Sowing Cobaea scandens

Sowing Cobaea scandens

Cobaea scadens are sown in January or February in their own individual pots. This is because cobaea seeds are quite large, much like a courgette seed.

There are two rules to sowing seeds with a large surface area:

1. Sow them in their own pot to prevent rot
2. Sow them vertically, otherwise the water will sit on the flat surface and make the seed more prone to rot

Cover the seeds lightly with compost and then water in. Cobaea seeds will likely take 2 - 3 weeks to germinate.

What to do when your cobaea plants have grown their first set of true leaves

Cobaea scandens is a half-hardy annual in this country, so it can't be planted out until mid-May. As this is a vine plant though, you need to start training it while it is still in the greenhouse, otherwise it will turn into a messy bird's nest.

To train the cobaea I make a frame out of young silver birch branches, but you can use hazel, dogwood or whatever you have readily available.

Secure your branches at the top and then weave the twigs together to give your cobaea a strong frame to climb up.

Keep your plant in a light and frost-free environment until it is ready to plant out.