Miss wilmots Ghost

[jackyspratty]

Bought a packet of these as fell in love with the name! Also the plant looks fantastic all silver and spikey with the added bonus of attracting bees!

However, am finding it difficult to germinate these. I sowed afew in a pot in a heated propogator on 20th march, but no show yet. Anyone have any experience of growing these?

Thankyou in advance!

[northepaul]

Had to look them up...what strange looking flowers!! I love the name too, but sorry no help with germination.

[jackyspratty]

Would you like some? Thats if we get advice re germination! Happy to bob some down to you! Its a new packet, Johnsons plants of the world range. Its probably me mucking up! But love the lok of them!

[northepaul]

Thanks Donna, its really nice of you and yes please if its not too much trouble

[FionaH]

I tried thes last year and only managed to get one to germinate out of a whole pack. If I remember rightly, (and I may not!) they can benefit from being left in the cold for a bit then brought back into the warmth again to germinate. But like I said could be talking rubbish

[zazen999]

Yes, I do believe that they like a cold snap; we haven't got to germinate any this year as ours has come back this year. They are lovely and the bees love them.

[northepaul]

Might be worth a spell in the fridge/freezer then?!

[jackyspratty]

Thanks, will pop them in the fridge for a bit! Try again with a new batch too! Really hope they get going! The pack said that whoever cultivated them used to throw the seeds about as she walked cos she loved them so much! That sounds deceptively easy doesnt it!

Thea will get some down to you this week...Good luck!

[FionaH]

Hmmmm must be true if they said so..................

[Jeanied]

I'd heard they were called Miss Wimott's ghost after the seeds were given to Gertrude Jekyll by Miss Wilmott - Gertrude liked them so much she used to sprinkle the odd batch of seeds in places round gardens she visited where she felt they would enhance the planting- they would show up the following year totally unexpectedly.

ETA - now I've done a bit of googling I got half the story right - but the Gertrude Jekyll bit was wrong. Miss Wilmott herself was the gardener, and she did her own sprinkling!

[jackyspratty]

Its a great story tho isn't it! A seed bomber of her day, bring on the revolution miss willmott!

[Jeanied]

So it rather indicates quite a casual way for germinating them! Chuck them and forget them!

[pipkins]

They are hard to germinate as need stratification(cold) mine just normally self seed and do ok.

[northepaul]

Thought I would put a picture here so everyone can see what a lovely plant it is.

[gorgeousgrower]

I've just sown some Eryngium Alpinum today - T&M seeds.

The packet says to seal sown seeds inside polythene bag and keep at 15-21C (my kitchen) then after 3-6 weeks to pop them in the fridge for another 3-6 weeks then return container/pot to 15-21C. Examine container regularly and carefully transplant seedlings when large enough to handle.

It says that this cycle can be repeated and I guess you can keep potting on seedlings whilst repeating this cycle as many times as you can be bothered

I do enjoy a challenge