Lyn's advice is spot on. Sow them in a cold greenhouse in April. I seem to remember I potted mine in small plastic pots and planted them out in early May.
They are fantastic,. Don't be put off by Bex's bad experience- if I had cabbage white on them I did not notice and I always have lots of butterflies
They look fantastic Bex ! Can you remember what type they were and where you got the seeds?
I have started to do some research and found references to the "sparkler" and "queen" series, but not sure which is best to try for a first timer. Also whether i need to put in an online order with a specialist seed company, or whether i will find them in garden centres ?
Mine were from Wilkos too! I must have grown 7-8 plants (tiny garden). They didnt really do a lot, planted them out in the garden and they literally grew 2ft over the weekend! The flowers are odd, the buds continue to grow upwards before opening up. It's hard to explain -
I wasn't expecting them to be so tall, I'd planted sweet peas behind them! Good job they were really, my sweet peas were awful!
I planted a free packet of cleome this year and thought it came with GW magazine when I was a subscriber. Plants now about 3' tall with large pink flowerheads and very impressive. Also looks like there are more flowers to appear lower down. Haven't staked them as they are surrounded by other plants so hope they stand up to the storm which may hit south east england tonight. In any event, we have had very strong winds almost every day. Question is - are they likely to self seed or if I cut them down when they finish flowering will they grow again next year? Most perennials in my garden came and went very quickly because of the drought but these really are star performers.
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Lyn's advice is spot on. Sow them in a cold greenhouse in April. I seem to remember I potted mine in small plastic pots and planted them out in early May.
They are fantastic,. Don't be put off by Bex's bad experience- if I had cabbage white on them I did not notice and I always have lots of butterflies
What varieties have people had. I only have space for a few and I'm looking for nothing higher than 3 ft. Thanks
These were mine at the beginning of August. 2wks later those leaves looked like lace!
They look fantastic Bex ! Can you remember what type they were and where you got the seeds?
I have started to do some research and found references to the "sparkler" and "queen" series, but not sure which is best to try for a first timer. Also whether i need to put in an online order with a specialist seed company, or whether i will find them in garden centres ?
Lol they really so look like cannabis or hemp leaves lol..... Chicky check out ebay tons of varieties.....
Mine were from Wilkos too! I must have grown 7-8 plants (tiny garden). They didnt really do a lot, planted them out in the garden and they literally grew 2ft over the weekend! The flowers are odd, the buds continue to grow upwards before opening up. It's hard to explain -
I wasn't expecting them to be so tall, I'd planted sweet peas behind them! Good job they were really, my sweet peas were awful!
Thanks Bex - will definitely give them a try
If you have canes, it's probably worth staking them when you plant them out, mine were top heavy & flopped, and ended up being tied to the fence.
I planted a free packet of cleome this year and thought it came with GW magazine when I was a subscriber. Plants now about 3' tall with large pink flowerheads and very impressive. Also looks like there are more flowers to appear lower down. Haven't staked them as they are surrounded by other plants so hope they stand up to the storm which may hit south east england tonight. In any event, we have had very strong winds almost every day. Question is - are they likely to self seed or if I cut them down when they finish flowering will they grow again next year? Most perennials in my garden came and went very quickly because of the drought but these really are star performers.