how/when to grow bluebelle seeds

ALIBOBSY

Ok sister has some bluebelles in her garden we assume looking at them they are not wild but are cultivated varieties-they were in when she bought the house.

Anyway she had collected some seed pods after the finished flowering this spring and has passed some on to me. But I (and she) have no idea when or how to grow them?

Any ideas
TIA
ali x

tanith

I'd sow them where you want them to flower best not in the full sun, they won't flower the first year but maybe in the second.. If she has loads you could try just digging up a few bulbs and planting them they do seem to multiply underground..

a1cat

To grow the seed just scatter them on the top of your chosen medium - soil would OK but sterilise it first - then sprinkle with fine grit, leave outside and keep moist in dry spells. Should do the trick same as nature intended. :cool:

ALIBOBSY

So I can just plant them now and hope for flowers in a couple of years.

ali x

splodger_seedswapper

it usually takes 4 years for a bluebell seed to form a bulb - so you'll need plenty of patience

lifting and transplanting bulbs would be a much more effective way of propagation

foxgloves

Yes, it's satisfying to grow things from seed, but by far the easiest thing with bluebells is to wait till the clumps have finished flowering, cut the dead flowers off so that all the energy goes back to the bulbs, then to divide the clumps up, making sure the bulbs are intact when you lift them. Then replant and water in well. They are likely to flower the next year for you. This method is also best for other bulbs such as daffodils, snowdrops, lily of the valley, etc.

lemonpopsicle

If they are Spanish bluebells - pale blue- I personally would destroy them. Spanish bluebells are hybridizing with native British bluebells. Native bluebells are darker, more delicate and protected.