|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2007 16:33:12 GMT
Hi all ... I sowed foxgloves summer 2005, they came up OK but did not flower last year so this spring I ripped them all out  ... except for one which escaped and now looks spectacular. My question is: what does biennial really mean? This one was obviously triennial - i.e. flowered third year from sowing. Also, I just read (Garden World) that it should be cut down to the base after flowering - why? Surely if its a biennial it will just die? Or does it sprout and flower again? Any advice appreciated ... |
|
|
|
Post by JennyWrenn on Jun 4, 2007 7:37:15 GMT
I cant help - but can give some feedback; I love foxgloves - very olde worlde English cottage gardeney but the two lovelies I have had for two years and flowered every year have disappeared  Everything else coming up that I planted around them  I thought they self seeded too they grow in the wild round here |
|
|
|
Post by Chuckles on Jun 4, 2007 8:01:38 GMT
What a shame about your Foxgloves CC, I bet you were cross. Biennials are plants that take two seasons to grow, first year leaves and second year flowers, then they die I'm afraid. After flowering if you cut down the main flower stem you can get a second flush of flowers, not as big as the first though. This is the same for other plants too, perennials like Delphinium and Oriental Poppy will do the same. I've had Foxgloves in the garden for years, but sometimes I have a lot less than others. One particular part of my garden was always full of them and then one year I didn't have one grow  it's now my veg plot. If I spot any self seeded ones in the wrong place I usually plant a few in pots and put them away till they are bigger and then plant them later in another part of the garden. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2007 14:09:26 GMT
Thnaks Chuckles - I've obviously still got a lot to learn! Incidentally, will aquilegia get a second flush if you cut them down (hopefulsmiley)? ... cheers ...
|
|
|
|
Post by Chuckles on Jun 5, 2007 16:15:03 GMT
Not really sure about Aqualegia CC. I have loads in my garden and to be honest I let them selfseed for years and am now suffering with an invasion of them. I find the leaves although lovely crowd the borders and smother other plants. The last 2 years I have chopped them down completely to the ground after flowering, they do put some leaf growth back on but I can't honestly recall seeing a second flush of flowers.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2007 16:51:36 GMT
Oh well, may as well try and see. Mine have been going strong for six weeks and show no signs of coming to an end - hopefully they'll seed themselves everywhere!!!
|
|
... except for one which escaped and now looks spectacular. My question is: what does biennial really mean? This one was obviously triennial - i.e. flowered third year from sowing. Also, I just read (Garden World) that it should be cut down to the base after flowering - why? Surely if its a biennial it will just die? Or does it sprout and flower again? Any advice appreciated ...
Everything else coming up that I planted around them 
it's now my veg plot.