In message
, Rod
writes
On 4 Feb, 11:23, robert wrote:
In message
, Rod
Many thanks for the very informative post. *My recent first attempt at
growing from seeds (two varieties of echium) was a bit of a disaster due
to damping off. *From *the above it is clear that I did not help matters
by letting temperatures get too high and not ventilating adequately.

As recommended by the seed supplier I used JI number 1 and added about
30% mix of grit and sand which I did not sterilise which was probably a
mistake. *I have just got some replacement seeds and this time I will
sterilise the mix and take more care with the growing conditions.

--
If your echiums are hardy annuals like our native Vipers Bugloss,
they're OK sown direct outside in spring or late summer. However I
suspect you may be talking about E. pininana and it's ilk - they are a
much more challenging proposition they belong to mediterranean
climate zones and aren't well suited to our damp, cool, dull
conditions. At Ness E.pininana thrives on a warm sheltered bank in
thin acid soil over sandstone with light high canopy of pines - they
damp off at the drop of a hat from the moment they germinate to the
time they reach flowering size. It is water management all the way -
germination is easy enough, from there warmish well ventilated
position in full light in a well drained compost, they must never be
allowed to get even slightly waterlogged. I have to say my success
with these has not been spectacular but I'm learning.

The echium we are trying are E wildpretii and a cross between E pininana
and wildpretii. The people we get the seed from have the cross growing
profusely on a stone wall at the road side (a local landmark during the
summer) about and a couple of wildpretii in their car park border - on a
similarly exposed site near here. We appreciate the need for really
good drainage. We have managed to over winter one of two plants from
last summer.

--
Robert