foxgloves
lynne24
Posts: 121
hi everyone, i hope this isnt a silly question, i planted some foxgloves in september, i dont know what type they are, but they have long pointed leaves and the slugs loved them, but i managed to save them (out at night with a torch ha ha) my question is, they have new shoots coming from the middle that look nice and healthy, but the ouside leaves are lying on the soil and dont look verry happy, they look like they are rotting, do i cut them off or leave them, i have always wanted to grow foxgloves, i would hate to loose them, i also have the other type with more rounded leaves, they seem fine, any advice would be appreciated, thanks
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Posts
The foxgloves will die right down over the winter - they may almost disappear, but all being well they'll reappear in the spring and you'll have glorious spires of flowers in the summer.
As the leaves die down and rot this autumn and winter you can remove them (cutting them off if necessary) and add them to your compost heap.
thankyou dovefromabove, i wont worry about them now
The outside leaves of foxgloves always look a bit rough, the pointed leaved ones especially. I have, among others, Digitalis lutea and D. ferruginea, their older leaves are quite black now but they always cheer up in the spring and put on a good show in summer.
I sowed some seeds in June and have planted out dozens upon dozens of fox glove plants and still have more to find spaces for.I took the seed from the previous plants and they have all taken and grown well.The slugs don't seem to care for them but my collie dog is in the dog house for digging up some I planted earlier.They are so easy to grow and look fantastic in groups .
I have some in the greenhouse about 4 inches tall, is it best to leave them there till spring or should I plant them out now.
Judgement call really-either way they will stop putting on much growth now-if it is a cold greenhouse they will be ok or you could move them to a cold frame or somewhere sheltered outside
At least in a greenhouse a hungry slug can't get to them
Slugs and Snails normally leave 2nd year Foxgloves alone if that helps. Caterpillars can be a problem though, so you still need to look out.
i cant wait to see them in flower, i know this seems silly, i have always loved them, but only found out this year what they where called, i grew the round leaf one's from seed and the pointed leaf one's from TM
I plant mine out their OK,its their natural environment and you will need to stake them later on.sow lots ,have lots to replace if need be.