I find myself a bit confused about seed v dead heading. I understand that this plant drops its ex-blooms and this is seen as upside because we don't need to deadhead (though I do). Some people on the forum collect seed, though. So if you let the petals fall on their own and don't deadhead, do seed pods form? Doesn't this then inhibit new blooming?
I find myself a bit confused about seed v dead heading. I understand that this plant drops its ex-blooms and this is seen as upside because we don't need to deadhead (though I do). Some people on the forum collect seed, though. So if you let the petals fall on their own and don't deadhead, do seed pods form? Doesn't this then inhibit new blooming?
Thoughts please.
@Fire When you deadhead you need to cut the remaining stalk off not just remove the old flower head else seed pods will form and flowering will reduce, but that said the plant will still go on flowering but at a reduced rate, but its still a prolific flowerer even without deadheading.
I just don't bother deadheading and wait until the end of the summer when the plant is starting to shutdown then grab the seed. However after 4 years taking seed I've noticed some plants from gathered seed are reverting to type and losing their deep red colour and appearing much paler when sown the following spring.
If you can take and store cuttings over the winter they will remain true to type. I stick my hanging baskets in the greenhouse over winter and just keep them barley moist and most plants kick back into life come spring when I then take cuttings. Of course it depends on what type of winters you have and your location on whether they will survive.
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
"The plant will still go on flowering but at a reduced rate, but its still a prolific flowerer even without deadheading."
That's what I was wondering about - how much vigour it loses. I have tried to over-winter plants before now inside the house, but with no luck. I will try again.
I bought plugs last year, carelessly left them outside over winter (although I did take the baskets down and stick them in a corner) and they grew back in the spring, at which point I took some cuttings.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
We have torrential rain and thunderstorms forecast (again) so I thought I should take some pics whilst I'm ahead. I am hoping for a load more growth, down and up, but we have a load of street tree shading this year and not much bright sunny weather.
I grew a different red trailing petunia last year, as I couldn't get hold of any Tidal Wave. It is striking how TW holds up so much better to rain and battering than other types I've tried. Mine went in and up late this year, due to late frosts and heavy rains in June, so I'm hoping they will carry on later too.
I really is one of the favourite things I grow, if not the favourite. I think that every time I see it. It's a mix of the proper dark red colour and the exuberant, sprawling nature of the plant - it feels explosively generous and hard working. If I can get my seed act together I will grow a lot more of it for front and back in future years. But I always say that.
There’s been a bit of filling out since I posted three weeks ago.
The hay basket out the front
Planted alongside agapanthus Midnight Blue. The agapanthus were transplanted just last autumn so I am pleased with the way they have developed. I am less pleased with the Red Velour for steadfastly refusing to scramble up the tawdry plastic trellis I put in solely for its benefit.
This has yet to reach the heights of the previous two years but just squeezing into shot on the right is a 9’ high self sown sunflower.
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Thanks newbie77 .
Its more by luck than anything else. I'm the worlds worst gardener
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw'
Possibly the 46th time I have uploaded this. There are about 5 plants growing in a copper wash pot, the size of a large bucket.
4 plants in this terracotta (what else?) pot.
An 18” hay basket for which I offered my excuses and apology yesterday. Three weeks ago it was more demur with no bare midriff.
@Fire When you deadhead you need to cut the remaining stalk off not just remove the old flower head else seed pods will form and flowering will reduce, but that said the plant will still go on flowering but at a reduced rate, but its still a prolific flowerer even without deadheading.
I just don't bother deadheading and wait until the end of the summer when the plant is starting to shutdown then grab the seed. However after 4 years taking seed I've noticed some plants from gathered seed are reverting to type and losing their deep red colour and appearing much paler when sown the following spring.
If you can take and store cuttings over the winter they will remain true to type. I stick my hanging baskets in the greenhouse over winter and just keep them barley moist and most plants kick back into life come spring when I then take cuttings. Of course it depends on what type of winters you have and your location on whether they will survive.
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw'
The hay basket out the front
Planted alongside agapanthus Midnight Blue. The agapanthus were transplanted just last autumn so I am pleased with the way they have developed. I am less pleased with the Red Velour for steadfastly refusing to scramble up the tawdry plastic trellis I put in solely for its benefit.
This has yet to reach the heights of the previous two years but just squeezing into shot on the right is a 9’ high self sown sunflower.