Sowing verbena bonariensis now

If I were to sow some verbena bonariensis seeds over the next couple of days, would they do ok do you think? The seed packet says Jan to April for indoor sowing I think, (only looked online, haven't bought them yet) Bit of a last minute plan, as my original plant is looking a bit ropey, don't think it enjoyed the snow. We will give it a chance to recover but thought some more would be good, they can always go elsewhere in the garden if we end up with extras.
But if I'd known sooner, I probably would have preferred to get them sown earlier. Also, reading packet online, germination looks like it can be erratic, and says about putting in fridge if no germination etc which all seems a bit of a faff, and could run out of time for flowers this year.
Who has had success with sowing these in mid April?

 

Hiya Sienna
Sow now or as soon as possible
These days I simply pot up self sown seedlings but I dont recall any problems sowing VB seed. Sow plenty and thin out.
They should flower in August if they germinate in next couple of weeks; later flowering if later germination.
Should be in everybody's garden esp with white thalictrum or red sanguisorba

 

Great, I will pick up some seeds tomorrow and get them sown. I agree, they are lovely.

 

I adore verbena!!

My thoughts are this: you have nothing to lose! Sow, sow, sow!!!! At the very worst, you'll walk away with nothing, but, nothing ventured nothing gained - you could walk away with all of them shooting and run out of space to put them! Once they do take root in your garden, you will never be without one - they self seed where ever they fancy (one of my self seeders even took a liking to a hanging basket! )

My first experience wasn't as a seed sower; I bought some plug plants from a newspaper offer - think it was around May time? Which leads me to conclude that if I purchased teeny plug plants in May, even if you sowed now, they would be good to go!

What have you got to lose?

 

They germinate really easily so sow now and you will probably have flowers half way through the summer up til Christmas if there is no frost.

 

Perfect, I'm looking forward to getting them sown, I was worried I'd missed the opportunity to sow them this year so this has all been very reassuring and exciting, thanks

 

Unless you're me, in which case they won't germinate at all two years running Am I missing a trick?

 

Oh no! Will you try again do you think @2nd_bassoon ?

I'm going to try, and keep everything crossed!

 

As I said, sow plenty. You only need 3, 4 or 5 plants to grow and flower this year and thereafter to produce self sown seedlings. Besides the odd VB looks better as an individual rather than in a group
Despite instructions on packets etc., I find trying different methods is effective when sowing seeds. Whether to exclude light, to cover or not to cover, to freeze, to soak etc. etc. Sowing a few in 9cm pots on a window sill, gh, propagator etc. ...see what works for you . Frustratingly, seed suppliers themselves sometimes advocate different methods???

 

Not for a while I don't think - I don't have space for more than one or two, and after last year's failure I gave in and bought an adult plant instead. In the next garden, definitely!

(My hypothetical "next garden" grows on a weekly basis, both in scope and size )

 

Lol at the 'next garden' I'm sure I'd be exactly the same if we were planning a move. Always nice to dream and plan anyway.
Well, I've sown mine now, so let's hope luck is on my side.