Does anyone here know how long those seeds are viable? I'd like to try them, even though it's a bit late to be starting them now. The packet I'm looking at has 500 seeds in it, so it would be nice to know if they'll keep for a reasonable length of time. I know petunia seeds don't keep worth a darn.

I don't know really how long they will stay viable, but my seeds (kept in a cool and dark place) stayed viable for at least 3 years.

Ah! That's helpful! Thanks!

Woofie, they're no good for you or anyone else if not tried. Sow some and find out!

Karen

always a paper towel

No, no, I don't have them yet! I was just considering how useful it would be to buy a packet with 500 seeds in it.

They grow and bloom pretty fast, too. I started some in late February and they were blooming in about 10 weeks.

They like cool weather, don't they? Heck, with 500 seeds, I could afford to play around a bit. Heh, heh, shipping is probably more than the seeds cost, but I sure would like some of that nice blue color!

Until the last few days we've been smokin' hot and dry here and I've even got these guys blooming in the wildflower meadow. They seem to be ultra-tough, and very resilient.

Oooh, more good things to know! When I was researching them, the information I came across said they want cool temps to germinate, like around 60 deg. (Sounds like they'd be good candidates for winter sowing.) And I got the impression that they really didn't like hot weather. Think I'm going to go ahead and get me some seeds!

I just checked my records and I pre-sprouted mine in warm conditions, with light, then moved them to a slightly cooler area and potted them up. I'd bet the east or north side of a building or thick shrub would work just fine.

That's interesting, chelle. Tom Clothier's site indicates 65 for germination, and another site (don't remember which one now) indicated 55 to 60. Sounds like they aren't that picky.