The Botanic Nursery, Your Botanic Guru!

Foxglove seed can be sown anytime from January to September either by starting in a seed tray or simply scattering the seed (see below).

Foxglove seed is fine, uniformly sized, and easy to handle. Best collected as soon as the capsule splits, there is much to be said for sowing as soon as possible. Such sowings may be over wintered in a well-ventilated cold frame or glasshouse for planting out in early April. Sowing anytime in the early part of the year, January – April will give young plants that may flower later in the same year, these sowings may require very slight warmth to maintain germination. Late sowings from April to August will not require heat.

Good seed compost should be used, peat based is best and do not believe the pressure groups and celebrity gardeners who say you may not use it the world will not stop turning if you decide to do so, however alternative substrats are available. 4” half pots are ideal for small quantities of seed. Compost should be levelled and gently firmed, water with a fine rose on the watering can and ideally a little fungicide should be added to the water. The seed lightly pressed onto the surface of the compost – do not cover the seed, as Foxgloves need light to germinate. The compost must remain moist but do not allow it to become sodden as this will force out air pockets needed for seedling development. Should the compost dry excessively then the seed will germinate erratically or not at all.

Transplant the seeds when they are showing their first true leaves about ½ centimetre in size. Use a good potting compost for this. The young plants can then be grown on in plug trays and transplanted on into pots if they need over-wintering. Plant out when they have developed a good bushy base and are large enough to not get lost in the garden.

Verbascum, Papaver (poppy) seed can be sown as above.

Aquilegia may take a bit longer to germinate than may be expected. Seedlings may continue to appear over a 3-4 week period. this is quite natural and is an adaptation that ensures all the seedlings would not be eaten by a passing goat. Wild Aquilegia are found in parts of the world that experience colder winters so seeds of the species prefer a period of cool weather before germination to prevent seedlings developing before the winter cold sets in. 

       You can sow seed from autumn through to spring in pots or seed trays. just cover the seedwith compost or fine limefree horticultural grit so that it can`t quite be seen, protect from vermin as aquilegia germinate in the dark this can be done with a stone tile inspect the sowings periodically and remove the tile when seedlings are visable ensure they do not freeze solid get too hot or dry out. Prick out when large enough into your favourite potting mix or thin out and plant into the garden.

Hollyhock (Alcea), Orlaya, these larger seeds are best pushed into the seed compost but otherwise require similar treatment as the above seeds. Germination should take less than 21 days.

SCATTERING SEEDS

Alternatively seed might be scattered around the garden any time from April to September. However a better idea is to put aside a small area of ground around 2’ x 1’ where the seed can be scattered on the surface and covered with small sticks or twigs to deter cats and gently watered, the rest is up to nature. When young plants are seen they can then be planted out in the position required in the garden or left to grow on in that area.  

GENERAL INFORMATION

Some species are sound perennials they do not hybridise freely; they are best grown from seed as division can be tricky.

   To divide cut down the foliage by half, lift the plant and cut the roots into reasonable sized divisions and either pot up or replant firmly in the ground. They will need some watering and looking after until re-established around 3-4 weeks. This is best done after flowering.

   Only two species are biennial and are best considered monocarpic, that is to say the plant will die after flowering and setting seed. However often cutting down a flowering stem will stop this process and the plant may come back for another flowering season.

All species of Foxglove come true from seed when grown in isolation, however Digitalis purpurea forms hybridise freely. In order to create a “stand” of one colour, plant a group one year and plant the same ones again the following year, this will ensure a succession of the variety you are trying to get well established and stop the more dominant purple ones taking over. These purple ones can be rouged out by simply removing individuals showing a purple suffusion to the back rib of the lower leaves.