I'm thinking of trying the direct sow seed method. Does anyone have experience with it?

Hi Leslie, I tried that several times, but it didn't work so well for me with our harsh winters. Perhaps if you plant the seeds in the very early spring it would be better. Here in Ohio, I plant my dried
seeds in tubs in mid-March, and then plant them in the garden around the first of June, spacing them about a foot apart. Never fails!

I know. That is a good way to do it but I'm just thinking planting seeds would be soooo much easier.

I haven't done it personally (I really haven't planted any seeds yet since I am still new to this daylily obsession); however, when my husband and I visited Daylily World (David Kirchoff and Mort Morss) David showed me their method. They plant the seeds directly in the ground. The seeds are put in a trough of sorts...seeds end up bunched together and even on top of each other with this method. They let the seeds grow over the winter and then in the spring they dig them up, tease them apart, and replant them with better spacing. My only question with this method (which I thought of after our visit so didn't ask him) was how they keep the crosses straight if all the seeds are just piled together in the ground?

I'll have to ask them.

I direct sow and start seeds in paper towels. I think Hemlady also direct sows. For me it's all about how important the seeds are to me. If it's something that I really like or only have a few seeds of it's going in the paper towel. If I have 100 seeds of one cross or it's a cross I don't care for it's going in the soil. both work as good as the other but you have a bit more control starting them with the paper towel method.

Good idea Dan. I'll do tests with the long crosses.

be sure to post your results if you get the chance.

I have seedlings growing now that were direct sowed. These were planted the beginning of August. I had unmarked seeds so I just put them in the ground in a shady area where the new seedlings could survive the summer heat. I am not sure how they will overwinter with a late start, I think most will survive. I am going to direct sow more in the spring.

I started some last year in late Aug and they overwintered very well but I'm in zone 7b borderline 8a. I hope they do as well for you in 7a