It's a hard seed, looks like a tiny hand-grenade. If you're DSing them then soaking overnight is a good idea, or wait for a rainy spell and sow them at the start of that.

T

Ellen,

From my 1st time experience last year, I was lucky to have 99% germination success. I just direct sowed them to the area where I want them to be. I watered it daily every morning just to get them wet. I did it for 7-10 days.

The ones I direct sowed in the northern side didn't grow well. It reached only 5" and didn't see any bloom. The ones in FS, it grew very well. I love the chartreuse foliage.

I did not soak mine. I sowed them and then covered them with about a 1/2" of pine shavings. It's really light and airy stuff, not like the mulch. Two years ago I used straw to cover them and they did just as well. They need a lot of moisture to get going, but too much can rot them.

Another trick is to sow them in the evening and water them well before dark. Water them for several days and they will germinate just fine. I've had little luck surface sowing them. I think they need the covering.

In my zone, they need some shade. The ones in full sun wilt really bad all day long. In part shade, they bounce back quickly once the sun is off them.

thanks all - good advice.

My white ones germinated from WS'ing but the varigated did not, and these are the ones I am going to try DS'ing.
I really want these. :)

The solid ones they come up a-plenty!

speaking of 4 o'clocks -
what time do they bloom for you all?

I have yet to figure out what time they bloom in my area.
Seems like they bloom when I am not there!

Ellen
You don't have to soak them first, and mine bloom around 6-7 pm and are very fragrant, but you have to get up close to smell them, :)

Alberta

The blooms are short lived. Mine is 4 o'clocks limelight. I grow it for the foliage color. It's chartreuse. Goes well with plants with maroon foliage. I need to put them down very soon!