I sowed some mesembryanthemums from seed around the end of May. I thinned them out quite successfully (I think, although the seedlings were very fiddly) and now (8th August) I have three trays of supremely healthy-looking plants...but no sign of any flowers. Do they know it's rather late for them to flower? Should I wait a bit longer? Advice please!
@cdwebb63 next year sow them in March, thinly if you can and leave in the seed tray until they are past the fiddly stage, they need very little nourishment so they’re happy to stay in the trays. When you do get flowers you must dead head constantly as with any other annual, once it’s flowered and gone to seed it’s jobs done. Don’t feed them they thrive well without. Also you need to plant them out in full sunshine or the flowers will not open. I don't think you'll get flowers on yours now.
Thnak you valley gardener, I really only sowed masses of them the first year I made that border as I needed something quick and colourful, it’s full of perenials now.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Thanks Lyn, what a splendid border. I'll try that with the sand next year, it sounds as though it would be helpful.
@josusa47 Get kiln-dried sand if you can - the stuff used to fill the cracks in block paving. It's really fine and, importantly, dry. I bought a bag from wickes about 10 years ago (about a fiver) and still have half left.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
@cdwebb63 next year sow them in March, thinly if you can and leave in the seed tray until they are past the fiddly stage, they need very little nourishment so they’re happy to stay in the trays. When you do get flowers you must dead head constantly as with any other annual, once it’s flowered and gone to seed it’s jobs done. Don’t feed them they thrive well without. Also you need to plant them out in full sunshine or the flowers will not open. I don't think you'll get flowers on yours now.
Thnak you valley gardener, I really only sowed masses of them the first year I made that border as I needed something quick and colourful, it’s full of perenials now.
Thank you, Lyn - and sorry for late reply. Some of them are now (5th September!) starting to flower - but I will follow your advice for next year.
Ooo,do you have a pic of them too,I bet that border looks stunning with perennials!
There’s a photo on the previous page of when I used them as a border plant. This was the perenial border at the end of August last year. https://youtu.be/F6f7NISjyYM
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
I grew mesembryanthemum from seed for the first time this year. The seeds are so tiny, but I chose to grow them around my potted gooseberry bush. What a surprise when some actually grew and flowered. Okay, so why be surprised when they do precisely as they are expected? Because I really wasn't sure it would work. I'm certainly going to try and repeat the process next year, since the packet contained over 1500 seeds. What a brilliant splash of colour.
Posts
When you do get flowers you must dead head constantly as with any other annual, once it’s flowered and gone to seed it’s jobs done. Don’t feed them they thrive well without. Also you need to plant them out in full sunshine or the flowers will not open.
I don't think you'll get flowers on yours now.
Thnak you valley gardener, I really only sowed masses of them the first year I made that border as I needed something quick and colourful, it’s full of perenials now.
Clive
This was the perenial border at the end of August last year.
https://youtu.be/F6f7NISjyYM
The seeds are so tiny, but I chose to grow them around my potted gooseberry bush. What a surprise when some actually grew and flowered.
Okay, so why be surprised when they do precisely as they are expected? Because I really wasn't sure it would work.
I'm certainly going to try and repeat the process next year, since the packet contained over 1500 seeds. What a brilliant splash of colour.