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Last year's Sweet Williams

Daryl2Daryl2 Posts: 452

Hi all, last year I bought a box of 9 sweet williams from the reject corner at BnQ. I planted them in an empty south facing space and they grew OK but flowered rather inconsistently. Some made no flowers at all. I planted them about 6-9" apart which maybe wasn't enough as they looked a bit crowded by the end of the summer. Anyway, thinking they were annuals and would die off during the winter I left them alone. Now that Spring is round the corner they are still there and apart from a bit of wind / frost burn on the tops they look alright. 

Will they regrow and flower again this year? Should I lift them and spread them out a bit more or are they doomed to be compost fodder? 

Posts

  • They're a biannual, I believe? Also, I think, self-seeding?

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    I thought they were annuals or biennials but my last year's plants are looking good and I'm expecting flowers, so I'm leaving them. A lot of the plants grown as annuals are really perennials.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Daryl2Daryl2 Posts: 452

    What do you think about spreading them out a bit then? I'm not sure if it might do more harm than good?

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    I think they'd put up with that Daryl. Good idea, mine have grown a lot and could be spread out more



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Daryl2Daryl2 Posts: 452

    Thanks, I'll give it a try. Nothing to lose really image Might leave it until it's a tad warmer though - still a bitter cold wind blowing down here. 

  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307

    Actually short lived perennials which are grown as biennials. Some of mine are  in their 4th year now. All I do is cut them back when they have finished flowered. It seems to suit them.

    Feeding with a high potash feed does help them flower.

  • Daryl2Daryl2 Posts: 452

    Oh, thanks everyone, this all sounds very encouraging. image

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