Starting seeds
NB. The dates referred to here are relevant to the Northern Hemisphere
| Plant variety | When to sow | Where to sow + Other information |
| Agave/Aloes | February onwards | Indoors. Long term project |
| Amaranthus sp. | March onwards | These plants require good light to prevent etiolation. Greenhouse or outdoors is best. |
| Arum italicum Var. Pictum | February onwards | Outside/indoors/greenhouse. Long term project. |
| Canna | February | Chip seeds for quick results. |
| Carica papaya | February onwards | They need a warm environment to be happy. |
| Chlorophytum comosum | February onwards | Much easier from cuttings. |
| Cordyline australis/indivisia | As soon as they arrive | Expect to wait 4+ months till germination. Indoors or greenhouse. |
| Cuphea ignea | March/April | Quick to germinate so don't start too soon. Indoors or greenhouse. |
| Cyperus alternifolius/papyrus/involucratus | March onwards | Need good light to germinate. Greenhouse ideally. |
| Cyphomandra Betacea | February | Indoors or greenhouse. |
| Dahlia | February onwards | Stick to tubers for guaranteed colours. Indoors or greenhouse. |
| Dracaena draco | January onwards | Indoors. Long term project |
| Echium pininiana | March | Need good light to prevent them getting leggy. Greenhouse. |
| Ensete ventricosum | As soon as they arrive | Warm and wet in a heated propagator. Germination 3+ weeks. |
| Eriobotrya japonica | When you find them | Buy 'reduced to clear' loquats in the shops. Fresh seeds germinate almost instantly. |
| Eryngium agavifolium | February onwards | Indoors or greenhouse. |
| Euphorbia mellifera | February onwards | Outside/indoors/greenhouse. |
| Firmiana simplex | February onwards | Germinates quickly. Indoors or greenhouse. |
| Gazania | February/March | Needs good light to germinate. Greenhouse or indoors |
| Hedychium | As soon as they arrive | Erratic germination. Sow sparingly in several pots. Indoors. Long term project. |
| Hibiscus acetosella | February onwards | Germinates quickly. Indoors or greenhouse. |
| Impatiens | April | Greenhouse or indoors. Need 2 months from sowing to flower. |
| Jacaranda mimosifolia | March onwards | Greenhouse or indoors. |
| Lapageria rosea | February | If you really want this plant, buy a growing specimen. |
| Melianthus Major | February onwards | Greenhouse or indoors. Long term project. |
| Mirabilis jalapa | March onwards | Germinates quickly. Indoors or greenhouse. |
| Musa sp. | As soon as they arrive | Erratic germination. Warm and wet in a heated propagator. |
| Nerium oleander | March onwards | Greenhouse or indoors. Long term project. |
| Ophiopogon planiscapus 'nigrescens' | November | Outside/indoors/greenhouse. Long term project. |
| Osteospernum | February onwards | Needs good light to germinate. Greenhouse or indoors |
| Paulownia tomentosa | February onwards | Greenhouse or indoors. Long term project. |
| Philodendron selloum | February onwards | Greenhouse or indoors. Very long term project. |
| Phoenix sp. | February onwards | Greenhouse or indoors. Very, very long term project. |
| Phormium sp. | February onwards | Slow to germinate. Greenhouse or indoors. Long term project. |
| Ricinus communis | February/March | Greenhouse or indoors. |
| Sarracenia sp. | As soon as they arrive | Cold stratification required. |
| Solanum quitoense | February/March | Should germinate quickly. Needs light conditions. Greenhouse or indoors. |
| Strelitzia nicolae/reginae | As soon as they arrive | Greenhouse or indoors. Long term project. |
| Yuccas | February onwards | Greenhouse or indoors. Long term project. |
With the exception of bananas and Ensete ventricosum, the majority of these plant seeds will not require a heated propagator. Starting seeds in a greenhouse (if you have one) generally results in the most compact plants (not straggly).
'Long term project' is applied to slower growing plants that would more than likely get swamped if planted out in their first year.
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