Kitchen Garden Forum

Verbena bonariensis free seeds this month. Has anybody ever grown them from seed, how quickly do they develop? I usually raise my plants from cuttings of overwintered stock plants, if fact I was going to take the cuttings this week, but I'm wondering if I should use the seeds instead.
Got all my potatoes planted this week in a bed I sheeted over in January, sheet back on.

Yes I was wondering abiut the verbena seeds too. Now qi can,t garde I was wondering if qi could just get my husband (who,s not a very proficient gardener) to just sprinkle the seeds in a couple of borders and see what develops.

Incidentally our regular visiting garden Robin was spotted feeding its baby on the fence this morning so perhaps it,s time to start a Spring thread at last?

Morning Geoff, I grow them from seeds most years, (give a lot to the fete and other charity plant stalls), as they are cheap and easy to do!
They germinate really easily and grow away quickly….maybe 8 to 10 weeks, from sowing to flowering!
They do need potting up quite quickly, if you want large plants, as they soon fill the pot with roots…..I normally pot them on into 2 litre pots, and at this stage they are in flower and about 5 foot tall!

I’m always worried about starting the Spring Bits and Bobs too early, because if the weather turns really bad, I get the blame…..

Well OH , our magnolia and camelia blossoms are all starting to fall now so I don't think we'll blame you if you start a new thread.

I know there is a new thread but thought I would finish the Verbena discussion. Thanks OH it sounds like they grow quickly. I've hedged my beds by sowing a few and taking some cuttings. I thought they might live and self seed with you and Primrose, they don't here but the feathery one, Verbena hastata, does but I and the butterflies don't like that as much.

Dear Primrose, I meant to say, at one of the big gardens I work at, the Verbena self sows itself every year….so yes, it should be fine to sow it straight into the borders!

Good morning, Geoff, how are the seed sown Verbena doing?

I didn’t get very good germination, (only 12 germinated from the packet) but they about 9’’ 25cm tall now, so ready to go into the 2 litre pots and will then be well in flower for the Church fete at the end of June!

I only sowed a few but the germination was poor but I have produced four plants. The leaves are much bigger than the strain I have been growing from cuttings for years. I've planted them out so I'll see if they are any different when they flower.

Seems I didn't get on so bad then with 'mine' Quite reasonable amount came through of the V. bonariensis 'Vanity, in 1ltr pots for a couple of weeks now and moved from Kedar to outside nursery bed today. The other packet, from KG has seen 12 now put into 1 ltr pots.
Meanwhile, Verbena 'Bampton' only two showed...

C.

I double checked this evening, it was 28 out of 40 for the V. b. 'Vanity' and 14 for the KG packet.

C.