Had these in a bed last year and assumed they would self-seed. By June
nothing had happened, so I moved other things into the gaps - and now
the bed is full of cerinthe seedlings, all but one only still at the
two-leaf stage. Surely at this stage they are unlikely to mature - but
then what is the purpose of self-seeding? Or is this a very odd year
indeed? (I have just mown the hay that used to be the lawn...)

--
Klara, Gatwick basin

In article , Klara
writes

Had these in a bed last year and assumed they would self-seed. By June
nothing had happened, so I moved other things into the gaps - and now
the bed is full of cerinthe seedlings, all but one only still at the
two-leaf stage. Surely at this stage they are unlikely to mature - but
then what is the purpose of self-seeding?

Don't forget they're not british. In the Med, they would want to
germinate at the end of a hot spell when the autumn rains are starting.


--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

In message , Kay
writes
Had these in a bed last year and assumed they would self-seed. By June
nothing had happened, so I moved other things into the gaps - and now
the bed is full of cerinthe seedlings, all but one only still at the
two-leaf stage. Surely at this stage they are unlikely to mature - but
then what is the purpose of self-seeding?

Don't forget they're not british. In the Med, they would want to
germinate at the end of a hot spell when the autumn rains are starting.

Ah - spot on, then. Thanks - I hadn't thought of that.
Well, maybe they'll manage a bit of a show in autumn. If I remember
right, they were pretty quick once they got started.

--
Klara, Gatwick basin

"Klara" wrote after Kay
replied
Had these in a bed last year and assumed they would self-seed. By June
nothing had happened, so I moved other things into the gaps - and now
the bed is full of cerinthe seedlings, all but one only still at the
two-leaf stage. Surely at this stage they are unlikely to mature - but
then what is the purpose of self-seeding?

Don't forget they're not british. In the Med, they would want to germinate
at the end of a hot spell when the autumn rains are starting.

Ah - spot on, then. Thanks - I hadn't thought of that.
Well, maybe they'll manage a bit of a show in autumn. If I remember right,
they were pretty quick once they got started.

And , I doubt they will come true from self sown, I've yet to have a true
purpurescens from a self seeded plant, they all come up green in my garden.
(Even from the one you gave me Sacha) Had one grow from self sown seed in
the front garden that took over a whole corner during last winter and I only
pulled it out this spring. Must have survived some mild frosts but it
flowered consistently. It has seeded as there are now a number of seedlings
appearing.

--
Regards
Bob
In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London

On Sat, 23 Jul 2005 23:45:09 +0100, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:


"Klara" wrote after Kay
replied
Had these in a bed last year and assumed they would self-seed. By June
nothing had happened, so I moved other things into the gaps - and now
the bed is full of cerinthe seedlings, all but one only still at the
two-leaf stage. Surely at this stage they are unlikely to mature - but
then what is the purpose of self-seeding?

Don't forget they're not british. In the Med, they would want to germinate
at the end of a hot spell when the autumn rains are starting.

Ah - spot on, then. Thanks - I hadn't thought of that.
Well, maybe they'll manage a bit of a show in autumn. If I remember right,
they were pretty quick once they got started.

And , I doubt they will come true from self sown, I've yet to have a true
purpurescens from a self seeded plant, they all come up green in my garden.
(Even from the one you gave me Sacha) Had one grow from self sown seed in
the front garden that took over a whole corner during last winter and I only
pulled it out this spring. Must have survived some mild frosts but it
flowered consistently. It has seeded as there are now a number of seedlings
appearing.

Am i right in thinking that they go bluer if in full sun? I have a few
plants also from Sacha's seed (thanks Sacha) and they are not
particularly "purpurascens" but are in part shade. Might be worth an
experiment!

Pam in Bristol

"Bob Hobden":
And , I doubt they will come true from self sown, I've yet to have a true
purpurescens from a self seeded plant, they all come up green in my garden.
(Even from the one you gave me Sacha) Had one grow from self sown seed in
the front garden that took over a whole corner during last winter and I only
pulled it out this spring. Must have survived some mild frosts but it
flowered consistently. It has seeded as there are now a number of seedlings
appearing.

Am i right in thinking that they go bluer if in full sun? I have a few
plants also from Sacha's seed (thanks Sacha) and they are not
particularly "purpurascens" but are in part shade. Might be worth an
experiment!

Pam in Bristol

And these were so beautiful last year :-((
Still, they are in full sun (a rare commodity in our garden), so if your
theory is right, Pam ...

--
Klara, Gatwick basin

Pam Moore wrote:
On Sat, 23 Jul 2005 23:45:09 +0100, "Bob Hobden"


Am i right in thinking that they go bluer if in full sun? I have a few
plants also from Sacha's seed (thanks Sacha) and they are not
particularly "purpurascens" but are in part shade. Might be worth an
experiment!

Not sure that you are right, Pam. Mine have had full sun for months and
still show no sign of "blueing". Flowers are still cream and pink and
the leaves and bracts although glaucus, I would still class as green. A
Tradescantia nearby, however, is as purple as I could wish.

--
Jo in parched Alicante Province

On Sat, 23 Jul 2005 23:45:09 +0100, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:


And , I doubt they will come true from self sown, I've yet to have a true
purpurescens from a self seeded plant, they all come up green in my garden.
(Even from the one you gave me Sacha) Had one grow from self sown seed in
the front garden that took over a whole corner during last winter and I only
pulled it out this spring. Must have survived some mild frosts but it
flowered consistently. It has seeded as there are now a number of seedlings
appearing.

Last year a neighbour gave me a few seeds from the single plant he
had, after I'd expressed interest. The resulting plants were quite
variable; some had good purple bracts but others were greenish and
rather washed out.

I pulled them up early as they were getting too big and smothering
nearby plants (neighbour's was grown on very poor soil, nearly
subsoil, and had a much more restricted habit, almost prostrate, which
was what I was expecting). Nor did I want them seeding everywhere. Put
them on the compost heap. Now, wherever I have spread the compost, up
come cerinthe seedlings! I just pull them out as I see them.


--
Chris

E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net