How to Grow Periwinkles From Seeds
Many gardeners prefer annual periwinkle, Catharanthus roseus, also called the Madagascar periwinkle or rose periwinkle, because it is not invasive like ground cover varieties of periwinkle. This plant's glossy green foliage and delicate pink, white or red flowers are both attractive and easy to maintain. Periwinkle can grow in sun or partial shade and any kind of soil. Growing periwinkle from seed is a cost-effective way to fill your garden areas with attractive flowers that bloom all summer long. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Sow seeds indoors in a sterile, commercial seed-starting medium three to four months before the last frost in your area. Most seed-starting mixes generally consist of potting soil, peat moss and vermiculite. Locate seed trays in a sunny location with a temperature between 78 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The medium should have a pH of 5.5 to 5.8
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Cover the seeds lightly with soil and place in a sunny area that's not so hot that it will dry out the seed-starting medium. Avoid placing on windowsills that can be cold and drafty.
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Reduce the heat after the first radical leaves emerge, to a temperature of 72 to 75 F. Reduced heat at this point in the growth prevents damping-off disease that often kills seedlings. Crack open a nearby window slightly or run a small fan near the plants to slightly cool the air.
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Keep the planting medium moist to the touch but not visibly wet. Avoid overwatering the seedlings.
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Turn the tray every few days to allow sunlight to reach all parts of the seedlings.
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Apply a protective copper fungicide when all seedlings have emerged. These products are available at a garden center.
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Harden off the seedlings before transplanting into the ground by exposing them to the outdoors for gradually longer periods each day as long as temperatures are above freezing. Set the seedlings outdoors for two hours the first day, then four hours the next day. Continue until they are outdoors for at least eight hours, and then transplant them into the ground.
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Transplant to their permanent location when seedlings show three to four mature leaves. Plant into the ground at the same level they were in the seed tray.
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Tips & Warnings
Germination occurs in 14 to 21 days.
Annual periwinkle is a noninvasive plant, so seeded garden areas will not overrun other plants they way other types of periwinkle can. It is also deer-resistant and drought-resistant, according to the Cornell University.
Fertilize the seedling with a 15-2-15 fertilizers when the cotyledons, or true leaves, emerge.
The general rule for the depth of planting seeds is to set the seed four times as deep as it is width. A fine layer of vermiculite allows light to penetrate but helps to hold moisture inside the medium.
Annual periwinkle has brittle roots, so be careful when handling or transplanting.
Plastic seed-trays are made to be reusable, but they can harbor plant pathogens from plant to plant. Always soak used seed-starting trays in a bleach and water solution for 30 minutes and rinse before reuse.
References
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