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What do foxglove seedlings look like


Grow Foxgloves from Seed - Country Garden UK

Foxgloves are easy to grow from seed and will give you the most amazing early display of flowers in your garden.
If you are growing flowers to sell or simply want to be able to cut flowers for your own home then I can recommend Foxgloves. They are both glamorous and productive.

This is one of the questions asked most often. Here’s the reason. Foxglove plants are available in all good nurseries and garden centres every spring and that’s a great option if you just need a few plants. Around here they cost anything from £4.99 to £8.99 per plant. So if you would like a lot of Foxgloves that can be an expensive way to get the look you want. Sowing seeds is sometimes a better option if you:

Foxglove seeds are tiny and it can be hard to know how to deal with them. In the wild Foxglove seeds ripen on the plants then are scattered by the wind wafting their tall stalks about. Each plant produces thousands of seeds because there are many losses. Small creatures eat the seeds and this broadcast method of seeding can be a little hit and miss. If the seeds land in the wrong spot they just won’t grow. You can broadcast seeds in your garden or cutting patch but I prefer to sow them indoors where I can control things a little.

I always plant lots of Foxgloves and they perform very well for us in our semi shaded garden. I grow them from seed and plant them around the oak tree and my garden studio in our Spring Garden. We also plant a big patch at the edge of our Bluebell Wood. In 2015 they flowered twice, as usual in spring and then quite unexpectedly again in autumn. 2015 was so mild you see.

When you tidy your garden in autumn you may prefer to cut the flowering stalks off. If you grow several types of Foxgloves it’s quite likely that any plants produced from the seeds will be very similar to our wild Foxglove Digitalis purpurea. For that reason you may wish to remove biennial Foxgloves as soon as flowering is over. We prefer to leave some seed heads on the plants so that tiny creatures have hiding places and seeds to eat over winter. And here’s the bonus. This is what’s left of my Foxgloves this year. Just the tall stalks with seed pods. Aren’t they amazing?

Most Foxgloves are biennials… That means if you sow them this year they will flower next year. What is brilliant about biennials is that you can grow lots of plants very easily and inexpensively from seed and then remove them after flowering to grow something else.

Easy – Sow in late summer or early autumn and they will grow and develop through the winter with little or even no attention from you as long as your garden has sufficient rain! Then they burst into life in spring sending up tall spires of blooms so you will have masses of early flowers in May and June.

Inexpensive – Foxgloves produce masses of tiny seeds. If you have friends with foxgloves in their garden they will probably be delighted to give you some of their seeds. They probably won’t be exactly the same as their parents so it’s exciting to see what grows. Alternatively you can buy a packet of seeds for just a couple of pounds and choose the colours and height that you prefer.

The bright pink wild form is Digitalis purpurea. Foxgloves also come in white and cream and lovely pastel pinks and peachy apricot too. Many of them have beautiful markings inside each bloom which acts like a landing strip for bees and other pollinating insects.

How to sow Foxglove seeds.

Foxglove seeds need light to germinate. I prefer to start them off indoors in trays of compost. I have found that sowing a tiny pinch of seed in just 10 cells of a module tray is the best way to raise Foxgloves. Sowing in cells like this means that you don’t sow too thickly. If you aim to sow just 10 seeds in 10 cells then you will have 100 Foxglove plants. That should be enough for most gardens!

Growing them in cells means that each tiny plant has more space and light so your newly germinated seedlings won’t damp off and rot away. They will develop into nice healthy seedlings which can be pricked out into their own individual cell to grow on. They are quite hardy and don’t need heat at this stage. You can pot them on as they grow then plant them outside when you are ready.

Foxgloves are really woodland edge plants. Like most woodland plants their broad leaves will make the most of the sunshine in early spring before the leaves form on deciduous trees. And then wooosh… up come the flowers in late spring. They prefer partially shaded positions and moisture retentive soil.

