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Verbena Bonarienis seeds not germinating

I have been trying to grow verbena bonarienis from seed this spring but none of the seeds have germinated. The first attempt was with the seeds supplied with the Gardeners World magazine. I set the seeds in seed compost in a tray in a heated propagator in my conservatory several weeks ago. I purchased a further pack of seeds from a different supplier and set these in seed compost in heated propagator but these haven’t germinated either. I have never grown verbena bonarienis before. Can anyone suggest why the seeds aren’t germinating and if I am doing anything wrong. Thank you 
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  • Hello @davidpritchard195 if you listen to the podcast, https://www.gardenersworld.com/podcast/bbc-gardeners-world-magazine-sowalong-podcast-series-2-exclusively-for-subscribers/    the presenter obviously needed several years before she was lucky. My seeds also never germinated either. Sorry I can’t tell you the trick to have success. 

    I my garden.

  • gjautosgjautos Posts: 429
    I tried and failed too. Though I did buy some plants and now they self seed happily all over the garden!
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    seems to be one of those plants that doesn't like being looked after. Mother them and you get nothing. Chuck them in the corner and they all come up **shrugs**
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    I looked up cultivation by seed, one site suggested cold stratification may be required even then germination could take 20 days or more. The RHS didn't mention this. Sowing direct may be better as they self seed readily. 
    AB Still learning

  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    I looked up cultivation by seed, one site suggested cold stratification may be required.  
    That could well be right, although I've never heard it 'officially'.
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    When I've grown them from seed, I've done it in early summer. That works well here  :)

    They don't really self seed here - too damp and cold for them over winter, so I use cuttings, if any of them survive winter. I do those late spring/early summer too.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    In my garden I get hundreds of seedlings appear at the end of May early June. Is it possibly just too early? This has happened for the last five years or more.
    Not sure if it will happen this year after the cold wet winter, it is possible I will only have a few instead to keep instead of treating them like weeds. I purchased my first plant twenty years ago and they have been in the garden since then.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Like @GardenerSuze they self-seed all over the place in my garden and can I spot them by around May time.

    They've spent the winter on the soil in the garden so I don't know if a spell of cold helps to encourage them to germinate, but I have no shortage of them.

    Some seeds also need light to germinate - again I don't know if VB is one of them.
    If I sow that sort of seed, I cover it in horticultural grit or vermiculite which will let some light through.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • I sowed seeds on February 12th indoors with no special treatment, just a thin covering of compost. I now have a reasonable number of seedlings.
  • Thank you everyone for your replies and all of your experiences regarding VB seeds. It does seem like I’m not the only one who has had problems with the seeds not taking. I will consider buying VB plants if possible. I also plan to store some remaining seeds in the fridge for a few weeks then sow them in compost later. You’ve provided me with some useful suggestions which I may try out.
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