You could sow verbena in seed trays (full or half size) but for best results use cell inserts or open pots. It is really worth the extra pennies it will cost.

Peat based (or a peat alternative) type compost is ideal.

Now this is the time to decide if you want to sow your seeds in cell trays, open pot trays or pots.

You will sow one verbena seed in each cell or open pot.

Or 30 verbena seeds in a half size seed tray.

Or 60 verbena seeds in a full size seed tray

So allow enough cell trays or open pot trays or seed trays for the number of seeds you wish to sow

Sieve enough compost, on to your potting bench, or potting tidy/caddy, to fill all your cell trays, pots or seed trays.

Don't discard the sieved out lumps and bits. These can be used in the bottom of larger patio pots when planting them up with your own home grown plants. (Save the lumps and bits in an old compost bag until needed).

Fill the cell, open pots or seed trays with compost to about 5mm below the rim (this does not need to be exact - about 5mm will do).

Lift the tray or pot to a height of about 15cm (6 inches) and gently tap it on the bench. Do this about three times. This will settle the compost into the tray or pot to about the correct level.

The compost should now be about 10mm (1/2 inch) from the top of the tray or pot. This does not have to be exact so don't worry if it is a couple of mm higher or lower. It will make no difference to the end result.

Take your correct size tamper and gently level the surface of the compost. DON'T push the tamper with any force. All we want to do here is level off the surface of the compost, NOT compact it.

*This gives an ideal surface to sow the seed on. *(Doing this correctly will increase your propagation success rate)

That's it. You have now successfully filled your first tray or pot with compost.

Now Fill the rest of your trays or pots in the same way.

This is the fun part, sowing the seeds.

Verbena seeds are large and easy enough to handle.

Sow one seed in each cell or open pot.

Or 30 verbena seeds in a half size seed tray, sowing them evenly over the surface of the compost.

Or 60 verbena seeds in a full size seed tray, sowing them evenly over the surface of the compost.

Sow the seeds on the surface of the compost and gently push them into the compost about 3mm with your finger.
The idea is to get the seeds at about a depth equal to their length.

This does not have to be exact. But don't bury them too deep or they will run out of steam before they can reach the surface.

There you go see how easy it is?

When you have sown all your seeds don't forget to label them with plant name and date of sowing.

Watering

Water your trays or pots with great care.

With your mist sprayer, set at it's finest spray, filled with tepid water and held at about 100mm (4 inch) from the pot or tray, lightly spray the surface of the compost. Don't get to close, or overdo it here, you will disturb the seeds which is exactly what you don't want to do!

The idea is to settle the surface of the compost with the fine mist from your sprayer. This prevents the seeds being disturbed.

Now fill a container, large enough to put the tray or pot in, with tepid water *(preferably water that has been standing in a warm place for about twenty-four hours) and definitely NOT rainwater, use good old tap water!

Stand the tray or pot in the container of water and leave it until you see the surface just becoming moist.

This usually happens fairly quickly so don't be tempted to go off and do something else.

*Do not overdo the watering process, you don't want the compost saturated, or your seeds may rot and not germinate.

*(By doing this correctly you will greatly increase your chance of success).

Germination

Cover your trays or pots with glass or clear plastic (or preferably, for ease of use, place in a propagator - unheated will do).

Keep your tray or pot in the light, (not direct sunlight) and maintain a temperature of 15C to 20C (59F to 68F).

After Germination

When your seeds have germinated and are large enough to handle transplant them into 75mm (3in) pots.

Use a good quality potting compost. A sieved peat based or peat alternative compost will be fine.

Be very careful handling the seedlings. Do not handle them by their stems as this will cause irreversible damage resulting in the seedling collapsing.

Handle the seedlings very gently and only by their leaves.

This is especially important when transplanting seedlings from seed trays. Very gently tease the roots apart. Seedling roots are easily damaged which will almost certainly result in the loss of the seedling.

Time and care taken hear will really pay dividends giving your seedlings the best possible chance of growing on successfully.

When you have transplanted all your seedlings don't forget to label them with plant name, sowing date and transplanting date.

Water your trays or pots with great care.

Fill a container, that is large enough to put your seed tray in, with tepid water *(preferably water that has been standing in a warm place for about twenty-four hours) and definitely NOT rainwater, use good old tap water!

Stand the tray of seedlings in the container of water and leave it until you see the surface just becoming moist.

This usually happens fairly quickly so don't think about going of and doing something else.

*Do not overdo the watering process, you don't want the compost saturated, or your seedlings will rot and die.

*(By doing this correctly you will greatly increase your chance of success).

Keep the transplanted seedlings in good light (not direct sunlight) until they are large enough to be harden off.

A nice healthy verbena grown from seed in a open pot. This is an ideal way of growing plants such as verbena from seed.
This seedling is just the right size for transplanting into a 75mm (3in) pots.

Grown in open pots or cell trays is a highly recommended way of growing plants such as verbena from seed and is much preferred to sowing in trays or half trays.
Remember this when you come to sow your verbena seeds. It will increase your chance of success!

Aftercare

Plants should be gradually hardened off by placing them outside, in a sheltered position, during the day.

A cold frame with the lid open is ideal for this. If it is very cold during the day close the lid, but watch out for excess condensation.

If there is excess condensation prop the cold frame lid open slightly until the condensation disappears.

Bring them in at night to avoid severe frosts.

When they are ready for planting out, make sure it is after the last frosts.

Pinch out the growing tip of each plant, this will encourage a bushy and better shaped growing habit.

If you have any queries or comments please feel free to

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