Annual lobelia seeds are sown under cover from February to April, at a temperature between 18 and 24 °C, or sown directly outdoors after last frosts. Very fine, seeds must be sown on surface of a light seed compost and barely covered with substrate. Easy to germinate when warmth and humidity are present, they produce small, very floriferous plants that flower from summer. Discover when and how to sow annual lobelias to ensure seed emergence and obtain attractive pots, hanging baskets or flowering borders.
Sowing annual lobelias: best practices
| ✅ To do | ❌ To avoid |
|---|---|
| Sow between 18 and 24 °C | Expose seedlings to cold |
| Keep compost slightly moist | Saturate substrate |
| Sow outdoors after frosts | Sow too early in garden |
| Plant young plants in cool, well-drained soil | Grow in dry soil |
When to sow annual lobelias?
Annual lobelia seeds are mainly sown under cover from March to May, at a temperature of around 18 °C, to obtain earlier flowering. They can also be sown directly in open ground, in pots or in hanging baskets after last frosts, when soil and temperatures have warmed sufficiently.
How to sow annual lobelias under cover?
Required equipment :
- annual lobelia seeds
- pots
- seed and pricking-out compost
- Spray bottle
- Garden sand
Steps :
- Sowing under cover gives earlier plants and quicker flowering.
- Fill pots or a seed tray with seed compost.
- Mix seeds with a little sand to help distribution.
- Sow at about 1 mm depth.
- Cover with a very fine layer of substrate.
- Firm gently.
- Moisten using a spray bottle.
- Place seedlings in light at around 18 °C.
- Keep substrate slightly moist until emergence.
- Wait about 14 to 21 days for first seedlings to appear.
- Prick out young plants in May, spacing at least 15 cm apart.
How to sow annual lobelias in open ground, in pots or in hanging baskets?
To achieve a well-filled hanging basket or planter, sow several pinches of seeds spread over whole surface of substrate rather than in a single spot.
Required equipment :
- annual lobelia seeds
- well-rotted compost or potting compost for flowering plants (for pots and hanging baskets)
- A pot, a planter or a hanging basket with drainage holes (for container sowing)
- Watering can with a fine rose
- Some garden sand
Steps :
- Prepare light soil enriched with compost or fill containers with potting compost for flowering plants.
- Mix seeds with a little sand to help distribution.
- Sow thinly, seeds on surface at about 1 mm depth.
- Cover with a fine layer of substrate.
- Firm lightly.
- Water with a fine spray.
- Keep substrate moist until germination.
- Thin seedlings to maintain spacing of about 15 to 20 cm between plants.
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