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Hesperis

colette0robertson75888colette0robertson75888 Posts: 3
in Plants
Hi there.

I am new to gardening. I sowed my first hesperis seeds last year and looking to plant them into larger containers this year. I want to use containers because I rent my house so don't want to make changes to the garden.

My question is: What size of pot would be suitable for a hesperis plant to grow to full size and flower in?

Kind regards, 
Colette

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Hi @colette0robertson75888 - I'm not sure how well they'll do in containers long term as they tend to self seed and aren't reliably perennial in the sense of a plant dying back in autumn/winter and re growing the following spring or summer over a long period of years. They're regarded as annuals or short lived perennials.
    I expect you'd need a decent sized container if you try it - probably something the size of a standard bucket [3 gallon/14 litres] which will allow enough room, and will be easier to keep well hydrated. 
    They get fairly large in the right conditions - I'm assuming it's the common H. matronalis you have.   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • colette0robertson75888colette0robertson75888 Posts: 3
    Thanks @Fairygirl. Yeah, it's the common variety. Thanks for the advice :)

    I'm ok about them not self-seeding, just wanting flowers for the summer :)

    Thanks again - will try that size of tub.

    Colette
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If you have success with the seed germinating and growing on/flowering well, you can collect some seed as the flowers finish and form pods,  and do that each year   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    I wouldn't want to waste a lot of compost on these, therefore I'd use a smaller pot as they only flower from mid May to mid July, then I just pull them up and discard.  There is very little rootball and they come up easily. A quick pull and they're out.  
    If I was potting it, I have some 9.5 ltr and I would consider that generous, and sufficient for stability purposes too, as they might need a stake.


    East Anglia, England
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That should reassure you @colette0robertson75888  :)
    I've never grown them in pots, and I've not had them for a very long time. If you're in a windy site, be sure to support them before they get too big though. We get plants uprooted or tipped over here even in spring and summer, and it can be difficult to stake or support them well once plants get larger.
    Hope they do well for you  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • colette0robertson75888colette0robertson75888 Posts: 3
    Thank you @Marlorena and @Fairygirl - very helpful advice :)
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    They do grow tall with a fairly short flowering time,  longer if you keep cutting them back.
    They grow bushy so you will only need one to a pot if you use smaller pots,  but you can cram another in if you want too.  being biennial they don't grow big roots.
    You 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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