It depends on how deep you plant the seeds. I barely cover mine with soil and then tap them down...so it usually takes 3 - 5 days for them to break ground.
Kathy

If they do grow and some don't even after the little radicle shows, it can take anywhere from 10 to 30 days.
Did you presoak (not soggy) the seed mix before planting the seed? What type of heat source are you using?

This was my first year doing daylily seeds and the things that stand out for me in what I learned was even if the seed germinates/white radicle shows, it doesn't mean it will grow once planted. Heat source is important. Some crosses are just plain duds.

Good luck.

Julia

Kathy, I planted them about 1/2 inch deep. When looking for information on the net, I came across planting depths of 1/4 inch to one inch deep. I went for the middle.
Julia, I did get the seed starter wet a day before I started to plant them. I read somewhere that the thing that causes the seeds to die is getting dry. I'm not using a heat source. Didn't realize I needed to. Should I be using the heat mats?

Thanks to both of you for the information.

Nancy VB

I did about 2000 seeds last year, and if they all didn't grow once sprouted the vast, vast majority did. I did lose several as salad to my cat.

I started so late (same this year) that once cupped up I can set them out in the sun as soon as green shows. I put them in those plastic storage bins and kept them sitting in about 1/2-1" of water for bottom watering, and in full sun. None rotted-this I know for sure, and the seedlings were big and sturdy compared to my mom's indoor early/heat mat/light set up. She didn't do early starts this year because of it--a lot of work for weak plants that never caught up to mine.

This year, I'm only cupping the sprouts I'm starting for my parents. I'm only putting one sprout per cup to cut down on the big smack they got last year at transplant time. And I was incredibly careful when I set them out, too.

I am surprised to read 10 - 30 days for sprouting pre-germinated seeds. Mine always pop right up. But I am using freshly harvested seed, germinated in water, planted July - Sept., in cups, outdoors under a shade tree. If mine haven't sprouted in 10 days, something is wrong and I dig around in the cup looking for the cause. Sometimes they rot (one of the problems of planting in the heat of summer). Occasionally there is a problem with insects. And sometimes the seed just disappears - did I drop the seed or did a bird get it or ... what? Julia is correct...some crosses are duds...but these usually fail to germinate, so I don't plant them. Nancy, I don't know what to tell you about using a heat mat. I've never used one. But I have heard of people up north using electric blankets under their seed trays. I thought that was clever, if you have a lot of seeds.
Kathy

Where do you have them growing?
What about heat?
Also what did you use as a starting medium?

Mine are grown on a seedling heat mat.. I got one of the 4 foot by 2 foot ones, (Now I wish I had two!) that will cover enough room to have a few hundred seedlings. I would say up to 2 weeks. I had maybe 1-2 cups that took a month. I still have 3 cups with nothing lol , its been 3 -4 months, I just keep telling myself they had dormant parents. I think Im going to give up on them soon.

Also , I wouldnt bother putting them in a tray of water, until they really take off, they are not going to need water every day.

Unless you are pretty much putting them ouside, you still will need a light source.

{{gwi:309266}}

This was about a month ago.. I start mine inside in January, so heating and lighting is a must... especially since they are started in a cool basement. Everyone is correct though, I have some duds as well. A few start, then wither, a couple albino. I have one cross that I swear hasnt grown a mm in a month, it sits and sits, I told them shape up or else, I will feed you to the cat!

BTW if you have cats, daylilies seem to attract them better than catmint! I start mine up HIGH, im over six foot and I have to stand on crates to water. It might be overkill, but im not going to lose them.

I definitely would have some sort of heat source whether it be a south facing window, heat mat, heating pad (yes, the kind you use for sore muscles, lol).
Just enough to get and keep the soil temp somewhere between 60 to 70 degrees. Don't cook them.

One reason I'm hybridizing this year is so that I know for certain who got crossed with whom and do a bit more research on parentage.

Everyone has a method they are comfortable with.You'll find yours too.

Good luck.
Julia

Thanks for all the information. I too have a daylily eating cat, (then she barfs them up someplace!).
I have a small greenhouse that I will put them in as they sprout. We don't have a heat source in there right now so I want to be careful.
I have them sitting in front of the sliders, facing south. It has been warm enough to set them out on the balcony in the afternoon.
If I did plant them a little deep, 1/2 inch or so, will they still make it?
I am surprised that the seeds are so fussy, the plants themselves are so easy. Do they reseed in the flower garden themselves if the pods are left on the scape?

NancyVB

As I don't have facilities or light to start seeds indoors I just wait until warm and then plants the seeds in large pots outside, about 4 seeds to a pot. I'll be doing mine this weekend/next week. I have found they seem to appreciate the competition when sowed in groups rather than one seed per pot but that may just apply to the UK--not sure if it applies elsewhere.

I only started with dayliles from seeds last year though so I am very inexperienced compared to most people on here. Last years seedlings are doing well though so it seems to work!

Nikki

I think it's fascinating how this plant adapts to all of us and all the things we do.

In my cups, because I am constrained for space and have many more seeds waiting their turn, I usually give a cup 30 days to sprout. Most sprout within that time frame. However, I put some in pots in a windowsill and didn't really pay them any attention. I was surprised to see seeds germinating in the last couple of days from seeds planted 3/03/09...well over 30 days! So, you never know...

Good luck, Nancy...I hope they come through for you.

Yes, they do, by the way, sprout in the garden...which can explain why a clump "changes" or why you have a daylily in a place you don't remember planting.

I think some of you guys are planting seeds--see, I only plant sprouts. I sprout them in water in their little storage baggies. The duds will rot in 3-5 days and have to be removed and water changed, and some will never sprout.

Last year I had some that remained firm soaking for over a month. I wondered if they missed some necessary cold time, but I was exhausted with seedling by then and tossed them.

Yeah, my one seed per cup plan is wearing thin as well. I did it because I still had hundreds of cups with holes already punched from last year, and I'm only doing a few hundred seeds this year.

Man, I'm lazy. Okay, 2 seeds per cup.