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Talkback: How to collect and sow foxglove seed
Elizabeth Bridger
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in Talkback
One of my foxgloves grew more over 8ft with a flower head of 4ft
is this normal? Liz Bridger
is this normal? Liz Bridger
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The wild pink ones in my garden grow anything from 3 to 8 feet.
When all done all I have to do is remove the withered stems onto the compost to recycle.
Works every time. Hope this helps others.
Best regards.
Well I should find out next summer cos I've got foxgloves coming out of my ears right now
I find they can seed and sow without any input from me
In the sticks near Peterborough
On any one flower spike there will be seed capsules which are immature at the top, others that have already escaped at the bottom, and ready-to-collect ones in between. Collect some capsules from the middle, place in a paper bag, shake and hey presto you have ten million seeds. They are minute so only need sprinkling where you want them to germinate, including your seed tray. No need to cover.
The seeds are very small as WW said. Collect from the middle of the spire as suggested. Sprinkle them sparingly on top of damp seed compost, John Innis no. 1 is good for this. You can mix the seeds with sand if it helps (not builder's sand). Label them.
Leave them somewhere safe making sure they don't dry out.
When they are large enough to handle, prick them out gently and transfer to very small pots or plugs.
They'll die down over winter but don't worry about that.
When they start growing again you just keep potting them into larger pots, 1" bigger each time until they are the size you want.
Hope that helps .
The most effective foxglove sowing method in my garden is my huge dog running around wagging his fat fluffy tail into everything. You can hear the tall foxgloves stalks shaking out their load, and you know you missed another year to sow them scientifically, but since they all sprout (usually in the paths) and are very amenable to be transplanted, all is well in the end. Jade is a great gardener.
I cut the stem when I see some pods are about to burst open. Take the stem to where you want to grow them, then just shake. They rattle! When they start to grow, just dig them up and move where you want or pot up to give away. Seen them I garden centres for £5 a plant!!!!! I must have £100's in my garden......