Do you think one of the big problems is getting fresh seed Gemma? I've had a lot more success with buying one small cheap plant and collecting and sowing my own seed to propagate.
Thanks for the replies everyone, really interesting to hear how other people have got one. My subsoil is clay, and whilst in some areas there is a layer of leaf mould, there are a lot of roots, both big and small. I've tried growing poppies before but no luck unfortunately. We seem to get mainly moss with some grass growing, which I presume means it isn't very good drainage. I'll give it a go and see what happens - I did try to grow some harebell in a tray but while a lot germinated, they all managed to die off shortly after . But never mind, I shall sow some more in a tray as thinly as I can, and then scatter the rest direct - I shall just have to be patient!
I have some harebells just germinating now Denno, thanks for the heads up and I'll keep an eye on them. Don't lose heart if you don't get good germination, its a learning process that I'm on myself. I have red campion that has sprouted like crazy but devils-bit scabious...not a thing.
Going back to the mixed seed, I found the biggest problem was not knowing what I was sowing. I bought a butterfly mix a few years back but it just didn't tell me what species they were...knowledge is power? That's how corncockle found its way into my garden and now crops up everywhere, not that I'm complaining
Hi guys I sowed a mix last year and had limited success with the direct method. Not knowing what was in the mix I'm not sure if everything germinated. This year I am having another go but have got a couple of packets poppy,cosmos and Borage to add to the mix.I haven't added any fertilizer or compost to the bed as I thought they liked a more baron patch is this incorrect or should I perk the soil up a little ? I have left it alone as I was hoping some plants would self seed as well
I think it is a bit of myth primrosecottage that wildflowers thrive in low nutrient soil. It is more the specialist end for very rare flowers that one might expect to grow on in chalk grassland and that sort of thing.
It also came about from a modern take on 'wildflower meadow' management. The irony is that the real wildflower meadows of the past were heavily fertilized by animals.
I think of it like growing any flower from seed. If you don't feed them you will most likely get puny little things that barely flower. If you do feed them you get lovely strong plants and a fantastic show of flowers.
Taken to the extreme I've done pot grown native foxgloves fed on miracle grow. They can easily have flower spikes 8 feet in the air and foliage, fantastic.
But in all I think there is no single answer, much like Fishy has said, it's a learning curve and not all wildflowers are born equal. Much like any gardening we have our successes and failures and learn in the process.
Wise words Gemma! And you've just reminded me, I need to get some foxglove seeds . Is there such a thing as an annual foxglove? I always thought they were biennial but someone said the other day they were annual, so now I'm somewhat confused.
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Do you think one of the big problems is getting fresh seed Gemma? I've had a lot more success with buying one small cheap plant and collecting and sowing my own seed to propagate.
In the sticks near Peterborough
I think it could be a big factor nutcutlet, it's easy once you can get them going to collect the seeds and propagate when they are nice and fresh.
Thanks for the replies everyone, really interesting to hear how other people have got one. My subsoil is clay, and whilst in some areas there is a layer of leaf mould, there are a lot of roots, both big and small. I've tried growing poppies before but no luck unfortunately. We seem to get mainly moss with some grass growing, which I presume means it isn't very good drainage. I'll give it a go and see what happens - I did try to grow some harebell in a tray but while a lot germinated, they all managed to die off shortly after
. But never mind, I shall sow some more in a tray as thinly as I can, and then scatter the rest direct - I shall just have to be patient!
I'll try and remember to post some photos if anything interesting happens.
Yes, I look forward to seeing your results Denno
In the sticks near Peterborough
Me too Denno, best of luck with them and don't give up on them, the rewards are worth it.
I have some harebells just germinating now Denno, thanks for the heads up and I'll keep an eye on them. Don't lose heart if you don't get good germination, its a learning process that I'm on myself. I have red campion that has sprouted like crazy but devils-bit scabious...not a thing.
Going back to the mixed seed, I found the biggest problem was not knowing what I was sowing. I bought a butterfly mix a few years back but it just didn't tell me what species they were...knowledge is power? That's how corncockle found its way into my garden and now crops up everywhere, not that I'm complaining
Hi guys
I sowed a mix last year and had limited success with the direct method. Not knowing what was in the mix I'm not sure if everything germinated. This year I am having another go but have got a couple of packets poppy,cosmos and Borage to add to the mix.I haven't added any fertilizer or compost to the bed as I thought they liked a more baron patch
is this incorrect or should I perk the soil up a little ? I have left it alone as I was hoping some plants would self seed as well
I think it is a bit of myth primrosecottage that wildflowers thrive in low nutrient soil. It is more the specialist end for very rare flowers that one might expect to grow on in chalk grassland and that sort of thing.
It also came about from a modern take on 'wildflower meadow' management. The irony is that the real wildflower meadows of the past were heavily fertilized by animals.
I think of it like growing any flower from seed. If you don't feed them you will most likely get puny little things that barely flower. If you do feed them you get lovely strong plants and a fantastic show of flowers.
Taken to the extreme I've done pot grown native foxgloves fed on miracle grow. They can easily have flower spikes 8 feet in the air and foliage, fantastic.
But in all I think there is no single answer, much like Fishy has said, it's a learning curve and not all wildflowers are born equal. Much like any gardening we have our successes and failures and learn in the process.
Wise words Gemma! And you've just reminded me, I need to get some foxglove seeds
. Is there such a thing as an annual foxglove? I always thought they were biennial but someone said the other day they were annual, so now I'm somewhat confused.