Well timed post. I was wondering what to do with mine. If you cut back, do you cut right back at ground level or just below the lowest flowers? I don't want them to go to seed as I have another tray of seedlings grown this year. Would it be better for me to discard the 'old' plants and put the new ones in? I haven't really got any more space left........unless I dig up the lawn!
I dead-head when the flowers are over, cutting back the flowered stems to where some new side-shoots are appearing. Then I get a second flush of blooms later on. Then I cut the whole plant right back to 6" or so either late autumn or early spring - depending on my mood and what I'm doing in the rest of the garden.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Marygold - I have cut back the main stems to roughly 18 inches. It looks quite scruffy because some of the lower foliage is a bit yellow and tattered. I have hidden it by placing a young philadephus in a container in the front of the border.
Just going to wait and see what happens now. Many of the flowers went over before I could deadhead so it will be interesting to see next year whether this is really as much of a vigorous self-seeder as some people say!
Thanks for the advice Dove and Racine. I gave my Mum some spare ones last year. We didn't realise how big they grow so she has had masses. I like them but my Mum is not so keen. She phoned me this afternoon to ask if my One and Only, (currently home from uni), can dig them out tomorrow when we visit.
Just a quick update on this thread. Having cut the sweet rocket back a month ago I am pleased to report that it has put on new growth and there are even a few new flowers - you can just spot them in the middle of the photo. Nice that it has a new companion with the helenium.
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Well timed post. I was wondering what to do with mine. If you cut back, do you cut right back at ground level or just below the lowest flowers? I don't want them to go to seed as I have another tray of seedlings grown this year. Would it be better for me to discard the 'old' plants and put the new ones in? I haven't really got any more space left........unless I dig up the lawn!
I dead-head when the flowers are over, cutting back the flowered stems to where some new side-shoots are appearing. Then I get a second flush of blooms later on. Then I cut the whole plant right back to 6" or so either late autumn or early spring - depending on my mood and what I'm doing in the rest of the garden.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Marygold - I have cut back the main stems to roughly 18 inches. It looks quite scruffy because some of the lower foliage is a bit yellow and tattered. I have hidden it by placing a young philadephus in a container in the front of the border.
Just going to wait and see what happens now. Many of the flowers went over before I could deadhead so it will be interesting to see next year whether this is really as much of a vigorous self-seeder as some people say!
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Good! I don't have any more space
Thanks for the advice Dove and Racine. I gave my Mum some spare ones last year. We didn't realise how big they grow so she has had masses. I like them but my Mum is not so keen. She phoned me this afternoon to ask if my One and Only, (currently home from uni), can dig them out tomorrow when we visit.
Just a quick update on this thread. Having cut the sweet rocket back a month ago I am pleased to report that it has put on new growth and there are even a few new flowers - you can just spot them in the middle of the photo. Nice that it has a new companion with the helenium.