The pink flower clusters tower straight above the vibrant foliage. They are incredibly beautiful and skillfully attract attention. If you only have one dittany plant, you would do well to multiply it. This can be done using seeds
How is Dittany sowed?
Diptam is sown in autumn because the seeds are cold germinators. You first need 4 weeks at warm temperatures and then 2 weeks at 0-4 °C. Direct sowing outdoors or pre-culture is possible, although light germinators should be covered flat or not at all with soil.
Don't harvest the seeds too late and use them as soon as possible
The diptam blooms between May and June, depending on the region. Its seeds ripen in late summer/early autumn. If you don't want to buy them for sowing but want to harvest them yourself, you should be quick! As soon as the star-shaped capsule fruits are ripe, they open and throw out their seeds. They are spread by the wind.
Collect the seeds as soon as the capsule fruits dry and slowly open. They are best used fresh for sowing. The longer the seeds are stored, the more they lose their ability to germinate and the germination time lasts longer. So sow them straight away in autumn!
Attention: cold germs
Sowing is a little more complicated than with other plants:
- Seeds are cold germinators
- first need a 4-week period of exposure to warm temperatures
- then they need a cold period of at least 2 weeks (0 to 4 °C)
- To implement this, it is best to choose direct sowing outdoors
- for pre-culture: stratify in the refrigerator or on the balcony
Sowing the seeds after stratification
Now the seeds can be sown. They are light germinators that should either be very flat or not covered with soil or sand at all. Keep the substrate moist. Now you have to wait about 6 months until the seeds germinate (optimal germination temperature: 8 to 12 °C). Patience and regular checks for moisture in the seeds are required!
Direct sowing or pre-culture?
In general, direct sowing is preferable. But let's be honest: you don't know whether the sowing will be successful. For better control, growing in pots is better. But that also has disadvantages. Among other things, the Dittany does not tolerate later planting in another location. You decide!
Tip
Protect the young plants outdoors! They like to be eaten by snails.