Guide to Growing Datura | ©Rich Sanders 1999-2003 |
©American Brugmansia & Datura Society (ABADS) 2003 |
Germination: Datura seed can show high or low germination rates and seeding emergence can be quite irregular. Species such as D. stramonium (jimsonweed) tend to sprout readily, while others like D. quercifolia may not germinate for 9 months to a year after the seeds have matured and fallen from the seed pod. To germinate datura seeds, place in a sterile seed-starting mix and keep moist, but not overly wet. Bottom heat, producing a soil temperature of about 80 degrees may speed the process. Alternatively, plant the seeds in the flowerbed after danger of frost and when the soil has warmed (at the same time when one would also plant peppers and eggplants). Expect seeds to sprout in one to six weeks from sowing, but don't assume the seeds are not viable if they haven't appeared after that time. In more than one occasion, I have relegated datura seeds and growing mix to the compost pile, discarded in frustration after months of trying to get them to germinate. A week later healthy sprouts push up, and almost seem to be laughing in my face. Little stinkers! Datura species that germinate easily include stramonium (e.g. "la fleur lilac"), inoxia (including wrightii/meteloides - known as toloache) and metel (hindu datura). |
Datura discolor (desert thornapple) can be slower to germinate than the previous species, but still yields seedlings relatively freely. Datura discolor (desert thornapple) can be slower to germinate than the previous species, but still yields seedlings relatively freely. Datura ceratocaula (torna loca, a semiaquatic species), ferox (chinese thornapple), leichhardtii (australian thornapple), and quercifolia (oak-leaved datura) seem to be the most "patient". For the truly fanatical, treating these seeds with gibberellic acid often improves germination rate and percent. Growing on: |
©Rich Sanders 1999-2003
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