Anyone who has numerous daylilies in their garden will have to decide after flowering whether they want to get the seeds or not. They can be used to breed new generations. But how does sowing succeed?
How are daylilies grown from seeds?
To grow daylilies from seeds, soak the seeds in water for 1 to 3 days at the end of February to April, sow them in 0.5 cm deep sowing soil and keep them moist. After a germination period of 4 to 32 days, the seedlings are cultivated in a cool place, pricked out and lightly fertilized before they are planted out after the ice saints in May.
When are the seeds ripe?
The seeds are ripe about 6 to 8 weeks after the flowers wither. Since daylilies bloom at different times from variety to variety, the ripening time of the seeds also varies. Ripeness is noticeable through cracked seed capsules.
It is best to remove the seeds on a dry day. If you want to dry them, leave them to air dry for a few days, for example near a heater. They can then be packed into a seed bag. It is much more recommended to put the seeds in the refrigerator. The germination rate in spring is higher due to this stratification.
What do the seeds look like?
The seeds are easy to see. They are small (0.3 to 0.5 cm in diameter), black, shiny and roundish to teardrop-triangular. Their surface is smooth and they look plump when fresh.
How does sowing succeed?
Sowing is not the most popular method for propagating daylilies. It is much more complex and difficult than dividing the plant. In addition, the results are not true to the variety. This means that if you have a daylily hybrid, sowing will produce daylilies with different characteristics than the mother plant.
How to sow successfully:
- Soak seeds in water for 1 to 3 days between the end of February and April
- Change water once a day
- Sow seeds in sowing soil (0.5 cm deep) and keep the soil moist
- Germination time: 4 to 32 days
- Continue cultivating seedlings in a cooler location
- if applicable prick out and fertilize lightly
- plant after the Ice Saints in May
The young daylilies should be planted in a bright and warm place. Sunny to partially shaded locations in a sheltered area of the garden are ideal. If you don't have a garden, you can keep the daylilies in pots on the balcony.
Tips & Tricks
If you don't want seeds (daylilies often multiply through self-sowing), you should quickly cut off the withered flowers.
