Whether collected yourself or purchased - the seeds of the grape hyacinth are inconspicuous. But they contain the power to create new plants. When do they ripen, what do they look like and how are they sown?
When and how do you sow grape hyacinth seeds?
The grape hyacinth forms ripe seeds in the summer between May and June that are black, ovoid to roundish and 2.5 mm long. They are found in three-part capsule fruits. To propagate these seeds can be sown in autumn or spring as they are cold germinators.
Seed ripening in summer
The flowering period of the grape hyacinth lasts for several weeks, depending on the species and variety. It begins in March and can extend into May. As a result, there is no fixed time when all seeds are ripe. You can usually expect and collect mature seeds between May and June.
Collect the seeds when the fruit casings are dry and open. But be careful: you have to be quick. Otherwise the seeds will fall out and be blown away by the wind. It is practical to take scissors and cut off the stems with the seeds. At home, the seeds can then be shaken out over paper.
Seed characteristics
The pearl hyacinth seeds located at the end of the leafless stems have the following characteristics:
- are located in three-part capsule fruits (open when ripe)
- each chamber has one or two seeds
- Seeds are 2.5 mm long
- Shape: egg-shaped to roundish
- Color: black, matt
- Cold germination
Sow the seeds in autumn or spring
Although the grape hyacinth likes to sow itself, you can also take propagation into your own hands. For this purpose, the seeds are sown in autumn or spring. They should not be sown in summer as they need cold temperatures to germinate. After sowing, the soil is kept moist.
A cold period is followed by a warmer period in which the seeds take 2 to 3 weeks to germinate. The ideal germination temperature is 15 °C. But it takes several years before you can admire flowers on the resulting plants for the first time. The reason: The grape hyacinth initially attaches importance to the development of a strong bulb.
Tips & Tricks
Like all other parts of the grape hyacinth plant, the seeds are also poisonous. Therefore, make sure that they do not come within the reach of small children and pets!
