great. let me know how you get on.

Yes I have found though, they actually just germinate really easily when the time and temp is right. I think they are particularly temp sensitive. I did an experiment freezer, non freezer. They both germinated when spring was well under way and in late summer for over wintering.

Ah ok thanks I'll keep this in mind next year! We had a warmish November so that makes sense.

@@EggBabe23 I have some over wintering in my greenhouse now. No special treatment. Just sowed late summer / autumn with a view to over wintering to get an early start. I used to stratify until I noticed them self seeding.

thanks. they’re actually so easy. they’d look great nestled between your lovely pots of flowers in your town garden. i saw them once busting out of an old tin bath, a whole bunch of them. They looked stunning!

Honestly, I did an experiment last year and cold stratified half but not the other half and they both germinated. So I’m honestly not sure about all this cold strat malarky. I think maybe it depends on the source of your seeds. My own collected seeds cold stratify naturally over winter. As for shop bought ones who knows. Maybe they are collected and stored before they’ve had a chance to stratify hence the suggestion to do it yourself first.

Mine were also premiere seeds so they clearly are good. How many should I plant into a 18 inch container?

@@smithyrayner if you are starting them from seed I would over seed because you can always thin and move some if you have too many. I like it to be a bit crowded as they protect each other and just look more lush.

Perfect thanks.

hope it helps. good luck.

I've never done them from cuttings. They really do like to be warm and sheltered. So it's probably far too early for flowers yet.