Seed Treatment:
• Scarification: Nick or gently rub seeds with sandpaper to help break the seed coat
• Soak seeds in warm water for 12–24 hours prior to sowing to improve germination
When to Sow:
• Indoors: Start seeds 6–8 weeks before last frost
• Outdoors: Sow after the danger of frost has passed and soil is warm (around 60°F / 16°C)
Light Requirements:
• Requires full sun for best flowering
• Can tolerate light afternoon shade, especially in hot climates
Soil Requirements:
• Prefers well-draining, fertile soil
• Add compost to enrich poor soil
• pH range: 6.0–7.5
Sowing Instructions:
• Sow seeds ¼ inch (6 mm) deep
• Keep soil evenly moist during germination
• Ideal temperature: 70–75°F (21–24°C)
• Germination occurs in 10–21 days
Watering:
• Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy
• Water deeply during dry spells once established
Spacing:
• Space plants 12–18 inches (30–45 cm) apart
• Provide a trellis or support for vines to climb
Growing Tips:
• Produces bright orange, yellow, or white blooms with a distinctive dark center
• Blooms from mid-summer to fall
• Great for containers, hanging baskets, trellises, and fences
• Grown as an annual in most regions, but may be perennial in USDA Zones 10–11
• Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continued flowering