You can cut the flowers for a dramatic display indoors.
Foxglove flowers last about 5 days in nice fresh water. Once you remove the main flower spike the plants will send up side shoots with more flowers… these will be smaller but still gorgeous.

If you prefer to leave your blooms in the garden then please take some time to sit and watch the insects make a bee line for your Foxgloves.

A note of caution: All parts of Digitalis purpurea/Foxgloves are poisonous including the seeds and petals. Please take care handling them and don’t let children play with them.

Sowing Foxglove Seeds Step by Step
  1. In summer fill a small module tray with fine seed compost to the brim and level off to make a smooth surface.
  2. Sow a tiny pinch of seeds in each cell spreading them out evenly over the compost.
  3. Do not cover the seeds with compost. Like many tiny seeds Foxgloves need light to germinate.
  4. Place the module tray in a tray of tepid water for 10 minutes then remove and allow excess water to drain away
  5. Stand your seed tray on the windowsill (preferably north facing so there’s plenty of light but no scorching sun)
  6. Tiny seedlings will appear in a few days. Allow them to grow on and water from below as necessary.
  7. When the seedlings are large enough to handle prick them out into larger cells or small pots and grow on outdoors for four to six weeks.
  8. Your young foxgloves will form healthy roots and can be planted out in their flowering positions in September.
  9. Allow them to grow on throughout autumn and winter. Water if necessary during very dry spells.
  10. In May and June your Foxgloves will flower giving you a beautiful display and many stems for cutting.

Here’s some of the beautiful Foxgloves you could grow very easily and inexpensively. They are all available here in the Store.
These are tall varieties:

            

Foxy is a gorgeous shorter version with pastel blooms probably more suited to bouquets than the taller flowers above.

There’s a Foxglove for most gardens and gardeners.
You may want to:

Whatever the reason I hope you’ll love the Foxgloves you choose for your garden as much as I do! Happy Gardening 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

How To Grow Foxglove From Seed

Growing foxglove from seed is one of the easiest ways to propagate this beautiful plant for your garden. Foxgloves are reminiscent of an English country garden with their striking spears of beautiful blooms in the palest of palettes. Learn how to grow foxglove from seed, to bring this magical plant into your garden!

Growing foxglove in the garden

Foxglove, also known as Digitalis, is a classic cottage garden plant.

The spotted trumpet shaped blossoms are carefree and casual, and have that wildflower look that we love to grow. They can grow quite tall in ideal growing conditions, up to 4 or 5 feet in height.

This plant is hardy from zone 4 to 10.

Foxgloves are most often biennial flowers. There are a few varieties which are perennials as well.

Biennial Foxglove

Biennial foxgloves do not bloom in the first year they are planted.

Perennial Foxglove

Perennial foxgloves also will not bloom during their first year.

For both biennial and perennial plantings of foxglove, you can do yearly plantings of each, so that after year one, you can have a steady supply of these beautiful plants.

Foxglove is also a prolific seed producer and will most likely self seed, so even if you don’t sow the seeds yourself, you may still get a few volunteers in your garden.

Do not deadhead spent blooms if you are hoping to have your foxgloves reseed.

foxglove blooms

How To Grow Foxglove From Seed

What Do Foxglove Seeds Look Like?

Foxglove seeds are very tiny, smaller than flecks of ground black pepper, at approximately 1.0 mm in length. They are tan and brown coloured, and oval shaped.

tiny foxglove seeds
How To Direct Sow Into The Garden

Direct sowing into the garden was one of the first ways that I learned how to grow foxglove from seed.

I had planted a biennial foxglove plant the previous year. It grew into a large mound of green leaves that summer, and did not flower, as was expected.

The following year it produced amazing spikes of foxglove flowers. Then it set seed.

You can also of course purchase your foxglove seeds to sow directly into your garden, rather than harvesting them yourself!

foxglove seeds-Yellow Spear foxglove, biennial
How To Grow Foxglove From Seed Indoors

Starting foxglove from seed indoors is an easy process.

