It’s a shame that so many gardeners confuse this annual morning glory with the invasive weed, Convovulus arvensis, because this variety will not take over the garden. Instead, it will produce a lush abundance of big, intensely blue flowers from midsummer on. Continue reading below for tips on how to grow morning glory from seed.

Latin
lpomoea tricolor
Family: Convovulaceae

Difficulty
Easy

Season & Zone
Exposure: Full sun

Timing
Direct sow where they are to grow 1-2 weeks after the last frost date. Or try sowing some indoors in peat or coir pots 3-4 weeks before last frost, but they do not transplant well. If starting indoors, chip the seeds and soak them in warm water for 24 hours, and then provide a constant soil temperature of 21-30°C (70-85°F). The seeds should sprout in 5-21 days, but may be longer outdoors. Be patient.

Starting
Sow seeds 5mm (¼”) deep. Space or thin to 30-45cm (12-18″) between plants.

Growing
Make sure to provide some support for these tall vines to climb up. Moist, well drained soil that is not too nitrogen-rich is ideal. Excess nitrogen leads to large, bushy vines with fewer flowers. Dry soil is tolerated. Pinch the tips of the plants as soon as you see them start to climb in order to produce branching growth.