Matthiola (Stock) Cherry Red - 100 seeds

Plant information to grow Stock or Matthiola from seed

Plant type: hardy annual flower
Height: flowers grow 60-80 centimeters tall
Position: full sun or partial sun
Planting time: start seeds in late winter, spring and/or autumn
Bloom time: starts 75-80 days after sowing in spring
Spacing: 25-30 centimeters between each plant
Germination: 7-14 days, 18-20°C don't cover seeds with soil!
Pinching/pruning: NO!
Flowers: early June to first frost, depending on the weather and moment of sowing
Pollinator-friendly: yes
Recommended seed tray or pot: start in the tiny seeds in small cells (60 or 77) and plant out after 3 to 4 weeks or transplant to deep 40-cell module trays
The package contains: 100 seeds

How to Grow Matthiola Plants from Seed

To start Matthiola (stock) plants from seed, sow one seed per cell in a seed tray. Lightly cover the seeds, as they need light to germinate, and place them in a warm, bright spot. The seeds typically germinate within a few days. Once germinated, move the seedlings to cooler conditions, ideally around 10°C. This can be outdoors in a propagator in spring or in a greenhouse or polytunnel if the weather is mild.

Since Matthiola seedlings grow quickly, avoid starting them too early in spring; begin around the beginning of March. Do not pinch the seedlings, as the plants develop one large main stem with wonderfully scented flowers. After harvesting the main stem as a cut flower, the plant may produce smaller ornamental shoots, which are usually not suitable for cutting.

Harvest the stems when one-third to half of the flowers have opened. A few stems in a bouquet will fill the entire room with a lovely floral scent and have a vase life of at least 10 days. Matthiola also makes a great addition to the garden, with long spikes of flowers that blend well with other plants. The stems can become heavy, so some support is recommended, especially in windy conditions. Sowing seeds twice can extend the flowering season.