Chinese Lanterns

Tomstrees · February 26, 2007

Anyone have exp. growing these from seed?
Got a couple pods yesterday, and wanted to get em started. Pointers would help! Thanks ~

Tom

Rena · February 27, 2007

Tom, I grew some for my Mom last year. As I recall it was not hard. I believe I laid some on the soil and some I barely covered. I germinate in the kitchen and it tends to be humid here. I also use bottom heat. I sent them off to live in Florida. I will ask my Mom today if she still has some.-Rena
I grew seed... maybe you should open the pod?

Tomstrees · February 27, 2007

Thanks ! I have 3 unopened pods that I received from my GParents this past weekend - Just curious if they are ok with transplant and how long for germination etc. - they look like really cool plants !

Hopefully, I'll be able to get some up ~

Tom

bcday · February 27, 2007

Tom,

Be careful where you plant them. They reseed, and even though they supposedly aren't winter-hardy above zone 6, the roots survive the winters here and I'm sure the roots are spreading as well as the seeds.

I've been trying to get them under control for years. I don't really want to get rid of them completely, but they come up everywhere and I only want a few, not a whole yard full. When I see advice that mentions solanaceous weeds, nightshade and Chinese Lanterns are the first weeds that come to mind.

Tomstrees · February 27, 2007

BC -

Thanks for the heads-up ! I was thinking that I should keep them in the pot I grow them in and bury the whole pot to attempt to keeping them in the same spot ~

What do you think ?

~ Tom

bcday · February 27, 2007

Keeping them in a pot might help with the root spread. Mine get to be 2' high and 2' wide, so some seeds that drop off will probably come down outside the pot.

February 26, 2007	#1
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	Chinese Lanterns Anyone have exp. growing these from seed? Got a couple pods yesterday, and wanted to get em started. Pointers would help! Thanks ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

February 27, 2007	#2
Rena Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Warm Springs, GA Posts: 1,421	Tom, I grew some for my Mom last year. As I recall it was not hard. I believe I laid some on the soil and some I barely covered. I germinate in the kitchen and it tends to be humid here. I also use bottom heat. I sent them off to live in Florida. I will ask my Mom today if she still has some.-Rena I grew seed... maybe you should open the pod? Last edited by Rena; February 27, 2007 at 07:32 AM.

February 27, 2007	#3
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	Thanks ! I have 3 unopened pods that I received from my GParents this past weekend - Just curious if they are ok with transplant and how long for germination etc. - they look like really cool plants ! Hopefully, I'll be able to get some up ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

February 27, 2007	#5
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	BC - Thanks for the heads-up ! I was thinking that I should keep them in the pot I grow them in and bury the whole pot to attempt to keeping them in the same spot ~ What do you think ? ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

February 27, 2007	#4
bcday Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NY z5 Posts: 1,205	Tom, Be careful where you plant them. They reseed, and even though they supposedly aren't winter-hardy above zone 6, the roots survive the winters here and I'm sure the roots are spreading as well as the seeds. I've been trying to get them under control for years. I don't really want to get rid of them completely, but they come up everywhere and I only want a few, not a whole yard full. When I see advice that mentions solanaceous weeds, nightshade and Chinese Lanterns are the first weeds that come to mind.