Hi Marcia....I can't answer your specific question...but I can say that I don't sandpaper seeds anymore. I tried it once following directions....I squished the poor seed to smitherines.....after that I just nic with a pair of scissors.

Sierra

I've never even nicked seeds, just soaked them. The malva seed is a really tough little thing. It must get the stratification it needs in the ground over the winter because it sure comes up all over the place in the summer! I'm guessing that if it gets sowed earlier in the winter, that should help.

Besides, it's been too quiet here so i thought i'd post a new topic for excitement! LOL

Hey girlfriend,

With WS, there is no need to sandpaper or nick.....yeah, try sowing them earlier, that will probably help.

Or....don't bother with WS'ing, throw them up into the air after the seeds have matured and stand back ;)

Sharon

CG......now thats my kind of gardening......but shhhh lets keep that a secret...ok. :-))

Sierra

I was going to start a few this year because (with any luck) the place where they are now will be covered with a deck. Keep your fingers crossed for me - you know how fast things happen around here! LOL

In the fall, i cut a bunch of them back and brought them to the brushy area near the creek in the hope that a few of them will reseed there. I need to build a "wild" area for things like that to go crazy in. It's on the list!

I always thought for sandpapering seeds you put a roll of sandpapering in a jar with rough sides out. Then put your seeds in a jar, tightened the lid and shook. The size of the seed dictated the coarseness of the sandpaper used. Is this how people have sandpapered in the past?

Syreeta

I've never done it before so i'd have no idea. Sounds like an easy way to do it, though.

Well the instructions I had....said to roll the seed in fine sandpaper between your thumb and forefinger. I squished the seed. And never tried it again....those seeds were very expensive.....

Syreeta your method sounds much safer for the seeds! Might try that if I have seeds that say to sandpaper again.

Sierra

I'm all for the least amount of work with the best results. Winter Sow them!!!!! No sandpapering needed, and you're controling the growing conditions!!!