- Start crape myrtle seeds between December and February. Sow the seeds 2 inches apart in a greenhouse nursery bed or in seed-starting trays on a porch or indoors. In mild, frost-free climates, start crape myrtle seeds outdoors in a nursery bed or in a greenhouse. Lay the 1/4 inch long seeds on the soil and cover them with a 1/4 inch of soil or seed-starting mix. Dampening the soil to a depth of 1 inch stimulates germination.
- Crape myrtle germinates reliably at 59 to 60 degrees F. Germination times vary from 10 days to three weeks. Some commercial growers stratify the seeds at 40 degrees F for one month encouraging the seeds to germinate at the same time. Stratification, keeping seeds in a cool environment, is a seed-treatment method that helps break seed dormancy. Some seeds do not germinate until they undergo a specific period of stratification. Crape myrtle does not require stratification but it can speed up germination times.
- To stratify crape myrtle seeds, put a layer of damp peat moss 1 inch deep over the bottom of a bucket, a zip-top bag or a jar. Place the seeds 1 inch apart on top of the peat moss and add a second layer of damp peat covering the seeds. In a bucket or jar, use multiple layers of peat moss and seeds. In a zip-top bag, one layer is sufficient. Store the seeds in a chilled area, such as a refrigerator, for one month.
- Transplant crape myrtle into 3-inch pots with potting soil when the seedlings are 2 inches tall. Water the pots and set them in an area receiving filtered sun. Keep the pots outdoors if the outside temperature is above 60 degrees F. Otherwise, keep the pots indoors or in a greenhouse. Fertilize crape myrtle using a balanced fertilizer at 1/4 strength once a month. Transplant crape myrtle seedlings into the garden between June and July, or keep them indoors for the first winter and plant out the following spring.
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