Expert: C.L. Fornari - 6/5/2003

Question
I live in Connecticut - I want to try to grow my own New Zealand Impatients (I think thats what they are called) (the big ones)...Where or how do I get seeds from my existing plants to grow?  And if I can get the seeds from my existing plants, how do I store them untill the next season?  And how many weeks or months would I need to start them indoors before they can go outside at the end of May (when the frost is gone)?
Thanks : )

Answer
Lori,
I applaud your desire to grow plants from seed, because too many people are afraid of seeds these days!  But you might want to put your seed-raising efforts toward something that is hard to fing.

Most New Guinea Impatiens are not grown from seed but started from cuttings.  If you grow them from seed, buy seed instead of collecting from plants you have.  The plants you buy are hybrids and this means that the seeds will NOT reproduce the same plants, but will grow the parent plants that are likely to be less flower-filled or a different color.

You can try taking cuttings (use a rooting hormone available at your local garden center or online) but know that you will need a light system or greenhouse to grow them on in the winter.  Annuals grown indoors are prone to insects, mainly whitefly, so be alert.

That said, the stats for New Guinea Impatiens from seeds are this:
percent germination: 80%
light needed for germination
temperature necessary for germination: 78 degrees
days to germinate 8 - 14
weeks to normal 4 inch pot size: 14

I hope this helps!
C.L.  Fornari