Vinca Seeds 260

Vinca Seeds 260 grow the cheerful Madagascar Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus), a tender warm-season annual prized for glossy green foliage and rounded, five-petalled flowers in white, soft pink, rose and rich red. Compact and tidy at roughly 15-60 cm tall, it blooms profusely from late spring through autumn and keeps flowering even in scorching heat, perfect for sunny beds, borders and pots where most annuals fade.

Planting

Start seed indoors in February to early March, sowing shallowly and covering only about 3 mm, as seed needs darkness to sprout. Germination takes around a week at 21-24 C. Transplant outdoors from mid-March through April once soil warms above 16 C and nights stay above 16-18 C, setting the root plug level with the surface. Choose full sun with at least 6 hours of direct light and moist, well-drained soil. Space upright types 30-45 cm apart.

Fertilizing

Mix compost or a slow-release fertilizer into the soil at planting, then feed monthly during active growth with a balanced water-soluble feed such as 10-10-10. Avoid heavy nitrogen, which encourages soft growth and disease.

Care

Once established, vinca is highly drought-tolerant and prefers soil on the drier side. Let the top few centimetres dry between waterings and water in the morning so foliage dries by evening. Never water overhead, ensure good drainage and airflow to prevent Phytophthora blight and root rot. Deadheading is not needed for continued bloom.