Showy Goldeneye From Seed – Chill, Then Surface-Sow

Grow showy goldeneye from seed by giving it a cold, moist chill and then sowing the tiny seed right on the soil surface, where it gets the light it needs to sprout. Sow in fall and let winter do the chilling, or chill the seed in the refrigerator and sow it warm in late winter.

Chill the seed, then sow it on the surface

Showy goldeneye grows easily from seed, but the seed carries a built-in dormancy that a spell of cold, damp weather breaks. Give it four to six weeks of cold, moist conditions, or hold the dry seed near 70 F for ten to twelve months so it after-ripens on its own. [1] The seed is tiny and needs light to sprout, so this is a surface job. Scatter it on firm, well-drained soil in full sun and press it into contact, barely covering it if at all. [2] Keep that surface just moist until the seedlings show, in about four to eight weeks, and thin or space them as they grow. The full plan for the grown plant — sun, lean soil, and dry-side watering — is on How to Grow Showy Goldeneye. [3]

1. Chill the seed four to six weeks in a bag of just-damp sand or vermiculite in the refrigerator, or plan a fall sowing and skip this step.
2. Firm a weed-free, well-drained seedbed or fill a tray with gritty mix, and set it in full sun.
3. Scatter the seed on the surface and press it in. Barely cover it, no more than an eighth of an inch, so it still gets light.
4. Keep the surface just moist at about 70 to 80 F until seedlings appear, then thin them to stand about 12 to 24 inches apart.

Sow in fall outdoors, or start seed indoors in late winter

You have two ways in, and which you pick depends on whether you want winter to chill the seed for you or you would rather start plants under cover.

The simplest route is to sow outdoors in late fall, straight into a firm, weed-free bed in full sun. The cold, damp winter chills the seed in place, and it comes up on its own in spring. To start it indoors instead, chill the seed in the refrigerator for four to six weeks first, then sow it warm in late winter and grow the seedlings on; plants set out in spring often flower their first summer. [4]

1. For a fall sowing, scatter seed on a firm, sunny, well-drained bed after the weather turns cold, and press it into the surface.
2. Leave it over winter. The cold, moist spell breaks dormancy and the seed sprouts in spring.
3. To start indoors, chill the seed in damp sand for four to six weeks, then surface-sow it warm in late winter under bright light.
4. Grow the seedlings on and set them out in spring, spacing plants 12 to 24 inches apart; they often bloom the first year.

If the seed never comes up, it was probably buried or sown without a cold chill. Next time sow it on the surface after a fall sowing or a fridge chill, and keep it just moist.