I ordered seeds for Corkscrew vine and received them a few weeks ago. :-D The photo showed them as beautiful vines. I hope they are as beautiful for me!! They were kinda pricey $5.00 for 5 seeds, but if they are like the photo I say well worth it!! Have a look at the photo See I told you they are beautiful!! Now I have a few questions! :-? *Has anyone else here ever grown these? *If so how hard are they to germinate and what is the best way to germinate them? They said they do well in hot climates and should not be in the hot afternoon sun in the southern US. I appreciate all the help I can get!! :-D ***Julie***
Julie they don't seem to be the easiest plant to grow from seed but I did find this website that gives you some tips on germinating corkscrew vines. http://clippings.gardenweb.com/clippings/nixonk
Thank you so much for the link Eileen!! It does sound kinda picky about germinating. Hopefully I won't have too much of a problem. How come all the prettiest plants are the hardest to grow?! I guess like exercise no pain no gain!!lol!!
Julie, I just ordered some too, from Park Seed. I paid $3.95 for 5 seeds, but they usually put a few more in the pack. I have never grown them, I am hoping to get at least one seed to germinate. Thanks for the site Eileen. They are beautiful. We have a very obnoxious wild version of this vine, but it makes a really small flower, not much too look at. Julie, I just looked at the info, sounds ok, but I would not start all my seeds like that, just in case. I always like to start a couple at a time. That way if the first method you try doesn't work, you haven't used all of your seed. Especially since they are expensive.
Wow, what a beautiful climbing plant. I am hoping my love will build me a tunel/archway this spring as at the moment, I don't have anywhere to grow climbers and vines.
I'm hoping my greenhouse friend had rooted some of these. She let me pick a bunch of the flowers this fall and they smelled incredible. Hope you have great success. 8)
Woo! Julie and Sharon, I'm jealous of both of you, getting to try this plant out, I've been admiring it for some time, but haven't tried to grow it yet. I hope your friend got some rooted and has some to share with you, Bethie.
I just love that vine.I may have to try and see if I can grow it on my trellis if my Mandevillas don't make it through the winter.I'm pretty sure they didn't.
Sharon thanks for the tips!! I will take your advise and only try a couple at a time!! Hopefully they will germinate alot easier for us!! I also bought mine from Park Seeds!Opps, I thought I paid $4.95 but I guess I paid $3.95 for them. :-D Bethie I hope your friend got a cutting rooted for you!! :-D Zuzu If it does good for me I'll send you seeds!! :-D EJ I hope you get your archway soon!! I just know anything you grow on it will be beautiful, seeing all your other gorgeous plants!! :-D
Hi Lil, 'tho I haven't yet grown this plant, I have done a little snooping Vigna caracalla seems to be most robust in hot climates, and will, by accounts, flower from seed it's first summer. However, some reports of people in cooler climates indicated a later start to flowering, sometimes not until the second summer for potted plants that had been protected from freezing temperatures over winter.
Gardenlil, how long is your growing season in sw France and what are the summertime temps. It is a beautiful vine, I hope mine blooms this summer, if I can get the seeds to germinate.
Hey Sharon, while I was poking around, I found the following account of successful germination, which I saved to my files for future reference: Wasn't sure if it might be of interest to you, too?
Thanks ZZP, it was very interesting to me. The other post said hot water and that scared the heck out of me. I think I will try the warm water.