Tag Archive: seeds

Ipomoea Pearly Gates

Chris May 11, 2024 Garden climbers, flowers, seeds

I bought seeds of this climber a few years ago and though I got one vine to about a foot high it never flowered. Last month I was sorting my seed box out and found some seeds at the bottom of the box which had escaped from their packet. I had no idea what they were so I just put them in some compost and the seed leaves which emerged led me to believe they were Morning Glory. I potted on five sturdy seedlings so fingers crossed.

Pearly Gates was the variety I bought. It has large, pure white flowers with a slight creamy tint and a distinct star-shaped throat. A useful addition to fences or to cover an old shed, which was the reason I bought the seeds way back. Had I known what I know now I would have chosen to buy a plant rather than seeds although I have found that plants are hard to source.

Morning glory, Ipomoea tricolor, is a frost tender annual climber that bears beautiful, flowers on fast growing twining stems with heart shaped green leaves. Morning glories usually have to be grown from seed as ready grown plants are rarely available. The name morning glorycomes from the plants’ flowering habit. The blooms open early and only for a day, fading by mid-afternoon in hot weather. Many flowers are borne in succession so this plant makes a lovely display for months, flowering throughout summer and into early autumn. The blooms come in a range of varieties and colours of which the best-known is Heavenly Blue. Morning glory can grow up to several feet high .

Basil Red Rubin

Chris May 8, 2024 Garden, Herbs Basil, herbs, seeds

Red Rubin basil is an improved variety of Dark opal basil. Like many basils it is a cultivar of Osimum basilicum. This basil variety has unusual reddish purple leaves and a stronger flavour than sweet basil making it most appealing for salads and garnishes. Wikipedia
Scientific name: Ocimum basilicum ‘Purpurascens’
Wikipedia

I did a load of tidying up in the garden this morning and I reached the point where I had to stop and have a rest. Glenn made me a drink and I sat at my desk drinking it and looking through my box of old seeds. Recently I sowed some Amaranth seeds and today they were all peeping through looking very red. Coincidentally, I found some seeds of Basil Red Rubin. I’m not a fan of Basil but as it was a beautiful red colour I decided to sow some in a nice pot I’d come across. After reading the quote below I quite like the idea of making an oil and vinegar dressing if these seeds grow successfully.

Update – 11th May these seeds are showing through already and strangely look like blue powder sprinkled over the surface of the pot.

This fragrant basil with vibrant purple leaves also produces pink flowers making it a superb ornamental plant. It is perfect when used fresh for making vinegar and oils as well as adding colour to salads. Sow indoors in February and March in normal compost or outdoors in a well drained soil from April to May. Barely cover seeds with fine compost germination takes between 10-20 days.
Plant World Seeds

Sowing Seeds April 24th 2024

Chris April 24, 2024 Garden Balsam, Borage, Delphinium, flowers, propagation, seeds

Larkspur Hyacinth (Delphinium)

Delphinium are a favourite in cottage gardens. Both perennial and annual varieties are available. The common name is larkspur. They are happiest in full sun and may need staking as they grow very tall. I have never done this however and have never had a spire snap off. They prefer a rich soil which doesn’t dry out or become waterlogged.

This morning I have sown seeds of Larkspur Hyacinth both indoors in modules and outside. This variety is an annual so I shall need to bear in mind to let one late spire go to seed to collect for next year. Hyacinth is a mixture of pink, white and red if I remember correctly. The seeds I have are old now and so I’m just going for it and crossing my fingers for some success. I used to have a beautiful deep blue variety in my red white and blue pot but I fear they are long gone. I purchased these seeds a few years ago from Country Garden www.countrygardenuk.com A brilliant seed company with a wealth of information about happy gardening and amazing flower photography.

Young plants are available out there and these can be planted out in Spring after the risk of frost has passed.

Once established and in full flower cut back faded flower spikes to small flowering side shoots to encourage a second flush of flowers. In autumn cut down all growth to ground level after it has died back.

Divide overcrowded plants every 3 to 4 years as new growth begins in spring, lifting the plants and dividing them into smaller clumps.

Balsam Dwarf Bush Mixed

These are seeds that I have had success with before. They were purchased from Seekay Horticultural Supplies in 2017. Yes. They are old. I have sown them in a plastic container with drainage holes and hey presto over a dozen seedlings have popped through. I am very pleased as I remember the plants being quite substantial although they are called dwarf. I shall grow them on now and by the summer hopefully have a good show of flowers.

Borage – Star Flower

I’ve had less success with the old Borage seeds but if I can grow on the four seedlings that have popped through I shall get four enormous plants and be able to collect seeds at the end of the growing season. I love Borage. It has a wonderful blue colour and is a magnet to bees and other pollenating insects. Commonly called Star Flower it is useful to vegetable growers and our allotment is where I first grew this strong attractive plant. Update 29th April – Two healthy seedlings potted on today.

