Seeds 2021

Growing from Seed 2021

previous year's experiements with seeds

Agastache, collected seed, sowed 29-3-2021

25-4-2021 good germination

9-5-2021

2-6-2021

17-6-2021

mid-August Agastache in bloom, about 4 months from sowing seeds to flowers

Balloon Vine (Chiltern Seeds, Cardiospermum halicacabum) sowed 29-3-2021

4-4-2021 no germination yet (ignore leaf that fell there)

14-4-2021 I put these by the radiator to hopefully spur them to do something and I have 4 seedlings! so far, the packet did say germination in up to 30 days

these were looking pretty good but I put them outside and they suffered so I brought them back inside

25-4-2021 after I brought them back inside they recovered, 4 seedlings looking good, one had died and I see another just emerging

30-4-2021 a 6th seedling emerging

9-5-2021 cosmos seedlings on the left, balloon vine seedlings on the right

Calendula Radio (Chiltern Seeds) sowed 28-2-2021

4-4-2021

12-4-2021

24-4-2021 I repotted the calendula seedlings

before repotting

after repotting, a few to a pot, maybe that's too many but with so many seedlings I found it at least manageable

9-5-2021

2-6-2021 some of the calendula seedlings, 2 pots of them are next door

calendula first flower 2-7-2021, 18 weeks from sowing

Candytuft Fairy (Chiltern Seeds, Iberis umbellata)  sowed 29-3-2021

4-4-2021 good germination

12-4-2021 excellent germination

24-4-2021 I repotted the candytuft seedlings

before repotting

after repotting , thinning them as I went and a few seedlings to a pot, possibly too many. I've not grown these before so I don't know if this is feasible or not

9-5-2021

I have lots of candytuft, here are a few of the pots of it 1-6-2021

these candytuft seedlings have gotten slug-eaten

first candytuft in flower 16-6-2021, 11 weeks from sowing

29-6-2021 candytuft in full flower

Centaurea montana (Chiltern Seeds)

8-9-2021 very disappointed, only 1 seedling

Chicory (Chiltern Seeds Chichorium intybus) sowed 10-8-2021

18-8-2021 reasonable germination in a week

8-9-2021 good number of seedlings, growing well

Cosmos (Chiltern Seeds Cosmos bipinnatus Sensation) sowed 29-3-2021

4-4-2021

very good germination - inside - but I see signs of damping off so I've put them outside but it is quite cold

24-4-2021 I repotted the cosmos seedlings, a few to a pot. They are struggling in this cold weather

9-5-2021

some of the cosmos weren't looking too bad but the slugs got to them and now the leftovers are a dog's dinner, whether I get any flowers at all remains to be seen

16-6-2021 I've had to tie some up, a pretty pathetic selection, I'll be lucky to have 7 plants, must repot, slugs have been disastrous for these

29-6-2021 first cosmos in bloom, 13 weeks after sowing

3 pots of cosmos resulted from 1 pack of seeds

only a couple flowers on this plant

no flowers on this one although growing quite tall

Echium Blue Bedder (Chiltern Seeds) sowed 29-3-2021

4-4-2021

12-4-2021

24-4-2021 I repotted the echium Blue Bedder seedlings a few to a pot.

before repotting

after repotting

9-5-2021

1-6-2021 here are just some of the echium Blue Bedder, two pots are next door

16-6-2021 first flower, 11 weeks after sowing

27-6-2021

Giant Scabious (Chiltern Seeds) sowed 10-8-2021

8-9-2021 only two seedlings (there were 3 but a cat or fox stepped on it and broke it) from the packet of seeds

first flower in bloom 13-6-2023, almost 2 years

Korean Angelica (Chiltern Seeds) sowed 10-8-2021

8-9-2021 month later, no germination

Lupins (Mr Fothergill's Russell Mixed) sowed 29-3-2021

12-4-2021 lupins, also Viola Chicky Chicks

25-4-2021 large ones are lupin, very small ones are viola Chicky Chicks

9-5-2021

the slugs got to these are well, whether any flowers at all are produced, remains to be seen

slugs completely destroyed the lupins, tried again with Wild Lupin, again slugs got them, maybe I'll get 1 plant??

8-9-2021 slugs destroyed those last two seedlings

monkshood (collected seed sown 4-9-2021)

last year was extremely difficult with the drought and heatwave, not sure if it bloomed, this plant is one of these new ones, in bloom June 2023

Morning Glory Heavenly Blue (Mr Fothergill's) sowed end of April/ beginning of May but so many slug losses so sowed more end of May

2 pots that appear to be empty have a tiny seedling emerging

about 4 months after sowing the seeds, 9-2021 gorgeous blue flowers

the flowers do seem to turn pink when they are finishing

Oregano (Chiltern Seeds) sowed some seeds with the Viola alba 22-7-2021, sowed more 10-8-2021

18-8-2021 initial sowing destroyed by slugs, this is the 2nd sowing

8-9-2021 month later, very little growth but they're still there

Poppy

     collected seed from poppies I've grown previously (Lauren's Grape, Black Swan?) sowed 28-2-2021

24-4-2021 I repotted the poppy seedlings but didn't thin them - bit of a dog's dinner really - must sow more thinly next year - always surprised with how well they germinate

some of the poppy seedlingss

first poppies in bloom, turns out to be Lauren's Grape

Papaver somniferum Giganteum (Chiltern Seeds) sowed 28-2-2021

12-4-2021 not looking good, no more germination, in fact, looks like a few seedlings have died

giant poppy seedlings repotted 30-4-2021

9-5-2021

1-6-2021 some casualties from the above but at least I have a few giant poppy seedlings left after the slugs

28-6-2021 giant poppies in bloom

sheepsbit (collected seed)

Sunflower Little Dorrit (Mr Fothergill's) sowed 29-3-2021

4-4-2021 a few seeds have germinated

12-4-2021 25 seeds in the pack (theoretically), most have germinated

24-4-2021 sunflower seedlings after repotting

9-5-2021

16-5-2021 some serious slug damage on the right, maybe they'll still bloom, I don't know

very bad slug damage on these sunflowers

17-6-2021

30-6-2021

first sunflower in bloom, 2-7-2021, 14 weeks from sowing

Viola alba (Chiltern Seeds) sowed 22-7-2021

Viola Chicky Chicks (Chiltern Seeds) sowed 29-3-2021

4-4-2021 no germination yet; 25-4-2021 see Lupins (above) I planted them in the same seed tray

16-6-2021 in bud

few buds there

17-6-2021 first viola Chicky Chicks in flower

Wild Lupins (Chiltern Seeds) soaking the seeds recommended, started soaking 22-7-2021

never got anything from these

Wildlife (Mr Fothergill's Wildflower range) sowed 29-3-2021

12-4-2021

25-4-2021

9-5-2021

2-6-2021

some slug damage but a number of seedlings have survived

Wildlife Trusts Wildflower Seeds

this small promotional packet was in the OcadoLife magazine - with no mention or explanation - so of course, I planted them to see what would happen, if anything 7-4-2021

25-4-2021

9-5-2021

a week or so after this photo, the slugs ate all of the seedlings in this tray

 

for previous years' efforts see Seeds