Supplies you will need:

seed tray 128 cells, filled with a seed starting medium
Sowing Foxglove Seeds In Trays
foxglove seedlings grown indoors under lights
How Long Does It Take For Foxglove To Germinate?
2 month old foxglove seedlings grown indoors

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Cell Trays For Seedlings

Heat Mat

Seed Starting Mix

Do Foxglove Seeds Need Stratification?

Foxglove seeds are fairly easy to geminate without stratification.

If you are growing the perennial type and having difficulty with germination, you could try a dry chill period in the fridge.

Otherwise they usually do quite well without this process.

Do Foxglove Seeds Need Light To Germinate?

Yes absolutely foxglove seeds need light to germinate, so surface sow the seeds and do not cover!

How Long Does It Take For Foxglove To Grow?

It will take 6 to 8 weeks for the foxglove seedlings to get to a good size to plant out.

It’s amazing to see them grow from such a tiny seed to a good sized seedling within that time frame.

Once planted out, the plants will not flower until the following year, therefore it takes a full year for a foxglove to grow from seed to flower.

two month old foxglove seedlings being hardened off- these will soon be planted into the garden

Planting Your Foxglove Seedlings

If you have sown the foxglove seeds indoors, it is important to harden them off before planting into your garden.

Hardening off is a step which should not be skipped, and will help to acclimatize your foxglove seedlings to the outdoor environment.

When To Plant Foxglove
Where Is The Best Place To Plant Foxgloves?
Soil
Do Foxgloves Like Sun Or Shade?
Moisture
foxgloves in the garden

When Do Foxgloves Bloom?

Foxgloves bloom in spring and early summer.

For us in zone 5b, that is usually around the last week of June or the beginning of July.

Is It Safe To Grow Foxglove?

Foxgloves are poisonous plants. All parts of the plants are poisonous.

They can be safely grown as long as they are not eaten or ingested.

Be very cautious around pets and children.

I introduced them to my children, since they are such a sweet flower with an intriguing name. The blossoms look like little gloves that any fox would want to wear!

They had lots of fun with that.

However I also made sure to teach them that this plant was very poisonous, and taught them not to touch the plant.

growing foxglove from seed it quite easy

Fun Fact:

Foxglove is the source of an important drug, Digoxin- a cardiac medication for slowing down the heart rate.

Related Questions

Do foxgloves come back every year?

Foxgloves may come back for a few years if you plant the perennial type. Even so, some of these foxgloves are short lived perennials, and most often act like a biennial.

Perennial foxgloves include:

Do foxgloves flower the first year?

Foxgloves may flower in their first year if planted very early in the year, like in early January or even December, and grown indoors under lights.

I have never had a foxglove flower the first year, even those sown in the garden in the late summer. They still only produce a leaf rosette the following year.

Do You Need To Stake Foxgloves?
Staking
Can you direct sow foxglove seeds?

Absolutely you can direct sow foxglove seeds directly into the garden. You can do this in spring or towards the end of the season.

Spring sowing may lead to flowers the following summer!

I hope that you found this post on how to grow foxgloves from seed helpful.

Any comments or questions are always welcome!

PIN IT FOR LATER!

outdoor cultivation, planting and care, properties, photo

Author: Elena N. https://floristics.info/ru/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=19 Category: Garden Plants Returned: Last amendments:

Content

Plant foxglove, or digitalis (lat. Digitalis) belongs to the genus of herbs of the Plantain family, although it was previously assigned to the Norichnikov family. The scientific name digitalis is derived from the Latin word meaning "thimble". The genus includes about 35 species, mostly found in the Mediterranean, but also found in other parts of Europe, as well as in Western Asia and North Africa. Two species of foxglove grow in Western Siberia and the European part of Russia, four species can be found in the Caucasus. nine0007

Selects foxglove flower forest clearings and edges, meadows and shrubs.

