Morning glory 'Heavenly blue' - Ipomoea tricolor

120 seeds

How to Seed Morning Glory ‘Heavenly Blue’ (Ipomoea tricolor)

1. Best Time to Sow (Gulf Region):

   • Outdoors or pots: From October to February, when temperatures are between 18–28°C (64–82°F).

   • Avoid sowing from April to September, as extreme heat and humidity reduce germination and flowering.

   • For early starts, seeds can be sown indoors in trays and transplanted when weather cools.

2. Seed Preparation (Important):

   • Morning Glory seeds have a hard outer shell.

   • Before sowing, nick the seed coat slightly with a nail file or soak seeds in warm water (25–30°C) for 12–24 hours to soften the coat and speed up germination.

3. Sowing Depth:
   Sow seeds 1–1.5 cm deep in moist, well-drained soil.
   Cover lightly and water gently after sowing.

4. Soil:
   Prefers fertile, well-drained loamy soil with moderate organic matter.
   Ideal Gulf mix: 40% garden soil + 30% compost + 20% peat moss + 10% perlite.
   Avoid overly rich soil, as it encourages leaf growth over flowers.

5. Light & Temperature:

   • Germination temperature: 20–25°C (68–77°F).

   • Requires full sun (at least 6 hours daily).

   • In very hot Gulf areas, provide partial afternoon shade to protect from intense heat.

6. Germination Time:
   Seeds germinate in 5–10 days under warm, moist conditions.

7. Transplanting & Spacing:

   • When seedlings are 8–10 cm tall, transplant carefully to final location.

   • Space plants 25–30 cm apart near fences, trellises, or balconies for climbing support.

8. Growing Tips for Gulf Climate:

   • Sunlight: Full sun in winter and early spring; partial shade if temperatures exceed 35°C.

   • Watering: Water regularly, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged.

   • Support: Provide a trellis, net, or fence for climbing vines.

   • Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2–3 weeks during active growth.

   • Maintenance: Remove faded blooms to encourage continuous flowering.

   • The ‘Heavenly Blue’ Morning Glory produces large, sky-blue trumpet-shaped flowers with white centers — perfect for garden walls, pergolas, and balcony trellises.

   • Blooms from late winter through early summer in the Gulf.