Foxglove
Woody11
Posts: 2
Hi, I'd appreciate any advice on what to do with my foxgloves.
I have an 'Excelsior' mix in my garden that has produced lots of stems and flowers this year. I allowed the stems to die back and dry and so they will have self sown. I've cut the stems right back to the bottom of the plants, which are massive, with very healthy basal leaves. Should I leave these plants in situ - in hope they will flower again next year or dig them up and compost? They are very big and although lovely as a foliage I'm concerned that the new seed won't have enough light or space to germinate and establish.
I have another batch of young plants in pots on the go and am wondering whether I should dig up the ones from this year and replace with these?
Thanks in advance 
Posts
I have found that sometimes a large native D. purpurea foxglove will go on for a third year and flower again, but it's never as good as the previous year's flowering. Not tried with Excelsior types though.
To be honest, if you've got some good plants ready to plant out I'd take up the old ones that have flowered and replace them with fresh plants.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I'm left with monster plants, some are 1.5 ft wide at the base! It seems a shame to dig them up when they look so healthy, but I appreciate that next year they may not be so vibrant and yielding. Maybe I'll leave just a couple in place to see what happens but take the rest out and pop the little ones in.
Thanks for your advice