History
Allow the seed pods to mature until they begin to crack open, then harvest the mature pods and remove the seeds. Let them air dry for at least 4 days. Dispose of small squishy seeds and other debris. The seeds should be hard & shiny.
If they are dormants, refrigerate at least six weeks in refrigerator before soaking. You can wait until spring to continue to the next step. Keep seeds refrigerated until ready to plant.
Place the dried seeds in Ziplock bags with pearlite, already wet with peroxide mix (1/2 gallon of stale water with 6 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide) and note info on each label. The perlite should be wet, but no stain water.
Put bags in the container. Place container in a completely dark room, cabinet or closet. The warmer the better and do not peek for 4-7 days!
During your 4-day wait, acquire one 16-oz Styrofoam cup per bag and poke holes in bottom with a kitchen fork, for drainage. On day 4, start checking your soaking seeds daily. They will not all sprout at once. Most will sprout between day 4 and day 14. Remove any sprouted seeds from the bags beginning with day 4 of darkness. Return the remainder immediately back to the closet.
When seeds begin to sprout, write pertinent info of the cross pollination (both parents), include date of planting on outside of each cup.)
Fill cups with Miracle-Gro Seed Starter, thoroughly moistened.
Make small holes near the top of soil 1/2 - 3/4" in deep.
Place one seed per hole and lay them on their side, with the curved tip of white root pointing down. Cover with fine-ground vermiculite or potting soil and cover each cup loosely with a sandwich baggie or place under the dome.
Place cups in a pan filled with stale water. Pans must remain filled with water until you are ready to plant them in pots or outdoors.
Keep the pan of seeds close by, so you can readily see them. When you see the first green sprout, remove the baggie.
Place pan of growing seedlings in outdoor shade. (Some of our more northern growers grow in basements with grow-lights.)
Once seedlings have grown a second set of leaves, gradually introduce them to more and more sunlight.
When they have shown substantial growth after 10 months, it is then time to plant them in the ground or in pots, depending on time of year and your climate.
If you live in a warm climate and plant seedlings outdoors in the fall, some may bloom the following season. Usually the bees pollinate the daylilies, & if the bees cross pollinate them for you.
It is always fun to grow your own daylilies from seed, but be aware it can take a couple of years to see blooms. Happy Growing!