take care of this in advance:
- Plant the seedlings at the end of February and transfer them to open ground at the end of April.
- Regularly water, feed and plant. In total, 3 stems are left on large-flowered varieties, and 6-8 on small-flowered varieties.
- Only one bud is selected on the stem, which will be intended for collecting seeds.
For early flowering varieties, grains can be harvested in September or October, directly in the open ground. In late-flowering varieties, ripening dates shift to November or even December. Therefore, the plants must be moved indoors (placed on the sunniest window) or in a heated greenhouse. If this is not possible, it is easier to buy seed in the store.
Then the resulting condensation will not harm the baskets, and they will dry in time, after which the grains can be collected.
For growing, you can purchase universal soil for seedlings or compose it yourself from three components, taken in equal quantities:
- peat;
- humus;
- garden soil (preferably from a greenhouse).
The soil should be disinfected. This can be done using a weak solution of potassium permanganate or hydrogen peroxide. You can also keep it in the freezer for 5 days or sterilize it in the oven at 130°C (20 minutes is enough).
Landing rules
Seedlings can be grown in peat tablets or in plastic containers that can be conveniently covered with a lid.
You can get chrysanthemum shoots in any container
The seedlings will need to be picked, so in the future they can be moved to individual cups. The planting container should not be very deep and wide enough.
When landing, proceed according to the following algorithm:
- A drainage layer (3-4 cm) is placed on the bottom. You can use brick chips, expanded clay and other available materials.
- The soil is thoroughly crushed and laid on top of the drainage without compacting.
- Then several grains are placed on the surface at intervals of 2-3 cm. They do not need to be sprinkled with earth and buried, just lightly pressed, because The sprouts begin to hatch in the light.
- The soil is generously sprayed with a sprayer.
- Cover with a film with holes, a lid or glass.
- They are removed to a warm place and first grown at a temperature of 23-25 ° C.
You can pick three-week-old chrysanthemum seedlings that have formed 3-4 leaves
Watering and fertilizing
The greenhouse is periodically ventilated, and the soil is regularly sprayed to keep it moist. In such conditions, sprouts will appear in two weeks. After 7 days, the glass or lid is removed - it will no longer be needed.
After two or three leaves appear, the sprouts need to be planted. After picking, they are treated with any growth stimulant, for example, Epin, Atlet. It is not necessary to feed the soil, but you can apply a reduced dose of complex mineral or nitrogen fertilizer.
Useful tips
Chrysanthemum seedlings are grown according to general rules. However, there are several features, so novice gardeners need to pay attention to the following practical recommendations:
- Picking can be avoided if you immediately plant the seeds in peat tablets.
- The sprouts need light, so they are placed on a south or east window. If necessary, add additional light with a phytolamp for up to 12-14 hours a day.
- If weak growth is detected during planting, it is immediately discarded.
- If the weather is warm outside, the transplant can be done a little ahead of schedule. The main criterion: the height of the shoots must be at least 20-25 cm.
- 2 weeks before transferring to the ground, seedlings begin to harden at a temperature of 15-16 °C.
Conclusion
Growing chrysanthemums from seeds at home is a fairly simple process that even a novice gardener can handle. To do this, you will need to ensure normal temperature and watering. It is also important to choose a convenient moment to collect seeds. If the deadline is missed, planting material can be purchased.