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Planting and caring for foxglove

Read more about the cultivation of foxglove below

Botanical description

Digitalis can be a herbaceous perennial or biennial, and in the Western Mediterranean it can be a subshrub or even shrub. The stems of foxglove are rigid, 30 to 150 cm high, unbranched. Large light green leaves, entire, alternate, sharp, oblong and lanceolate, gradually turning into bracts. Large, irregularly shaped yellow, reddish or purple flowers are collected in unilateral or bilateral apical brushes. nine0007

Bell-shaped foxglove flowers are arranged in such a way that pollen necessarily showers insects that climb into them, and then bees, flies, wasps and bumblebees transfer pollen to other flowers, carrying out pollination. The flowering of foxglove begins in June and ends by the beginning of autumn. The fruit of the plant is a box in which a large number of small brown seeds ripen, which remain viable for two to three years. One plant can carry up to 2,000,000 seeds.

All foxgloves are poisonous, so they are not grown in the flowerbeds of children's institutions. Some types of foxglove are decorative, and some are better known as medicinal plants. Digitalis leaves of many species contain glycosides used in folk and traditional medicine. nine0007

Herbaceous foxglove plant is undemanding to soil composition and care, drought-resistant and frost-resistant. In this article, we will tell you how foxglove is planted and cared for, what types of plants are medicinal, how perennial foxglove is grown from seeds, and we will bring to your attention a lot of other information about digitalis.

Growing digitalis from seeds

How to sow seeds

Digitalis seeds are sown for seedlings in early or mid-March, after soaking them for a week in water, which is changed every 6 hours. It is not necessary to deep-seed the seeds, just sprinkle them lightly on top with sand, then cover the container with glass or film and place in a warm place with soft diffused light. nine0007

The foxglove can start sprouting in two weeks.

Care of seedlings

Seedlings develop very slowly at first, but as soon as they form the first leaves, pick the seedlings into separate cups or into a deeper and more spacious box at a distance of 7-10 cm. Caring for foxglove seedlings is no different from caring for any other seedlings: watering as the substrate dries, careful loosening of the soil, protection from direct sunlight and drafts. nine0007

A couple of weeks before planting in open ground, hardening procedures are started to prepare the seedlings for garden conditions. Seedlings are exposed daily to fresh air, gradually increasing the duration of her stay in the garden or on the balcony. As soon as the seedlings can spend 24 hours outdoors, they can be planted in open ground. nine0007

Planting foxglove outdoors

When to plant

Plant foxglove seedlings in the garden when the threat of spring frosts has passed, that is, in late May or early June. By this time, usually the soil is already well warmed up, and 5-6 leaves have opened on the seedlings. Digitalis prefers open sunny areas, although it grows well in partial shade. However, it is undesirable to plant digitalis under deciduous trees, since moisture always lingers longer in the near-stem circles, and foxglove in such conditions may get wet or not bloom. And in the fall, falling leaves interfere with the plant. nine0007

How to plant

Digitalis needs soil that is loose, fertile and moisture permeable, in which water will not stagnate. Dig up the soil in advance in the area to the depth of a shovel bayonet with the simultaneous application of 4-5 kg ​​of compost or humus per m².

Foxglove is planted at a distance of 15-20 cm between seedlings in a row with a row spacing of 25-30 cm wide. Make holes in the soil a little larger than the root system of the seedlings and transfer the seedlings from the cups into the holes along with an earthen clod. If the seedlings are in a box, remove them from the ground and carefully place them in the hole. After planting, the surface of the site is compacted and watered. nine0007

In the first year foxglove forms a rosette of leaves, and flowering will not begin until the following year.

Care of digitalis

Growing conditions

Growing digitalis involves the usual procedures for gardeners - watering the digitalis, loosening the soil around the plants, removing weeds from the site, feeding and treating pests or diseases, if necessary.

