How to Grow Carnations From Seeds

Overview

Carnations are a colorful addition to your garden bed, outdoor containers or use them for edging flowers. They come in a range of colors with white, pink and red being the most common. There are dwarf and regular varieties of carnations depending on the size of bloom you desire in your garden. Carnations are simple to grow from seed, making them a natural choice for beginning gardeners. Start carnations indoors or directly in the garden.

Step 1

Plan sowing in early to mid-spring when daytime temperatures begin staying steadily between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2

Choose a well drained bed to plant the carnations that receives a minimum of 4 to 5 hours of sunlight daily. Check drainage by soaking the area with water. If it drains within 5 hours it is well drained. If not, work compost into the soil to raise the bed 3 to 5 inches.

Step 3

Space seeds on top the soil 12 inches apart. Cover the seeds with ¼-inch vermiculite--a sterile planting medium that is light enough for seedlings to easily push through.

Step 4

Keep the soil moist until the seeds sprout, Germination occurs within 2 to 3 weeks.