I've tried on numerous occasions in past few years and they don't germinate well for me either, despite using good, sieved sowing compost. Do the seed not stay viable long?
Light and heat, fair enough. It's hard to see why some people can't grow a PITA weed but I suspect people in spain, South America, USA can't see why we have trouble growing their weeds too.
A high grit medium and patience. Maybe buying some seed compost (finer grade with no nutrient). I don't think they need high heat to germinate. We have them coming up in the cracks in the pavement so germination can't be that demanding.
The seed should be viable for a long time @pinkskyinthecity . If you try sowing them a bit later, and not in seed compost, that might be better. Ordinary MPC is fine in spring and summer, and the grittier the medium the better, for them to germinate. Don't overwater them either. If you get a plant eventually, you might find it easier to do cuttings from them in spring or summer. They take very easily. I don't bother with seed, as the cuttings are better for me here. I sowed seed when I first moved in here, and just do cuttings every year to ensure I have plants
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Fairygirl I'll take cuttings instead then. Do you put them in a poly bag as well? When do you think I should take them. My friend's plants have just started to grow. I'll probably ask them in a month's time when they should have a few extra for me.
If doing them in early summer, or during summer, they just need put round the edge of a pot, and left somewhere with a little shade - not in full sun, and watered just enough to keep them healthy. Under a table or bench is your garden is good, if you have one, or something similar. If you get some in a month or so, that would be ideal timing for doing them. I usually do about 3 or 4 in a 6 inch pot. Putting them round the edges also helps, because it ensures better drainage. They should root in a fairly short space of time, and you can pot them separately, and they should be growing away well by the end of summer, depending on conditions. If I did them then, they'd be around 6 to 12 inches at that point, and I'd just keep them ticking over until next year. If yours were bigger, you could probably plant them out I should have said - no, no bag over them. They'd only need that if you were doing them earlier, and keeping them inside.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I think V Bonariensis still remains a puzzle. I planted some in a free draining south facing garden the soil was light and they struggled! In my garden where the soil is more retentive they normally appear early May by the hundred. There have been a few years where they just hang on. The same happens with V Bampton both like cracks in paths. They often appear in clusters at the side of my border next to the path too. Guess they like to be held tight in the ground? I have just purchased V Hastata as plug plants from J Parkers didn't look good but a week later they are out in the garden and have grown rapidly. V Hastata doesn't seed so well but again like all verbena's looks good into winter.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
I hope these do better for you @LeadFarmer. It's always very disappointing when something fails, and we don't know the reason, or when it's something not really in our control. I think you might have needed to give them a bit of sustenance and plenty of water initially @GardenerSuze, just to get them established. Putting in a potted plant is always a bit different from something seeding in and establishing by itself too. I always think a plant seeding around is like frogspawn. Masses of them both produced, but not all survives and establishes well enough to reach adulthood
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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If you get a plant eventually, you might find it easier to do cuttings from them in spring or summer. They take very easily. I don't bother with seed, as the cuttings are better for me here. I sowed seed when I first moved in here, and just do cuttings every year to ensure I have plants
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I usually do about 3 or 4 in a 6 inch pot. Putting them round the edges also helps, because it ensures better drainage. They should root in a fairly short space of time, and you can pot them separately, and they should be growing away well by the end of summer, depending on conditions. If I did them then, they'd be around 6 to 12 inches at that point, and I'd just keep them ticking over until next year. If yours were bigger, you could probably plant them out
I should have said - no, no bag over them. They'd only need that if you were doing them earlier, and keeping them inside.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The same happens with V Bampton both like cracks in paths. They often appear in clusters at the side of my border next to the path too. Guess they like to be held tight in the ground?
I have just purchased V Hastata as plug plants from J Parkers didn't look good but a week later they are out in the garden and have grown rapidly. V Hastata doesn't seed so well but again like all verbena's looks good into winter.
I think you might have needed to give them a bit of sustenance and plenty of water initially @GardenerSuze, just to get them established. Putting in a potted plant is always a bit different from something seeding in and establishing by itself too.
I always think a plant seeding around is like frogspawn. Masses of them both produced, but not all survives and establishes well enough to reach adulthood
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...