Usually found listed as Catharanthus roseus, if you're interested in doing research on this plant with the confusing common name vinca.

I'm very fond of Cathranthus and have been for many years. Last year, besides the Coras that I grow, I tried the Solar (series) Apricot, which was a beauty. I will grow it again.

I find them easy to grow from seed and easy in the garden or containers. I believe that those who fail with these plants are watering too frequently or are using a programmed irrigation system designed to keep the plants too moist.

They are truly best suited for hot, dry locations.

The low water need was a plus ;-)

I've always used IW as my default go to beddings.

While the vinca's were about maybe 25% more leaves than blooms, the Downey Mildew forced me to give then a shot and I'm quite happy I did. Something different I suppose, but even the leaves are nice and green, and leave a subtle nice contrast backdrop against it blooms.

Hi afan,

Hazzard's is a seed company with an excellent selection of Vincas.

Notice that there is also a second page of Vinca selections at that link. Hazzards sell mainly to commercial growers, but they also sell to home gardeners who can use a lot of seeds.

Geoseed is another seed company with a good selection of Vincas, (see page 113) but their online catalog (and also their paper print copy) both lack pictures or much descriptive detail. I have purchased zinnia seeds from both companies, and will not hesitate to order from them again, because they carry many varieties that aren't available in "regular" seed catalogs.

ZM (not associated with any product or vendor mentioned or linked)

thanks for the link. When I googled Vinca seeds, Harris, Park and Stokes were the primaries that come up. I guess it boils down to which ~variety~ after I figure out the primary differences between the 3 per the OP.

Alan, I've purchased seeds from all of the companies you've mentioned. Be sure to check with the online catalogs around the first of the year. I attached a link to Swallowtail earlier because they often carry some different options.

Paging rhizo if you come across this thread. I don’t know which one I planted this year but it’s huge white blooms that don’t fade even in blistering sun from 7am-4pm’ish

Anyhow I was browsing hazzards - I was somewhat fixated on Cora or Valiant as in my musings of readings , apparently these 2 have larger/largest blooms of the vinca variant. No orange or salmon though . Closest would be apricot.

If u are familiar with the different traits of the different vinca variants , mind chiming in .

I've grown various colors of Cora strain in the past with great success -- always great-looking plants. I wouldn't choose Pacifica strain unless the color I wanted wasn't offered in another strain -- IME plants just weren't as vigorous as other strains, and they tend to be a bit shorter. Both strains were quite easy from seed. Titan is a strong series, too, as far as I can recall from my limited experience growing it -- I've not grown Titan from seed, but the plants I've purchased have done well.

Amazeballs. We've had a pretty mild fall seasonsofar. Where the typical high temps are his time of the year, that temp has been our nightime lows

New Guineas, blossoms have cut back a bit, I guess it's starting it's slow downward trend.

The Vinca's however, no indifference in blossom drop as it was at the peak of summer. And we're talking nil-no watering effort on my part. Pretty amazed at these V's..it's def my go to annual for next year as well.

Seeds started and I'm already seeing some poke through.

What spacing do you recommend for maximum fill ? 1st year planted them and I think they went a easy 18-24 inches width.

Is 12" too little. I'm thinking about going a foot on center for earlier pop

I'm really interested to hear. First year growing these for me. Many many years of missing out. I look forward to your thoughts.

don't plant too soon! if they get chilled they will be stunted for a while. they love hot, dry, sun. perfect plant-deer resistant and no insect issues

Where are you located? Here in my zone, it is way too early to start vincas. Planting out is mid-late May, and should start seeds around 10-ish weeks ahead of that.

I've usually put my seeds under lights ~indoors~. Considering moving the setup to the UNHeated Garage. This morning, it registered 62F. I suspect it might dip down to 55...

I have a new Growing lamp setup versus my older CFL.s.The new lamps are LED. Super bright and has some issues I need to address --- hence the want to move them to the garage (LED's needs a tent house as it's that bright, spillover light, the light has UV which sofar suggest nothing, but in some of my readings, say exposure is not good)....

