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Foxglove seedlings

purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
in Plants
I have sown these foxglove seeds, for the first time, just so I can choose where some are in the garden next year.

What now. Do they need transplanting, leaving till next year in this tray, putting in a cold greenhouse, or just leaving under the bench where they are now?
Sorry a bit clueless as rarely grow from seed ( its been a steep learning curve this year) as flower seeds never have thrived for me. Thanks for any help.😊

Posts

  • PerkiPerki Posts: 2,527
    They are a bit on the small side they may not flower next year or flower later on. I would be tempted to prick the larger ones out into individual pots and I would leave them under the bench where they are . I do put some foxgloves in the Greenhouse some times to grow on but they attract greenfly so leave them outside.  
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    I always wonder about things in pots outside in winter. Just how much does frost penetrate the soil, will it kill roots?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They'll be fine outside. Tough as all hell.  :)
    I'd agree - you could probably take the bigger ones out and put them into pots of their own, and leave the small ones to grow a bit more. If you get some decent conditions in the next few weeks, they might even grow enough to move on. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 758
    I never bother with foxglove seeds. I get thousands of seedlings throughout the year, blow in from the woodland, they are tough as anything and very easy to lift out and transplant. I find them growing in my herb beds, completely shaded by everything else. If I have a space to fill I pull them straight out by hand and push them into the soil wherever I want them. No hole, no compost, no watering in, they survive just fine. I compost hundreds of them, they're a menace!

    Personally I'd leave that tray sitting outside over winter, no special treatment. Perhaps use it as a door stop, or a ledge to balance things on  ;) . They'll be fine.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    A door stop  :D
    I've got a tray sitting at the edge of a border. The foxglove there is a nice white one, so it had a 'shake', and there are some germinating in the tray, and probably the path too. I'll just pick out any that are in an unsuitable spot. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    Thats why I have these seeds, as they were white. Mind you cross pollination could make them any colour.😁
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    There's a couple of whites which stay white,  but yes- that's part of the problem @purplerallim .
    I had a couple of nice whites, but they eventually became 'wild foxglove' colour. Even though there are none that close to my garden. I assume the white one I have is one of my originals, whose name I can't remember. 
    Snow something I think...
    The bog standard Alba one stays white as far as I know. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    Mine range from white to pink to purple all self seeding.😁
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    I've found their growth really stalls when left in a tray like that if you don't prick them out when they're ready.

    Those 3 larger ones on the left are ideal to move now.
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    I think I might just do that. At the very least it will give the others room to grow. So much for trying to seed thinly. 😆
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