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Lobelia Crystal Palace Problems
I planted "Lobelia Crystal Palace" seeds bought a year ago, in a very large window box attached to a wall in my west-facing garden in Brighton, with good sunshine half the day and no shade. I used good quality compost & they came up in abundance, but they are mostly thick foliage with sparse, tiny lavender flowers rather than the thick deep purple-blue mass of flowers shown on the packet. What did I do wrong?
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Nice crop of weeds. They are not lobelia. Lobelia generally need some heat to get them going, sprinkling in a windowbox outside is unlikely to work. Usually, sow indoors in some gentle heat in February or March, prick out into boxes or small pots . the seedlings are tiny, so putting a small patch of seedlings in a small pot is often easier. Harden off and plant out in final position end of May.
the weeds are one of the willowherbs
In the sticks near Peterborough
So these are not Lobelia?
No, 100% not Lobelia
You may want to remove those Willow Herb weeds because if they set seed they will blow everywhere and you will get another load next year.
Last edited: 03 August 2017 23:35:01
Definitely a willowherb. Thousands of seed on one flower, ready to infiltrate....
They can also be perennial. Easy to pull out though.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
And don't despair. It's not the first time we have lavished care on something that turns out to be a weed!