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.

Tomstrees · February 27, 2007

d'ooh! You're right ~ Reconsidering location ~

~ Tom

bcday · February 27, 2007

If you have a sunny spot right next to one that's shaded most of the time, the shade might keep them corralled on one side at least. I have volunteers all through a sunny flower bed and even in the lawn next to it, but not under the nearby tree where there is shade for most of the day.

Tomstrees · February 27, 2007

Funny you meantion the "shade" thing as I was going to place it in a spot that has sun - then shade ~ I wonder if it would be a good place to stick it ~

I've been planning a new flower bed along the east side of my yard. I'm still in the process of collect seeds!

~ Tom

flowerpower · February 28, 2007

I do not have them but they are hardy here. I was going to get a few pods from my friend's new place, but they were all empty. Maybe I will just dig a bit of the root in the spring.

I think I will put them in a semi-shady area. But I think planting near a tree may help control the roots spreading too much.

Tomstrees · March 1, 2007

I opened one of the 3 pods I got 2 nights ago and found about 7 - 10 seeds inside what resembled a raisin ~ I'm going to dry these, and plant inside in 2 weeks -

Also, I think I might do the same as above and "limit" them by planting in the ground in a big pot with "semi-shade" ~

Tom

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 06:32 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	#7
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	d'ooh! You're right ~ Reconsidering location ~ ~ 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.

February 28, 2007	#10
flowerpower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Catskill Mountains, NY Z5 Posts: 94	I do not have them but they are hardy here. I was going to get a few pods from my friend's new place, but they were all empty. Maybe I will just dig a bit of the root in the spring. I think I will put them in a semi-shady area. But I think planting near a tree may help control the roots spreading too much.

March 1, 2007	#11
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	I opened one of the 3 pods I got 2 nights ago and found about 7 - 10 seeds inside what resembled a raisin ~ I'm going to dry these, and plant inside in 2 weeks - Also, I think I might do the same as above and "limit" them by planting in the ground in a big pot with "semi-shade" ~ 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