I am pleased to read your comment Lyn - I must admit that I have never had any plants that don't flower, although I tend to sow the seed in Autumn for flowering the following year. If the seed was sown in the pot in Spring it probably won't flower that year unless you are very lucky. I normally start my seed off in a module tray or similar in October in a cold frame, they develop a few leaves and at that time I plant each one in a 3 inch pot - the plant is approx 2 inches across at this time, they rest over winter so don't give them too much water or they will rot off - by the following Spring they will grow large enough in their plant pot (see roots coming out of the base of the 3" pot) to plant outside in their final growing place. The bees are attracted to them, so great to grow in your garden linzijayne. Let us know if your geum flowers, it will be interesting to see what colour the flowers are - there are many different varieties of geum.
Hi @Lyn and @Fairygirl; apologies for the delay in replying. I'm led to believe that Geums don't like a baking and the only border I've got is south-facing, so anything else that prefers shade/part-shade has to go in a pot as the shaded areas in our garden are slabbed (unfortunately). @Lyn I've seen Mrs Bradshaw Geum; they're beautiful! Thanks for your replies.
Hi @Guernsey Donkey2; thanks ever so for replying. I'm hoping that mine flowers this year; as has been previously mentioned it may be the case that it was sown in Spring last year and won't flower 'til this year. We shall see! I shall check the bottom of pot to see if roots are coming out of it; I have a feeling it may appreciate a move to a larger house now?! I will indeed let you know if it flowers...and it'll be interesting to see what variety I have too! Thank you for your reply.
If anyone would like some Geum seeds I do have a few spare Mrs. Bradshaw (red fl.) and Lady Stratheden (yellow fl.) ready to be sown this Spring for flowering either this year or next.
Hello again @Lyn and @Guernsey Donkey2; apologies for the delay in replying again! I don't know where I read that Geums should be in part-shade; perhaps I should put mine out in my south-facing border after all? . I will try and save some seeds; I think it's wonderful to save seeds from your own flowers. Thanks @Guernsey Donkey2 for your very kind offer of Geum seeds; if I'm happy with how my current Geum goes this year I may well take you up on your offer. Thank you again for your kind replies.
linzijayne, we just pass on our experiences and hope that you will find them helpful and useful. Gardening is all about trial and error, you garden conditions will probably differ from ours, and vice versa, how much watering you give the plant, your soil structure and whether the area caught the wind or too much sun etc. etc. I have plants in my garden that struggle, whereas others literally blossom from day one. Fingers crossed that my clematis are all doing well, although our Chilean Pine (Monkey Puzzle tree) took 10 years to grow more than a foot in height.
Trial and error it is! Some of my plants take 3 years to flower from seeds where other peoples flower in 2 years. The Echiums and Acanthus to name just two.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Hello again @Guernsey Donkey2 and @Lyn; apologies again for the delay in replying! Yes, you're so right, gardening certainly is trial and error. And there are so many varying factors such as soil, nutrients in soil, amount of light/shade, etc, etc, etc! Thank you for your kind words; it is always good to learn along the way. @Guernsey Donkey2 I wish your Clematis the very best, I don't grow them myself but they're lovely. Thank you both for your kind replies and be in touch again soon I'm sure!
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