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Post by oldmoleskins on May 4, 2009 5:59:29 GMT
OM, I will send you some seeds in a couple of months - there are a few in the grounds around here that are just starting to flower, they are toughies as they all self seeded.....I'm pretty sure the seeds should be sown fresh and was thinking that a bio degradable pot might be a good idea as they hate being disturbed Yes, please J! Now I know more where they shouldn't be in the garden, I think I may be trusted with some... OM.
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on May 4, 2009 16:55:36 GMT
Here's my baby.... a bit tall and thin (about 8 ft tall so far)
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Post by Amo on May 4, 2009 18:21:09 GMT
All my echiums died Now I'll have to buy a couple - at vast expense to get them going again To think that last year I was moaning that I had millions of the b*****s and now I have none - ain't life grand!! ;D ;D Mine died too. That's rather impressive CPB! I wraped mine up too but it still didn't work. How long has yours been in the ground?
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Post by Auricula on May 4, 2009 22:58:58 GMT
I'm buying 2 this year, to go in a new exotics bed I am making. I'm hoping they behave in their usual way and have loads of offspring....aah
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on May 5, 2009 16:49:07 GMT
Mine was in a pot for 2 years...then planted last spring....wrapped over winter and since he was set free he's been growing a couple of inches a day.... ;D ;D
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Post by jean on May 5, 2009 18:03:16 GMT
Its was worth all the wrapping CPB ;D It looks like you have found an ideal sheltered place too.
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Post by oldmoleskins on May 5, 2009 19:31:11 GMT
and it looks like there's flower buds up there...
OM.
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on May 5, 2009 20:14:06 GMT
Yep OM...there are flower buds all the way up...remains to be seen what sort of a show we'll get...but we've been lavishing extravagant praise at it for about two years now...you never know...it seems a bit flimsy...so I'm hoping that a high wind doesn't snap it in two...
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Post by Amo on May 10, 2009 19:01:42 GMT
It's looking good there CPB!! Look what we picked up today!!!!! And they are pinanana's! (Not the Melianthus of course ) Bigun's eh!! ;D ;D ;D
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Post by oldmoleskins on May 10, 2009 19:08:32 GMT
A pair of stunnas, as I'm told they say in the 'Redtops'...
OM.
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Post by Amo on May 10, 2009 19:25:35 GMT
One doesn't go near those rags Moley dear!!! One is a Broad through and through. ;D (Actually now a days it's The Week for hard copy ) Am I right in thinking the The Stunnas like a bit of rough?? And grit? ?
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Post by oldmoleskins on May 11, 2009 6:40:39 GMT
Am I right in thinking the The Stunnas like a bit of rough?? And grit? ? Interesting point... to promote quick root-hold, you'd think so, but then they need securely anchoring - so nothing too 'loose'. My neighbour, who entrusted me with some seedlings last year bunged his in the front border close to the house (faces south) and has been rewarded with flower spikes he can gaze upon from his bedroom window. I don't think he did any special preparation, but I'll ask. Cheery would know. OM.
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on May 14, 2009 19:09:33 GMT
Cheery is not exactly an expert you know..... ;D I had to anchor my echium to the fence when it almost blew over this week...the flowers are opening now but it's a fairly spindly specimen. I've achieved what I set out to do tho...(will post a pic if the sun ever starts shining again...) which is to raise an echium pininana in the not-so-exotic climate of the East Midlands ...the only way I'll get one to Heligan standards I spose is to win the lottery and build a biome...... Mine is about 10' now.....
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Post by Auricula on May 18, 2009 14:03:56 GMT
Can't find any plants/seedlings to buy will try to get some seeds
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on May 18, 2009 19:30:34 GMT
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Post by Auricula on May 18, 2009 22:30:09 GMT
Don't do nuffin - it'll take care of its self. They're usually quite spindly, yours looks a good specimen, well done. A few weeks after it has finished flowering,if you leave it alone, you will begin to see baby seedlings appear all over the place.You can either leave them or pot them up ( they'll sulk and droop but recover in a few days if they're watered ) You'll never be without echiums again!!
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Post by oldmoleskins on May 19, 2009 8:19:45 GMT
Well done to get it through to its finale Cheery - and it's ahead of the ones in my neighbour's garden (sisters/brothers of mine)... they've yet to come into flower, though they look promising. I'll get a pic when they perform. OM.
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Post by Chuckles on May 19, 2009 10:59:57 GMT
Wow Cheery you clever thing, don't it look fanblinkintastic. I think they are great looking plants but alas my garden is not sheltered enough It looks pretty tall in the pics, how tall is it ?
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Post by Amo on May 19, 2009 20:01:56 GMT
Woooooo CPB!!! Lookeeee there! And I'm sure the neighbours are. ;D
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Post by oldmoleskins on Jun 7, 2009 8:14:13 GMT
My echium donor, Richard the Acting Postman's cottage at the moment... finally, the Norfolk experiment produces: OM.
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Post by Dutchy on Jun 7, 2009 9:08:10 GMT
wow she mumbled humbly and jealous. I don't think anything as exotic as that will ever make it here. What is that yellow in the background?
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jun 7, 2009 14:21:08 GMT
...phwoar.....
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Post by andy on Jun 7, 2009 17:45:50 GMT
Am i the only one on this planet who finds this plant absolutely hideous
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Post by Barbara on Jun 8, 2009 10:32:32 GMT
I'm with you on this Andy, I have never seen one before, probably to cold for it up here in the frozen north. ;D
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Post by Auricula on Jun 8, 2009 11:15:37 GMT
It has a honey fragrance and the bees/butterflies don't agree with you Andy - but I must admit..........it wouldn't win a beauty contest
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Post by jean on Jun 12, 2009 18:37:57 GMT
They look best in groups in the wild but they make a good talking point when grown in gardens The challenge of getting them to grown is another matter
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jul 13, 2009 18:06:54 GMT
Love it or loathe it, echium pininana is a rewarding plant to grow....if challenging! I didn't get any pics when ours was at it's finest a few weeks ago covered in bees and splendid at 10'10" tall ! It's flowered for weeks and been a real talking point...with fellow gardeners popping in to pay homage ;D OH took it out today as it's dying back now....I've collected quite a lot of seed if anyone's interested!
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Post by Dutchy on Jul 13, 2009 19:25:25 GMT
Hmmmm. When does one seed this monster and how does one treat it? That is the question I need to have answered to my liking before stumbling into this. I can after all only grow something like that at MssK I think.
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jul 13, 2009 20:36:26 GMT
;D
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Post by Auricula on Jul 13, 2009 21:49:41 GMT
I plant mine in their own bed after years of having them swamp everything around them in borders.I let them self seed and transplant the seedlings if they come up where they're not wanted.When you transplant them they sulk for ages - bless! ;D
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