This plant seems to have a reputation of volunteering well in the garden but being pretty hard to grow from seed deliberately. Clothier says
"Corydalis cava, cheilanthifolia, lutea, nobilis, ochroleuca, and solida , Sow at 22ºC (71ºF) for 6 wks or more. Move to -4 to +4ºC (24-39ºF) for 6-8 wks. Then raise the temperature to 10ºC (50ºF). If no germination in 4-6 wks, repeat the cycle from the beginning. If the warm/cold cycles were not long enough, a new warm/cold cycle is needed. Short viable"

I got a pack of 20 seeds, wintersowed half of them. No sprouts yet, though I know it's early, and weather this winter wasn't exactly typical. Since the seeds apparently have a short viability I figured there was no point in saving the other 10. I put them in a damp paper towel, room temp, the day before yesterday. I'll give them alternating periods of warm/cold and see if anything happens.

I have to say, I don't have a good history with the paper towel method, especially with small seeds like this. I'm clumsy with transplanting from the towel successfully. I guess I do best just pushing them off the towel into soil and spraying in, or transplanting a little piece of the towel with the seed.

I let you know if I have any success.

Karen

I plant the towel with the seed.. good luck with them

Hmmm.... I forgot about them yesterday (They're on top of the fridge- out of sight, out of mind...). I was just checking for moisture and I think some have sprouted. I'll have to check later when I'm more awake and I can actually see. Or I'll ask my husband- he's really near-sighted, I'm really far-sighted. At least we're well matched. One of us can usually see something well at any distance.

Seems awfully fast, 3 days, for something that's supposed to be so difficult to germinate. And I have no space for them under lights. Something will have to go.

Karen

nice!!!

So, Karen, do you really have sprouts already? I would like to have this plant, too.

I guess not, because they never came up. That was half the pack, 10 seeds. The other half I wintersowed, and I have no sprouts in those either. Most of my other wintersown stuff has started to germinate.

The corydalis seeds came from Hirts. I'm wondering if they were good. I read that they have to be fresh to sprout. I wonder how fresh they were.

Karen

If you lived close enough I would dig a big box for anyone who wanted it. I weed out lots every year. I heard it referred to as a 'welcome vagrant" in a gardening magazine once. It has spread all over my yard and I wonder how? Maybe the birds? I do like it even though it is a little to willing. The foliage and delicate blossoms are wonderful with hostas.

Maybe I can beg some fresh seeds from you when your seeds are ready...

Karen