Hi Kate - thank you for this auricula-story and especially for your note about comfrey.
In spring primulas and auriculas are my favourite flowers. In my small collection of auriculas it's 'Merlin Striped' I like most. Its flowers are grey-red and are often even double. I got my plant from Barnhaven Primroses.
Many thanks for this story and especially the tip re gravel on top. I have lost count of the number of auriculas that the vine weevils have destroyed.
I keep my collection in terracotta pots in cat litter trays in a 4 tier mini greenhouse. The cat litter trays are great for watering as no water drips onto the plants on the shelf below.
Not read the original article, but will add my pennywirth about the gravel on top. It needs to be at least 2 inches deep to stop Vine weevils from laying their eggs. That depth is required to prevent the dult from smelling the soil which she needs to do before egg laying.
Auricula are wonderful, a real passion! So nice to see them getting so much coverage everywhere -well deserved. Love them so much we started up our own little nursery called Kent Cottage Plants! Now have over 200 varieties growing with around 50 different varieties on sale this year!
Apologies.... will remember that, sorry.... Provado systemic vine weevil control will give you long lasting protection - read the label though!! And you must remember to change the compost each year with new, this will help control it too.
Everything is very behind at the moment scotkat, might be worth starting them on a weak liquid feed, but one with not too much nitrogen as you want to encourage flowers not leaves.
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In spring primulas and auriculas are my favourite flowers. In my small collection of auriculas it's 'Merlin Striped' I like most. Its flowers are grey-red and are often even double. I got my plant from Barnhaven Primroses.
Hubert
Many thanks for this story and especially the tip re gravel on top. I have lost count of the number of auriculas that the vine weevils have destroyed.
I keep my collection in terracotta pots in cat litter trays in a 4 tier mini greenhouse. The cat litter trays are great for watering as no water drips onto the plants on the shelf below.
Lynne
Not read the original article, but will add my pennywirth about the gravel on top. It needs to be at least 2 inches deep to stop Vine weevils from laying their eggs. That depth is required to prevent the dult from smelling the soil which she needs to do before egg laying.
Sorry about that, should have read 2cms not 2 inches, comes of working in one and thinking in the other.
Auricula are wonderful, a real passion! So nice to see them getting so much coverage everywhere -well deserved. Love them so much we started up our own little nursery called Kent Cottage Plants! Now have over 200 varieties growing with around 50 different varieties on sale this year!
Great info, Berghill. Thanks. Specialist nurseries are great, too, though you are not supposed to advertise in this forum!
Apologies.... will remember that, sorry.... Provado systemic vine weevil control will give you long lasting protection - read the label though!! And you must remember to change the compost each year with new, this will help control it too.
Everything is very behind at the moment scotkat, might be worth starting them on a weak liquid feed, but one with not too much nitrogen as you want to encourage flowers not leaves.
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