Stock Cindrella seeds refer to a variety of Matthiola incana (commonly known as Stock), a cool-season flower known for its fragrant, showy, and colorful blooms. Stock Cinderella is a specific cultivar of Stock, known for its large, semi-double to double flowers, with a variety of colors including pink, white, lavender, and purple.
Stock plants are excellent for adding fragrance and visual interest to gardens, flower beds, and containers, particularly in cooler climates. The Cinderella variety is particularly prized for its dense, bushy habit and long-lasting blooms.
Key Features of Stock Cinderella:
- Flowers: The flowers are large and showy, often semi-double or double, with a ruffled appearance. They come in various colors, such as white, pink, purple, and lavender, often with a pleasant fragrance.
- Growth Habit: Stock Cinderella is typically a compact, bushy plant, growing to about 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) tall, making it suitable for borders, containers, or flower beds.
- Foliage: The plant has grey-green, fuzzy leaves, which provide a nice contrast to the colorful blooms.
- Fragrance: Stock is well-known for its sweet fragrance, making it a favorite in fragrant gardens or as a cut flower.
How to Grow Stock Cinderella from Seeds
1. Starting Seeds Indoors
Stock plants, including Stock Cinderella, are best started indoors in regions with cooler climates or shorter growing seasons. This allows the plants to establish a good root system before being moved outdoors.
- When to Start: Start seeds 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost. This gives them enough time to develop into strong seedlings for outdoor planting.
2. Supplies You’ll Need
- Stock Cinderella Seeds: Purchase seeds from a garden center or online.
- Seed Tray or Pots: Use shallow seed trays or small pots for planting.
- Seed Starting Mix: A lightweight, well-draining seed-starting mix is best.
- Clear Plastic or Dome: To maintain humidity and encourage germination.
- Grow Light or Bright Window: Stock seeds require bright light to germinate and grow well.
3. Sowing the Seeds
- Fill the Tray: Fill your seed trays with a well-moistening seed-starting mix.
- Sow the Seeds: Sprinkle the Stock Cinderella seeds lightly on the surface of the soil. Do not cover them with soil, as they need light to germinate.
- Humidity and Temperature: Cover the tray with clear plastic or a humidity dome to help retain moisture. Keep the temperature around 65-70°F (18-21°C). This is the optimal range for germination.
- Light: Stock seeds require bright light to germinate, so place them in a sunny location or use grow lights for about 12-16 hours a day.
4. Germination and Care
- Germination Time: Stock seeds typically germinate in 7-14 days under ideal conditions. Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy.
- Thinning: Once the seedlings have their first true leaves, thin them out by cutting the weaker seedlings to leave space for the healthier ones. Transplant them into larger pots if necessary.
5. Hardening Off and Transplanting
- Hardening Off: Before planting outdoors, gradually acclimate the young plants to outdoor conditions by hardening them off. Place them outside for a few hours each day, increasing the time each day over the course of 7-10 days.
- Transplanting Outdoors: After the last frost, you can transplant the seedlings into the garden. Space the plants about 10-12 inches (25-30 cm) apart.
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