Chrysanthemums: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you sow chrysanthemums under cover?
Choose clearly identified seeds and check the packet for the recommended sowing season, temperature and depth. Starting under cover in spring lets you raise plants before moving them outdoors. Make sure you have a sufficiently bright, frost-free growing space. Seed-grown selections are suited to this method; to preserve a garden cultivar exactly, cuttings are more appropriate than seeds collected from its flowers.
Fill a clean seed tray or pots with drainage holes using fine, free-draining seed compost. Moisten it, scatter the seeds thinly and press them gently against the surface. If the packet recommends covering, add only the thin layer specified. Do not assume every chrysanthemum must be surface sown.
Keep the growing medium slightly moist, without standing water. Water from below or with a gentle mist to avoid moving the seeds. Ventilate covered containers and remove their covers once seedlings emerge. Provide good light; germination time depends on the seeds and conditions rather than a guaranteed deadline.
Transplant into individual pots when several true leaves appear and the seedlings are large enough to handle. Allow time for their roots to develop. Before planting out, gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions, protecting them from wind and scorching sun at first. Plant after the last frosts, in free-draining soil and a sunny position.
How do you sow chrysanthemums outdoors?
When do chrysanthemums bloom?
