Forum home› Wildlife gardening
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Echinops plants

nikki 7nikki 7 Posts: 111
in Wildlife gardening

Hello folks

I have echinops plants in my garden which the bees adore, but I'm moving home, quite soon.  Will I be able to grown echinops from seed heads for my new garden, or do I need to dig them up and take root cuttings?  I checked out youtube, but can't find any info on this subject.  Any advice would be much appreciated.

Nikki 7

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Mine self seed all over the place, so I expect yours will produce viable seed.  However, you will need a ripe (brown) seed head which is naturally starting to shed the seed.  Taking a head which is still green won't work, so if none have ripened before you move, you will need to use root cuttings.  Having said that, if you ask for some seed on the seed swap thread, I'm certain someone will send you some. :)
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    A day or two before moving, I would cut them right down to the ground and pot them up. Then plant them out in your new place when you have time. You might want to just take one or two, and divide them in autumn to propagate new plants, and take some seed heads as backup.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Might be best just to buy a packet of seed for the new garden.  When I grew plants from seed from plants in my last garden I found they'd lost the lovely blue of the flowers and were a muddy blue/grey.   Still attractive to pollinators but not to me so I have bought fresh seed for this garden.   Chiltern Seeds and Plant World both have a selection.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • nikki 7nikki 7 Posts: 111

    Many thanks for the advice folks.  As always much appreciated.  My garden just wouldn't be the same without echinops plants and all those lovely bees.

    Nikki7

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I agree, buy a new packet of seeds. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

Sign In or Register to comment.