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Echium pininana from seed

WilderbeastWilderbeast Posts: 1,415
in Problem solving
I've been given seen for an Echium pininana can anyone offer tips on sowing them ? I've grown a couple from plants I was given but not done from seed 
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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    @lyn grows them ... I’ve given her a nudge 😊 

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





  • WilderbeastWilderbeast Posts: 1,415
    Thanks muchly @Dovefromabove
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Sow seeds now, through July, keep indoors until germinated, pot on as needed, keep inside over winter,  greenhouse, conservatory window sill,  they don’t over winter well, but once you planted them out, about next May if it’s warm, you’ll have them forever , they’re much better if you let them self seed, they’re not keen on being transplanted so leave them where they grow.

    You’ll loose some over the winters but some will survive,  not the easiest of plants in our climate but fun to do. 


    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • WilderbeastWilderbeast Posts: 1,415
    @Lyn your a superstar I quite like the idea of having them forever. I had a monster last year but it got some sort of rot in the main stem and kealed over 1 night before it got to setting seed, oh I did cry 😭😭. 
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I cry every year when the frost gets them.  Usually manage to keep about three from all the little seedlings, you’re probably in a colder area than I am, so good luck with them😀
    had a huge beauty a few years ago, had a trunk as big as my arm, frost got it!

    They take three years to flower, 1st year set seeds and grow little plants, next year grow on and flowers the following one. 
    The seeds you sow this year probably won’t flower next year but the one after. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • WilderbeastWilderbeast Posts: 1,415
    Compared to you @Lyn we're we're nearly Baltic (well depends where in Devon you are obviously), I'm happy over wintering them. An old stately home near to us has absolutely loads of them, they grow like weeds there, so hopefully I can get them going as an addition to my tropical area 
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    We are on the west side of Dartmoor, 960’ up, so can be cold and windy.  The only disadvantage, as the view is beautiful. 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • StephenSouthwestStephenSouthwest Posts: 635
    Ours have gone a bit mad this year!
  • oooftoooft Posts: 191
    Lyn said:
    Sow seeds now, through July, keep indoors until germinated, pot on as needed, keep inside over winter,  greenhouse, conservatory window sill,  they don’t over winter well, but once you planted them out, about next May if it’s warm, you’ll have them forever , they’re much better if you let them self seed, they’re not keen on being transplanted so leave them where they grow.

    You’ll loose some over the winters but some will survive,  not the easiest of plants in our climate but fun to do. 


    Hi lyn, I sowed seeds in march and only one germinated. This is how it looked 2 weeks ago, bit bigger now. Do I keep it in conservatory until next May or the year after? I'm near Glasgow. Zero chance of seedlings surviving here if I get it to the self seeding stage?

  • WilderbeastWilderbeast Posts: 1,415
    @stephentame that's kind of wild !!! Please tell me that's in the Baltic wastes of Yorkshire (by the way I am a total Yorkshire man through and through in case I offend anyone 🤣🤣) and I could achieve the same thing here
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