How to Grow Morning Glory from Seeds: A Complete Guide
Gardening is an activity that imparts a sense of tranquility and provides a personal satisfaction of nurturing life. One addition to your gardening venture can be the spectacular Morning Glory flowers. These beauties, with their trumpet-shaped blooms, infuse life in the morning landscape. If you’ve been considering growing these vibrant and eye-catching vines from seeds, follow our easy step-by-step guide below, outline every stage of this process.
1. Understanding Morning Glory Seeds
Before embarking on the planting journey, it’s important to understand the nature of Morning Glory seeds. They are unique, hard-shelled seeds that require some special care before planting. In their natural setting, they typically wait for the thawing temperatures of spring to break open and germinate. However, gardeners have found ways to expedite them into growth using a few household tools and techniques.
Furthermore, Morning Glory seeds are often coated with a toxic substance to prevent accidental ingestion, as they can be harmful if consumed. Therefore, it’s essential to handle them with care, especially if you have pets or small children at home.
2. Preparing the Seeds for Planting
Preparing Morning Glory seeds is a critical step for successful germination. Without this preparation process, also known as scarification, the seeds may not sprout at all. There are a couple of ways you can do this. The first method is by filing down one side of the seed using a nail file until the white inner part of the seed is exposed. Alternatively, you can soak the seeds in warm water for about 24 hours.
After the seeds have been scarified, they’re ready to be planted. Plant them about 1/2-inch deep in a container filled with a good-quality potting mix. Make sure the container has drainage holes to prevent water-logging.
3. Care of Sprouted Morning Glory Plants
Once your seeds have sprouted, they need consistent care to grow into healthy mature plants that will produce those brilliant blossoms. Morning Glory plants love the sun, so ensure that they get a full day’s sunlight. Water the young plants regularly, but be careful not to overwater as this can lead to root rot.
By the time they start to grow their second set of leaves, they’re sturdy enough to be moved outdoors. This should ideally be done after the last expected frost. Plant them about 6 inches apart in a sunny location with well-drained soil.
4. Maintaining Your Morning Glory Plants
As your Morning Glory plants mature, they aren’t too demanding in terms of care. However, they might need some help with climbing, so make sure you provide a fence, trellis, or some other support for the vines to climb on. Regularly watering and occasional fertilizing will keep them blooming throughout the season.
Another aspect of maintaining your Morning Glory plants is monitoring them for pests. The leaves are susceptible to insects like aphids and leaf miners. Regularly check and treat these pests to ensure the healthy growth of your plants.
5. Harvesting and Saving Seeds for Next Year
As the season comes to an end, you might want to harvest the seeds for next year. It’s easy to do – just look for the pods under the flowers. Once they dry out, they’re ready to be harvested. Open the pods and take out the seeds, then store them in a cool and dry place until the next planting season.
By collecting your own seeds, you’re not only cutting down on costs but also contributing to sustainability and promoting biodiversity. Besides, you’ll get the satisfaction of seeing a full life cycle of these beautiful plants in your own garden.
“Frequently Asked Questions”1. Question: Can Morning Glory seeds be directly sown in the garden?Answer: Yes, they can be directly sown in the garden. However, it’s important to soften the seed’s hard coat by scarification to ensure germination.2. Question: How long does it take for Morning Glory seeds to germinate?Answer: Morning Glory seeds typically take between 5 to 7 days to germinate.3. Question: Can I plant Morning Glory in a pot?Answer: Yes, Morning Glory can be grown in a pot, but it will require a trellis or similar support to climb as it grows.