Watering foxglove is carried out only in conditions of prolonged drought, but in a typical summer with rains, it is not necessary to water the plant. After watering or rain, the soil around the plants should be loosened shallowly and carefully - the digitalis root system is located horizontally in the soil, close to the surface, so it is easy to damage. nine0007

Once or twice during the growing season foxglove is fed with a complex mineral fertilizer in liquid form - a solution of minerals is added to the water for irrigation.

During flowering, remove wilted flowers and inflorescences - this measure will prolong the flowering process, and digitalis will not lose its attractiveness until autumn.

Transplanting

Transplanting foxglove should not cause any problems - as already mentioned, the plant's root system is superficial, so digging up a bush is not difficult. The plant is placed in a pre-prepared hole, which should be slightly larger than the root system of a bush with an earthen clod. After transplanting, the bush is watered. nine0007

Pests and diseases

Of the diseases, foxglove is most often affected by rot, spotting, powdery mildew and viral mosaic. In case of severe damage by powdery mildew and spotting, it is better to remove the diseased specimen from the site, and treat the rest of the plants with a fungicide solution. Unfortunately, viral diseases such as mosaic, as well as root rot and peduncle rot, are incurable, so the affected plants must be removed and burned.

Of the pests, foxglove is affected by several species of aphids, against which digitalis is treated with Biotlin, Antitlin and Iskra. Aphids are a carrier of incurable viral diseases, so it must be destroyed at the first sign of appearance. nine0007

As you can see, in general, foxglove planting and care in the open field are not burdensome at all.

Propagation of digitalis

Propagation of digitalis by seed method - seedlings and seedlings, as well as basal processes.

Propagation by seeds

We have already described the seedling method of propagation of digitalis, but it is easier to grow foxglove by sowing seeds directly into the ground. This can be done in the spring, in the last decade of April or early May. Prepared, as for sowing seedlings, you should try to place the seeds at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other and only lightly sprinkle with soil. In a cool spring, crops are covered with lutrasil. Seedlings, if they turn out to be too thick, are thinned out to stimulate the development of large rosettes. nine0007

Digitalis also reproduces well by self-sowing.

Propagation by shoots

As for the vegetative method of propagation, basal shoots are used for this. Leave the most lush inflorescences for seeds, and carefully cut wilted brushes from other peduncles. After three weeks, several basal rosettes form at the base of the cut peduncles, and as soon as 7-8 leaves form on each of them, they are carefully separated and planted in the ground. Before the beginning of autumn, the rosettes will take root and overwinter normally, and next year they will give peduncles and flowers. nine0007

Perennial foxglove after flowering

Close to the surface, the foxglove root system is sometimes exposed, and in order for it to survive the winter, the roots should be sprinkled with nutrient soil in autumn. Perennial foxglove is cold-resistant, but in a snowless winter it can freeze. Cut off wilted and yellowed flower stalks and cover the outlet with dry leaves, sawdust or spruce branches. Young plants especially need shelter.

Species and varieties

The following species and varieties of foxglove are most often grown in cultivation:

Purple foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

Native to Western, Southern and Central Europe. This perennial, often grown as a biennial plant, reaches a height of 150 cm. Its stems are erect, slightly branched and densely pubescent, with a rosette of basal leaves. Stem leaves on winged long petioles are arranged alternately, and the upper ones are sessile, rounded elongated, crenate along the edge, velvety above and with felt pubescence on the underside. White, carmine, pink, cream or purple with short hairs and a dark stroke inside the corolla, flowers up to 5 cm long are collected in a racemose one-sided inflorescence up to 80 cm long. This species blooms from early to late summer. In culture for a very long time. nine0007

There are several varieties of foxglove purple - large-flowered, spotted and gloxiniform. Of the hybrids of digitalis gloxiniform, the Shirley variety is interesting - a plant up to one and a half meters high, continuously blooming with open drooping, spotted inside pink, purple or cream flowers, collected in a one-sided inflorescence.

