Aquelegia
Little weeeed
Posts: 54
in Plants
My aquilegia has only grown to 12", but flowered and now has seed heads. Should I collect these and if so, when should I sow them. In greenhouse or outdoors? My garden is a pot garden - is this why my aquilegia didn't grow as tall as others I've seen? Any advice valued.
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Just scatter the seeds where you will. It is one self-seeder I welcome as you can easily pull out those plants you don't want.
When aquilegia seeds are ripe, the cases will have opened and seeds fall out into your hand. Sow them straight away outdoors in the shade. They'll germinate very quickly because they haven't become dormant and you'll have plants big enough to survive next winter.
What sort of aquilegia have you got? Some are smaller.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Thanks for comments. Though my garden is mainly pots and raised beds, I do have a little bit of border so I'll throw the seed on it in a shady spot. I have light sandy soil (Montrose is a coastal town) but I have fed it regularly and after 8 years I finally have worms!! Do they (the plants ....not the worms!q) like any particular soil? I have no idea what sort they are - small and multicoloured is the best I can do.
I moved here two years ago and rather liked the aquilegia (I'd never seen it before). Now I've declared war, and pull them up wherever I see them. They self seed all over the place and are a real pest.
I love them, I weed out the dirty pinks and mauves. When you've got enough don't let them seed any more.
In the sticks near Peterborough
I have clay soil and the ones I grow from seed in compost only start growing well when planted out into the clay, so you might like to try something a bit heavier in the pots, like John Innes No3. Like nutcutlet, I love breeding them and also weed out the muddy colours and small flowered ones before they get much chance to cross-pollinate with the 'keepers'.
They don't go well in my very dry patch in the sun
In the sticks near Peterborough
Most of my clay stays quite damp and contains a lot of organic stuff added over the years. I think they do need damp soil in general.
or shade, they cope with not so good soil if they're not too hot
In the sticks near Peterborough
Mine love hot dry conditions - grrrrrrrrr
Really, they thrive in some pretty dry raised beds in full sun.
I must admit I had pangs when I pulled out a rather gorgeous one with dark purply red flowers. Maybe when it comes back (it will) I should let it flower but not seed.