Lunaria – Honesty – Hardy Biennual

Chris April 23, 2022 Garden flowers, germination, Honesty, seeds, Tips

Its April 23rd 2022 and I have sown seeds of purple Honesty. I used to have purple and white growing in the garden but they seem to have disappeared so another sowing was in order. They should take about 20 days to germinate. They are quite old seeds so as they are biannual I have sown more than I normally would incase of failures. They are quite tough plants though so I am hopeful of getting flowers from May/June in 2023. Once again I made the mistake in thinking that these plants would self seed and proliferate around the garden. I really need to concentrate on building up the soil.

Since Adam was poorly and consequently passed away I have let the garden go a bit so need to get some quality into the soil. I have two compost bins that need emptying so that should have been put all over the borders before the start of the growing season. It’s difficult to do when things start to grow because I don’t want to bury new seedlings. I will do what I can little by little and hope that I live long enough to see the results of my labour.

Another attempt at growing climbers from seed 2022

Chris April 12, 2022 Garden climbers, flowers, germination, seeds

I have just sown four each of Ipomoea Pennata Red; Ipomoea Pearly Gates (white) and Thunbergia Alata Mix. I tried these climbers last year with no success so try try again. I have put them in a root trainer affair which is green and open to the light but sealed to keep in the moisture. They are sitting on the window ledge in as much light as I have available so fingers crossed. From what I can remember germination could take 20 to 30 days so about a month. Its 12th April 2022 today so well into May when the soil should be warming up. Update – 18th April 2022 – two shoots already. Update – 21st April 2022 – six shoots now. These root trainers are good.

I love climbers and as our garden is quite small they allow us to use the fence and various arches to give us more flowers at eye level as well as in the ground and in our myriad of pots.

Thinking about sowing these seeds today has made me take stock of what climbers we have already. We have a basic Ivy that has been with us for years as a dividing screen between our garden and next door. I have a climbing Hydrangea alongside it that is also very old and well established. Clematis have come and gone over the years but the ones that come to mind that are still with us are Montana, Apple Blossom; Hagley Hybrid; Mrs Bateman; Princess Kate; Guernsey Cream and a couple of deep red and purple ones that I’ve forgotten the names of, Warsaw something I think one of them is. I have a Russian Vine that I have had to cut back excessively this year as although it s flowers are beautiful it has taken over a part of the side garden and climbed up into the plum trees so urgent secateur work was required.

I have an old Jasmine that could do with removing too. Tidying up work desperately needed I think. Ours is an old garden and as it is small I can’t let things go.

You can’t have enough climbers can you.

Update 27th April 2024 – Ipomoea Pearly Gates – A Half Hardy Perennial = Still a few seeds left so here I go again trying to raise this climber. A couple of years ago I got two seedling to grow to about a foot high only to die on me before they reached maturity. No root trainers this time they too are long gone so just a small tray of moist seed compost covered in polythene and sat on my computer box. Fingers crossed.

Mirabalis Japala – collected seeds – 2022 – The four ‘o’ clock plant

Chris March 28, 2022 Garden flowers, germination, Mirabilis, seeds, Tips

Today, 28th March 2022, I have sown 14 seeds that I collected the last time I grew these plants. Apparently that was 2018!!!! I wish that I had looked at my old posts first as I had already sown them only to read that I shouldn’t have excluded light as in nature they drop to the ground and germinate in the light.

They are on the windowsill here in my office so the pot has lots of light but I did put a sprinkle of compost over them and put them in a polythene bag. Roll on 40 days which is how long they took to germinate the last time I gave them a try. Update 23rd April 2022 – 8 seedlings already through after only 27 days. Looking good.

“Mirabilis is a genus of plants in the family Nyctaginaceae known as the four-o’clocks or umbrellaworts. The best known species may be Mirabilis jalapa, the plant most commonly called four o’clock. There are several dozen species in the genus, of herbaceous plants, mostly found in the Americas.” Wiki
I have done a search online for Mirabilis and found a picture of the dormant root of this plant. It was a hefty looking root and I fear that maybe I threw mine away in the winter not remembering what was in the pot. Lesson learned I hope. Label the pot and don’t throw any dead looking root into the compost bin. The roots or tubers I think look very much like Dahlia tubers.

Cerinthe Major Purpurascens – sowing and growing

Chris March 20, 2022 Garden Cerinthe, flowers, germination, photos, propagation, seeds, Tips

Back in 2017 I sowed some of these Cerinthe seeds thinking that they would self seed everywhere but alas there is no sign of them in my garden today. I collected seeds from the couple of plants that did grow and I came across them today and have decided to give them another go. Obviously they are old but they look good so I have first put them to soak a little and intend to start them indoors. I think I shall put the plants in to a large pot rather than directly into the garden this year. Update 28th March 2022 – I put the seeds into a pot of multi purpose compost today so fingers crossed for germination. Update 2nd April 2022 – Four of these seeds germinated at 5 days. Looking good and strong.

