What is the best time to plant night stock seeds?
Night stocks love the sun but can deal with light shade if the soil is extra rich in nutrients. The early spring (February through May) is the best time to start the seeds in the ground—night stocks thrive in temperatures between 60°F (15°C) to 80°F (27°C).
How to grow night scent stock from seed?
How to Grow Night Scented Stock 1 Method 1 of 3: Sowing Seeds in the Ground. Pick an outdoor plot that gets lots of sunlight. ... 2 Method 2 of 3: Germinating Seeds in Trays. Fill a small seed starting tray with moist potting soil. ... 3 Method 3 of 3: Caring for Night Scented Stock. Water the flowers every 1 or 2 days to keep the soil moist. ...
How do you germinate evening stock seeds?
Place the evening stock seed pods into an acid-free envelope, and put the envelope into a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Store the closed jar in a cool, dry place until it is the appropriate time in your growing zone to plant the seeds.
Can you plant night-scented stock in pots?
Night-scented Stock – Mattihola longipetala or night-scented stock is a dainty yet fragrant addition to your summer planting scheme, despite the small size of the delicate lilac blooms. Heavily sow night-scented stock directly into its final position. Don’t spread too thinly or it will look a little sparse, especially when growing in pots.
When should I start stock seeds?
Sowing Seed Indoors: Sow stock indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Sow ¼ inch deep in seed-starting formula. Keep the soil moist at 60-65 degrees F. Seedlings emerge in 10-20 days.
How do you germinate night scented stocks?
Sow early spring to early summer outdoors where they are to flower. Prepare the ground well and rake to a fine tilth before sowing, but do not exclude light, which is beneficial to germination. Sow 6mm (0.25in) deep in rows 30cm (12in) apart. When large enough to handle thin out to 8cm (3in) apart.
When should you plant stock?
Stock can be grown easily from seed, but should be sown early as it tends to wilt a bit in late summer heat. Sow them in rich neutral soil, barely covering with 1/8 of soil. Maintain good moisture by spraying but don't oversaturate soil. Seedlings should appear within 10-14 days.
How long does it take for stock seeds to germinate?
Stock seeds germinate in seven to 14 days when soil temperatures stay between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Does night-scented stock come back every year?
Perennials are aggressively consistent while annuals need to be sown every year to grace the garden with their visage and scent. Night scented stock plant is one such gentle annual denizen. The flowers are a sweet wonder in faded tones that seem like they stepped out of another century.
How long does night-scented stock take to flower?
You should start to see the blooms open at night about 6 to 8 weeks after the day you planted them. If you live in an area with hot spring temperatures, you may need to check the soil every day.
Can I direct sow stock seeds?
Annual Stock Plant Propagation Stock plants are grown from seeds. Stock seeds can be directly seeded into your flower garden, or seeded indoors for transplanting later.
How cold can stock plants tolerate?
incana is a cool-weather plant that blooms from early spring into summer. For buds to set, the temperature must be below 60°F.
Are stocks cold hardy?
Stock comes in a wide range of colors and will withstand cold temperatures, making them a great choice for late winter seed starting, even in cooler climates.
What is night scented stock?
Night scented stock, or Matthiola longipetala, are beautiful annual flowers that got their name because they open at night. The blooms can be white, pale pink, magenta, maroon, or lavender.
How to get seeds to germinate faster?
Place the tray on a windows ill or a sunny spot in a greenhouse if you have one. If you live in a super dry area, increase the humidity by putting the tray inside of a large plastic zipper bag and then setting it in the sun. The warmer and more humid the air is around the seeds, the quicker they'll germinate. ...
How long does it take for a sage plant to sprout?
Keep the soil moist for 3 to 4 weeks until the seeds sprout up. Stick your finger 1 inch (2.5 cm) to 2 inches (5.1 cm) into the soil to feel for moisture. If it's dry, water the soil evenly just as you did from the start. You should start to see green leaves sprout up after 2 to 3 weeks.
How to make a seed tray?
Use a hand shovel to dig small holes 6 inches (15 cm) apart. Make them deep enough to fit the cell into the ground so that the base of the seeding is in line with the rest of the plot. If the tray's cells are only 2 inches (5.1 cm) wide, feel free to just use 2 or 3 fingers to poke holes in the soil. ...
How old is evening stock?
Despite its age, evening stock (an annual that's more than 500 years old), is still lovely enough to be a favorite of many flower gardeners. Although most refer to evening stock simply as “stock,” “night violets” is also a popular nickname, especially for the dark purple varieties.
How to remove a seed pod from a sage?
1. Remove seed pods by pinching each one gently at the attached end of its thin stem. Only remove pods that are completely dark beige, brown or brownish-black; seeds that are too green will die and will not sprout when planted later.
How to Grow Stock Flowers
In USDA zones 7-10, stock will tend to be biennial, or possibly become a short-lived perennial, with the stems growing sturdier and woodier each year (somewhat like perennial snapdragons ).
Pruning
Deadheading stock flowers after the petals wilt keeps the plants looking neat and may help generate new growth and possibly more blooms (this varies from one variety to another).
Varieties
There are many different varieties of stock available, owing to many years of hybridizing efforts to develop a wide range of colors.
Growing Stock Flowers from Seed
Stock can be grown easily from seed, but should be sown early as it tends to wilt a bit in late summer heat. Sow them in rich neutral soil, barely covering with 1/8 of soil. Maintain good moisture by spraying but don't oversaturate soil. Seedlings should appear within 10-14 days.
Common Pests and Diseases
Stock may be bothered by aphids, flea beetles, and cabbage white caterpillars. If you see pests on the leaves, gently remove them and cut off any damaged plant parts. They may also be vulnerable to the following diseases: fusarium wilt, gray mold, leaf spot, root rot, and verticillium wilt. Avoiding overwatering will help prevent most of these.
