The Best Time to Plant Morning Glory Seeds

The Heavenly Blue morning glory is a garden favorite.

Morning glories are delightful annual flowers that come in a variety of colors. The Heavenly Blue morning glory is commonly grown in home gardens, but other varieties, such as the deep purple heirloom Grandpa Ott, are also available from seed catalogs.

Varieties of Morning Glories

In addition to Heavenly Blue and Grandpa Ott, morning glories come in a wide range of colors and sizes. If you search through seed catalogs or online sources, you'll find seeds for Pearly Gates, Scarlet O'Hara, Scarlet Star, Scarlet Climber and the unusual bi-colored Flying Saucer.

Soak Seeds Before Planting

All morning glory seeds have a hard shell, making germination more difficult if you fail to soak them before planting time. Place seeds in a bowl with warm (not hot) water and allow them to soak for 24 hours. Plant seeds immediately and do not allow them to soak for longer periods of time.

Plant in Pots or the Garden

If you plant your soaked seeds in pots indoors, do so three or four weeks before your final spring frost occurs. If you prefer to plant your soaked seeds directly into the soil, wait until after your final frost to soak and plant your seeds.

References

• University of Illinois: Morning Glories Still a Favorite
• FineGardening: Morning Glories and Moonflowers
• Seed Savers Exchange: Flower, Grandpa Ott
• Local Harvest: Morning Glory Flying Saucer