Foxgloves
 

Am I too late to sow foxgloves (in a cold greenhouse) for blooming next
spring/summer?

Thanks.

The message
from "Gilly" contains these words:

Am I too late to sow foxgloves (in a cold greenhouse) for blooming next
spring/summer?

Yes. They are biennial, which means they don't flower till the second year.

Janet

Hello Gilly,
I am assuming that you are refering to a cultivated variety
of Digitalis Purpurea.
Ideally they should have been sown much earlier, but as there are so many seeds
in a packet, I think you could experiment by sowing a few. I would suggest
surface sowing them on moist finely sieved compost, perhaps indoors, at 70F,
not excluding light. In your greenhouse, keep them well spaced apart, and
always pot on, when pot bound. I have grown all kinds of foxgloves over the
years, and think it most unlikely that they will not flower next year, but I
don't think you will win any prizes with them!
I think you will find the Chiltern Seeds web site very
interesting - they offer many different varieties. Please see the following
link www.chilternseeds.co.uk
Best of luck,
John
__________________________________________________ _______________________
"Gilly" wrote:
Am I too late to sow foxgloves (in a cold greenhouse) for blooming next
spring/summer?

Thanks.

"John"
I am assuming that you are refering to a cultivated variety
of Digitalis Purpurea.
Ideally they should have been sown much earlier, but as there are so many
seeds
in a packet, I think you could experiment by sowing a few.

Thanks, John. I have just sown some in my unheated greenhouse because, like
you say, it's worth a try. The pack says they can be sown directly outside
in September, so I figure my unheated greenhouse will probably be much the
same.

Gilly wrote:
I have just sown some [ foxglove ] in my unheated greenhouse because, like
you say, it's worth a try. The pack says they can be sown directly outside
in September, so I figure my unheated greenhouse will probably be much the
same.

That's *very* interesting. I have some seed from a particular plant
with odd characteristics that I've forgotten to put in. I shall do
so this week, in a sheltered spot, if no-one forbids it.