I found them quite difficult [although I only had the white ones] and I put that down to my climate, but once I got a few germinated, they grew like mad. Mine were on the kitchen windowsill to maximise light and warmth, but I had to time it carefully because of not being able to plant out early in the year here. They need to be damp before sowing too, so perhaps they've been too dry @Fire?
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Same here FG. They germinated ok, slow growing at first but then they did grow like mad and went up the arch and over the top but not until the autumn, by then it was too late. They need a warm climate probably be ok a bit further up country. Not for here though wouldn't grow them again.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Ah well. Mine have not shot up at all. The pots have been in saucers and I think they were too damp - the roots didn't like being damp. I was so looking forward. Ho hum.
Yes - that's the buds @pitter-patter. Mental aren't they? With the white ones - the buds are really green, and I actually preferred them to the flowers. That was taken 28th July, two years ago. They were just opening. This is them a few days later.
I tried a few last year but none germinated. Maybe I was just lucky the previous year. I'm not sure I'd bother again either @Lyn. Any annuals I grow start and finish later than they would further south, but I don't grow many, and I choose fairly carefully to suit my conditions. We can't plant out very early - stuff just sits and sulks. This year was worse because May was colder than usual too. Anything which likes plenty of summer rainfall does well though
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you, @Fairygirl. They look more like seed heads. I’m tempted to try overwintering one in my conservatory to see how they perform in their second year. If only I could find the space!
They do look a bit off @pitter-patter, but it may be down to cold/hot weather, or justthe photo. If you haven't had flowers, you can't have seedheads, so I'm assuming they aren't that.
Are they very discoloured? Maybe the blue ones are different. Buds would feel fat and 'full', whereas seedheads would be light, and drier.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I bought some of the purple ones as seedlings earlier this year, and they are growing like mad here in the flower border in Lincs. Just spotted a few very tiny flower buds... Am finding them really interesting... those tendrils are so strong... I've got a kind of cat's cradle of them, between posts, that at about 5ft, aren't really tall enough for them...
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They need to be damp before sowing too, so perhaps they've been too dry @Fire?
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
They need a warm climate probably be ok a bit further up country. Not for here though wouldn't grow them again.
With the white ones - the buds are really green, and I actually preferred them to the flowers.
That was taken 28th July, two years ago. They were just opening.
This is them a few days later.
I tried a few last year but none germinated. Maybe I was just lucky the previous year.
I'm not sure I'd bother again either @Lyn. Any annuals I grow start and finish later than they would further south, but I don't grow many, and I choose fairly carefully to suit my conditions.
We can't plant out very early - stuff just sits and sulks. This year was worse because May was colder than usual too.
Anything which likes plenty of summer rainfall does well though
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Are they very discoloured? Maybe the blue ones are different. Buds would feel fat and 'full', whereas seedheads would be light, and drier.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...