There are several crucial steps to successfully planting wisteria seeds, including finding healthy seeds, germinating them properly, and caring for the seedlings until they are ready to be planted into the ground. Once well established, these flowering plants produce beautiful, purple flowers, often clustered together much like grapes. Wisteria also features rich, green foliage that provides excellent shade coverage. It is typically used as a climbing plant and can be used in landscaping to improve the appearance of fences, trellises, and gazebos or pergolas.
Wisteria seeds can be bought from either a local nursery or reputable catalog company or harvested yourself from dried seed pods. It is important to select seeds that were correctly dried and have no signs of moisture damage to ensure the integrity of the seed product. Seeds damaged by moisture are likely to rot in the ground or seedling tray instead of sprouting correctly.
Most gardening experts recommend starting wisteria seeds to sprout indoors or in a greenhouse sometime in the early spring months. The seeds should be placed in a glass jar, covered with clean water, and allowed to sit for at least 24 hours to begin the germination process. After soaking, remove the seeds from the water and place in a small pot or seed starting flat filled with potting soil or compost. Place the seeds carefully, cover with another thin layer of your soil or compost, and mist to moisten with a spray bottle of water.
At this juncture, it is appropriate to choose the best location for the wisteria seeds. Most people choose to place the pot or flat in a greenhouse, garden window, or windowsill with a great deal of natural sunlight. To properly care for the seeds, the top layer of soil should be gently misted with water every couple of days to provide sufficient water for the developing plants. It is common to see seedling within a few days or weeks following the initial planting process.
Once the wisteria seeds develop into seedling, gardening experts suggest moving the young plants to larger pots until ready to support themselves in the ground. Wisteria plants prefer full sun and rich, nutrient-filled soil, but also have a reputation for thriving in less than ideal conditions. These plants often make beautiful and easy to care for additions to yards and gardens.