Anyhow, do you think it will be too ~cold~ in the garage when I transplant the vinca's into pot packs. I've probably got another week 1/2 before it has some real leaves and then I'm moving them into the pot packs.

In my long experience growing Vinca they hate the cold esp in early days. I germinate in the dark on the furnace and grow under lights at about 68 till they are hardened off

I guess it's time to rig back up the CFL's. Thx Claire

How do you keep your soil substrate post germination ? Consistently Moist or you let it dry out and then water.

Leaves are coming along. Probably will transplant from seed container to ind. plugs in 2 weeks time

Vinca hate to be overwatered. We water in the morning and with the fan and dehumidifier we keep going they are pretty dry by the next morning. We also spray all of our seedlings with chamomile tea to prevent moss and damping off. Works like a charm

Same here. I've been letting it go till it's pretty dry and then rewater. Came across a vinca germination/seeding guide, and it was suggested to keep the soil moist.

A bit moist maybe but never wet and dry in between but not for long. Right after germination they are prone to damping off.

Ha. Since the seeds were soooo small, I've got some that are just a bit too close for comfort. They're getting plenty of light so even though a couple may feel crowded, they are not getting leggy. I'm sorta of holding off on transplanting - waiting for a 3rd set of leaves to get big....+ the fact that once they come out of the seed starting tray, it's going to be 80+ plugs.....going to wait for a indoor raindy day project.

I know Vinca's don't like rich soil....

Will be feeding the vegs. starters with some very lite fert water (all plugs are in no fertz. soil less medium). Will the vinca's like a drink of fertilizer water or just keep the soil (nutritionless)....

High in P but I cut the dilution mix to half that

12-48-8

you are correct about not overfeeding Vinca. On point with diluted mix once there are a few sets of leaves or if they are yellow

claire - at how many leaves would you say before blooms start. 5th/6th set of leaves? I only ask as my current LED grow lamps has a couple of different light outputs and color intensity (blue, red, ir, uv, purple, etc). The 3 settings are seedling, veg and bloom. Just short of light intensity, I currently have the seedling and veg lights in full output (each setting has adjustable dimmer as well). At full tilt, the leaves are not showing any burn whatsover and loving the lights. The lights are so intense I initially got dizzy/nauseous due to the red/blue lights and my brain no cooperating with the colors. It took me about 10 days to get used to the lights . Deciding when should I turn on the bloom lights (which further increases light intensity.

Would ya'll say leaf development is just really slow unless it sees consistent 80+ degree temps. Granted, my boiler room is around 70 on average.

It's very slowly growing it's 2nd set of real leaves now. The whites seems to be growing the slowest - 1st sets of leaves are not as big as the pink or red. Took about a week longer to germinate too

Under the same new light setup I have (LEDS), the tomatoes are going gangbusters. Not leggy at all, and staying compact to the soil and getting bushy with thick stems. I will need to upsize cellpack size soon just due to the bushiness.

All re on it's 2nd pair of true leaves Some are starting their 3rd set. I was thinking it would be another 2 more sets before I start seeing blooms but upon this mornings water soil inspection, all of them are setting blooms. I can see it in the center.

Probably still have a solid month before they go out. Decisions, Decisions---I've got these under a ~new~ grow lamp setup. There is one ~lamp setting~ which I have not turned on yet on these grow lamps which is a bloom setting. I believe the red spectrum in more intense with this setting. Shall I turn on bloom or let it ~veg~.

Blooms starting to set on 50% of them. Not getting transplanted until another month from now.

Lesson learned. I thought by seeding myself, I would get bigger plugs + easier selection of color qty and variety. Running lights 16hrs a day, over 60-90 days - for 90+ cell pack plugs. I think I'm spending ~more~ money than just buying the plugs at the nursery. Eh, too scared to do a cost analysis on the electric bill