Teasels

[annie8]

I’d like to grow teasels in the front garden as it’s great for wildlife and also would look good in cottage style planting. I read that if you start indoors it could take 1-3 months to germinate. Don’t have much space indoors ao don’t want to give that up for months. Also if I do t get flowers until the second year anyway was wondering if I should just sow directly - maybe a bit later since I’m pretty far north. Has anyone grown these ?

[Mitzi]

My dad used to grow them for the birds and they just seeded themselves around so they must be quite hardy. I've not tried myself but I'd be tempted to direct sow.

[nickdub]

I have them in various places in my garden - they self-seed and are completely hardy - probably best to sow them where you want them ,as transplanting might be tricky.

[toomanytommytoes]

Tried to get seed to germinate last year with no luck. Ended up buying plug plants, which are doing very well now, though slugs and snails seem to adore the leaves. Giving it one more go this year from seed.

[Guest]

Mine behave like biennials - so I sow them june-aug to flower the following year so hardy enough.Can still sow now but don't expect much this year, might be best to hunt a few odd plants down. I found you do need fresh seed, I tried several packs/seeds before I got a successful batch.

[annie8]

Thanks all. Am not too fussed for this year. Have an empty garden to fill so accepting that this is a transition year. Might get some seeds and direct sow this year for next but also keep an eye out for some plug plant bargains.

[Bren In Pots]

They self seed all over my garden i just pull out those that are in the way. The Goldfinches love them.

[Jimny14]

Think that's the best plan Annie, I've never had trouble from seed planting late summer. They pop up a little rosette next summer then flower the year after. Do remember to also sow seeds in summer 2020 to have more of a chance of them arriving 2022 although after a few years there's often the odd one that won't have germinated the year before that will pop up.

[toomanytommytoes]

Thanks all. Am not too fussed for this year. Have an empty garden to fill so accepting that this is a transition year. Might get some seeds and direct sow this year for next but also keep an eye out for some plug plant bargains.

If you can wait until around September, RosyBee (Plants that attract bees — rosybee - plants for bees) should have a 50% off sale. That's where I got my teasels from last year, for about £4 per tray of 6, and the plugs were massive (you can see how big they are here - Plants for bees- our product — rosybee - plants for bees).

[annie8]

I get the odd goldfinch but would love some more. Haven’t got the topsoil in yet so will see when that happens. Like the look of that RosyBee site.