Geraniums from seed take about 12-14 weeks from seed to maturity. I usually plant them around the second week of January. You can give them a try, they just will flower a couple of weeks later. Use a seed staring mix, no potting soil. Use a heat mat if you have one, to cause them to germinate quicker. Once you have planted the seeds, water with warm water with a spray bottle. Cover the tray with plastic wrap. Once the majority of the seeds have germinated, remove the plastic wrap and put thme under a grow light. Good Luck!!

Ironside

hello;the Ohio State Publication:Tips on Growing Zonal Geraniums(1988)is quite good and referenced at the U.Mass floriculture site> specific crops>growing quality geraniums link.One of the related links (Bacterial diseases:U.Conn), is worth a read.Suggest an awareness of your water characteristics for fertilizer selections as low media pH will cause Fe and Mn toxicities.Also see BallFloraPlant cultural info http://www://www.ballfloraplant.com/Site_Map.aspx > cultural information (left margin) as well as some general background information at the NCSU Floriculture Research links...(having difficulty providing a direct link...)(suggest some caution with fertilizer rates in less than an optimum greenhouse environment and without access to a
pH/EC meter...)

U Mass link:Grower Services>factsheets > (growing quality geraniums)(left margin)

http://www.umass.edu/umext/floriculture/grower_services/
index.html

Here is a link that might be useful: umass floriculture

ThatÂs an interesting link, Pickwick. The soiless mixes should probably need to be low in peat. If someone wants a cheap way to get an idea of their pH they can get some pH strips from a hydro store. A bottle sells for about $4.00. ppm is a little more complicated, of course.

Here is the link you were trying to refer to:

http://www.umass.edu/umext/floriculture/fact_sheets/specific_crops/geranium.html

I did not realize geranium growing could be so complicated. I do not have a problem with growing these plants, although I have corresponded with some colder climate growers that do. I can understand the need to refine growing skills with greenhouse growing.

A bit off topic, but if anyone knows of a pest that eats Pelargonium cuttings I would appreciate any information. I recently had entire cuttings disappear, & I am trying to figure out whether it is a pest or theft.

Thanks for the info.

Thank you, thank you all for the timely info! Flurries today so too cold to work outside for me; seeds getting all my atention. Answered all my questions!