The common name of these majestic plants is Honeywort or the blue shrimp plant. They are much loved by bees and flower arrangers alike. I remember the plant as having beautiful blue green foliage and brilliant deep blue/purple flowers, as its name implies. Seeds are sold as hardy annuals and said to self seed easily. However, the seeds have a coat of armour that benefits from a little soaking in tepid water before sowing. Once established they will flower all summer but this time I shall save more seeds rather than leaving them to their own devices.

Wallflower Vulcan

Chris March 9, 2022 Garden biennial, Erysimum, flowers, seeds, Vulcan, Wallflowers

I have quite a few of these Wallflowers grown from seed last year. They have overwintered outside really well and I potted them on into 9″ pots last week. At present they are in the porch until I decide on their permanent position in the garden. I am looking forward to seeing them in flower. They are described as being rich crimson and deep red shades by the lady from Country Garden UK, where I bought the seeds. Its a lovely site and all the seeds that I had from there were fresh and good value. Her site is well worth a visit and you can find her at www.countrygardenuk.com

This lovely red Wallflower produces clusters of scented flowers on long strong stems. Each flower head is made up of many individual flowers which gives them a most attractive appearance. Blooms are produced early in the year at the same time that Tulips flower from March to the end of May. Vulcan has deep purple buds opening to crimson red flowers. Gill from country garden.

Spring 2022 – Asarina Scandens Climber

Chris March 8, 2022 Garden, Pandemic, Spring Asarina, climber, flowers, photos, propagation, seeds

It has been a long, long year since I wrote on my diary/blog. Mainly, I think, because I have been very depressed and not feeling very well either. I have no idea why, this morning, I feel the urge to write. Maybe its the signs of Spring in the garden; the green shoots peeping through the ground; hopefully it is because I am really feeling better in myself. I hope so.

The pandemic is no longer raging on more creeping amongst us and we are having to live with it. We are all more familiar with our enemy these days and have become knowledgeable about viruses in general and how to keep safe from infection. Public health has become the responsibility of the global population.

Then: just as we were thinking it was safe to go into the water: War in Europe!! The Russian army, once again, under orders from Vladimir Putin, have invaded Ukraine. I don’t intend to relate stories of the war on this blog, but as this is, in effect, my diary I feel I have to mention it as a marker in my life.

I intend to make the main thrust of my blog the daily activities that happen in my home and garden. I have added the Amazon affiliate function again as an experiment.

Asarina, The Snap Dragon Vine.

On March 13th 2021 I sowed a few seeds of this climber and one plant has survived the Winter. Today I transplanted a strong looking root into a deeper pot. I have yet to see a flower but am hopeful that I shall see some this year. I had another look online for information about this climber which I had thought was a delicate creature only to find that it eventually grows into quite a tough woody plant once it becomes established. Other knowledgeable people say that its best to start each year from seed. However, I have searched through my seed stash box and find that I must have sown all of the seeds that I had last year. Fingers crossed for success this year.

Sow indoors in spring in good light with some warmth. Germination can be erratic. Pot up seedlings individually and pinch back when out 10cm. Do not overwater. Grow on until frosts have passed, then plant outside in the border or large containers. Sarah Raven https://www.sarahraven.com/products/asarina-scandens-mystic-rose

Ammi Majus – Queen Anne’s Lace

Chris March 26, 2021 Garden Ammi, flowers, germination, propagation, seeds, Tips, white

This year I decided to buy a few more seeds of Ammi Majus but unfortunately I had put the seed packet in my jumper pocket and it ended up in the wash. Disaster. I have put them in a bit of compost but an pretty certain that I have ruined them. I think if I can get just one plant to grow I shall be happy. I last sowed these in 2017 and thought that they would be popping up every year but not much survives in my garden, not even plants like this tough weed-like specimen.

Bishop’s flower, Ammi majus is a superb annual bearing delicate white lacy flowers and attractive ferny foliage. They look good in a mixed herbaceous border. These tall plants do best in well drained soil in sun to partial shade. As Ammi is an annual collect seeds to sow the following year but leave some for the goldfinches which like to eat them in winter.

Ammi majus, commonly called bishop’s flower, bullwort, greater ammi, lady’s lace, false Queen Anne’s lace, or laceflower, is a member of the carrot family Apiaceae. The plant is native to the Nile River Valley. Wikipedia

Ammi Majus – Bishops Flower

Warning: These plants can cause skin irritation.

My diary from 2004