How to Germinate Monarda Didyma Seeds

Sow Monarda didyma seeds in early spring around mid-March. Chill the seeds inside a refrigerator for 10 days before sowing to help break their dormancy.

Prepare a pot for each Monarda didyma plant desired. Fill 3-inch starter pots with a mixture of 2-parts potting soil, 2-parts seedling compost and 1-part perlite. Pour 1/8 cup of water into each pot and let the excess water drain for 10 to 15 minutes before sowing the seeds.

Sow four Monarda didyma seeds in each 3-inch starter pot. Press the tiny, light-brown seeds onto the surface of the soil mixture. Spread a scant layer of seedling compost over the seeds but avoid burying them completely, because they require light to germinate.

Mist each starter pot with six or seven spritzes from a spray bottle. Stick your fingertip into the soil at the edge of the pots to feel if it is moist at a depth of 1/2 inch. Maintain moisture at that level during germination.

Place the starter pots on a sunny windowsill or outdoors inside a cold frame, depending on what is available to you. Rotate the pots half a revolution every day to ensure even light exposure.

Watch for germination starting in 10 days but do not be discouraged if it takes up to one and a half months for germination to occur. Thin the Monarda didyma seedlings to one per pot once they grow to 1 inch in height. Remove the weakest seedlings.

Transplant the Monarda didyma seedlings into a garden bed with loamy soil and partial shade once outdoor temperatures rise above 65 F during the day.