Is it annual sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) , or perennial Alyssum saxatile?

I am growing Alyssum saxatile indoors right now. Germination took over three weeks, very slow and still only sporadic. It seems to have sprouted only when sowed on the soil surface and kept very damp.

As for sweet alyssum I have never started it from seed but it is a frost hardy annual so probably ok to WS. Hopefully someone else can help here.

I wintersowed, very successfully, perennial Alyssum saxatile last year and it has spread really nicely in our front planter. I'm glad to hear that you had wintersowing success, Susan, with Lobularia maritima. I was going to do it both ways this year and I think you have just saved me a lot of space in my greenhouse. Space seems to already be at a premium and it is only the beginning of March with very little transplanting done yet. Oh my!

Shauna

Re annual alyssum, I started some last year approximately mid april.

I think it's one of those plants that needs very strong light if started indoors. You know, sometimes plants like marigolds can be grown on a bright windowsill with only a couple hours of direct sun and still look half decent, well the alyssum wasn't one of those types of plants.

It seemed to grow scraggly unless it was directly under the centre of my flourescent light fixture with the tubes inches above them. Even the ones a bit off to the side started to grow scraggly. Once outside (for the day) however, they improved greatly.

Still, easy enough to grow. I read at one website they can bloom in as little as six weeks from seed.

Glen

Thanks, Glen
That was the reason for my question, "scraggly alyssum". I realize that I started it "much" to early last year. Even under grow lights it was scraggly. My setup can get pretty "warm". I wonder if that is the other problem?? Do you think "cool" growing conditions would help? That is why I was wondering about late winter sowing? What to you think? Help appreciated! Crazy.

Try winter sowing your alyssum.

I seeded some annual allysum inside about a month ago and some of it is blooming now. I haven't had a lot of luck with it in the past - this is a surprise!