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Favourite biennials

debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
Hi all, going to try sowing seeds for biennials for first time ever this year. I have a few packets that were freebies in gardening magazines but anyone got any favourites they think I should try? 

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I sowed some white foxgloves on 10/7/17 last year - got a great display from only 10 plants - I've just sown some more.
    I also sowed cupids dart at the same time - really pleased with them too - they're lovely





    I've just sown - 
    Eryngium Alpinum Blue Lace
    Eryngium Giganteum
    Campanula Canterbury Bells
    Campanula Pyramidalis
    Aquilegia Caerula
    Digitalis purpurea var. alba



    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Foxgloves ... either the native pink ones Digitalis purpurea or one of the white forms D. purpurea 'Alba'   both absolutely gorgeous.  <3

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited July 2018
    Neighbours on both sides have asked if I'll grow some white foxgloves for them, for next year. The photo doesn't do them justice.
    As Dove says - highly recommended

    Thanks MU

    Forgot about sweet william - I saved and sowed seed last year and got lots of plants that gave a lovely display. I won't grow so many again as they've only just finished flowering, so I've pulled them and now I've got lots of spaces to fill - not an ideal situation in mid-July..
    There's some well-past it cosmos in the cold frame that may work if they survive.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Well, I think that's a vote for Foxgloves then tu;) 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    Right I will be looking for foxglove seeds at GC tomorrow with mom. I have sweet William plus Hesperis lunaria and campanula also pansies and viola all free. Going to take more cuttings too this year as all 3 of my daughters have recently moved into houses with gardens so plenty of places to put new plants! 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I grew purple Hesperis last year.
    They got to be big plants quite quickly, with a lovely scent, but then snapped in strong winds we had in spring :(




    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    Last year I sowed teasels for the first time, big seeds, so easy to sow singly in 4" pots. They quickly grew saucer-sized rosettes, at which stage I planted them out.  Now I have a row of stately 6' plants, with a dozen flowers in each.  The bees are busy on the flowers, and I'm hoping the goldfinches will appreciate the seeds.  I chose an awkward location though; in a narrow border against a fence, which I have to squeeze past to get to my raised veg beds, which means braving the prickles!  Also they've leaned away from the fence, but it's easy enough to tie them back.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I'm growing hespiris and foxgloves. Both self seed quite freely. I've gone for autumn flowering wallflowers too, for the first time.
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