Also popular is the hybrid mix Excelsior with peduncles up to 180 cm high, on which very large flowers are arranged in a spiral. The foxglove from the Pelorik mix is ​​often grown in the garden, the peduncles of which, dotted with large flowers, also grow up to 180 cm. nine0007

Large-flowered foxglove (Digitalis grandiflora = Digitalis ambigua)

Grows naturally in Ukraine, Western Europe, the Mediterranean, the European part of Russia and in Southwestern Siberia. In height, plants of this species rarely exceed 120 cm. They have oblong-lanceolate leaves, pubescent along the veins and along the edges. Yellow flowers with brown veins inside the corolla, reaching a length of 6 cm, are collected in drooping brushes. Outside, the flowers are slightly pubescent. This species has been cultivated since 1561; nine0007

Rusty foxglove (Digitalis ferruginea)

One of the most attractive types of digitalis, reaching a height of 70 to 120 cm, although in some cases it can grow up to 2 m. The leaves of this species are oblong-lanceolate, glabrous or slightly pubescent. Flowers up to 4 cm long resemble an orchid with a pronounced lower lip. The color of the flowers is varied - from a pale yellow with a pink bloom to a grayish yellow, which turns into a rusty or golden brown. From the inside, the corolla is decorated with purple or reddish-brown veins. The flowers are collected in large brushes, the flowering of which lasts from the second half of June to August. In culture foxglove rusty with 1597 years old

Woolly foxglove (Digitalis lanata)

Perhaps the most nondescript kind of digitalis growing naturally in Moldova. This foxglove is medicinal, not decorative, and it has its own merits and advantages. The plant has a single peduncle, on which small brownish-yellow flowers with purple veins open. The axis of the inflorescence is covered with dense pubescence, which is why the plant got its name. Flowering foxglove woolly begins in July and lasts about a month and a half; nine0007

Yellow foxglove (Digitalis lutea)

Grows in the southwest of Europe, reaching a height of 80 to 100 cm. This plant has no pubescence either on oblong-oval leaves or on stems. Yellow flowers up to 2.5 cm long bloom in July. Cultivated since 1597. The most famous variety is Gelb Janus with flowers of a delicate yellow hue.

Dark foxglove, or obscure, Tapsi, Merton, Nevada, ciliate and some other species and hybrid forms are also grown in the culture. nine0007

Benefits and harms of foxglove

Medicinal properties

For a long time, healers used foxglove to treat epilepsy, abdominal and chest dropsy, used it to relieve pain in skin diseases, as well as a remedy for constipation and to cleanse the body. However, with the wrong dosage, vomiting, diarrhea, and often death were observed. Therefore, for a whole century, humanity forgot about foxglove.

Digitalis has been used in traditional medicine since the eighteenth century. It was then that its unusual properties were discovered. The main medicinal raw materials are the leaves of the plant, which are harvested in the first year. They contain 62 glycosides, including gitoxin and digitoxin, lanatosides A, B, C, D, E and others. These biologically active substances are very important in the fight against many cardiovascular diseases. Digitalis used:

Woolly foxglove is most often used as a medicinal plant. Organic acids, cardiotonic and steroid glycosides are obtained from it. Purple, ciliated and rusty digitalis are also used in medicine, which, although to a lesser extent, also contain biologically active substances. nine0007

Digitalis leaves are used to make a powder, which is used in suppositories and tablets. In folk medicine, foxglove infusion is also used.

Contraindications

Literally all types of foxglove are poisonous, so it is strongly not recommended to self-medicate. It is forbidden to use digitalis preparations for people with diseased lungs, angina pectoris, pericarditis, myocarditis, myocardial infarction, gastric tachycardia, as well as children and pregnant women. Digitalis poisoning is manifested by nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain, skin rashes, convulsions, respiratory failure, and heart failure. nine0007

At the first sign of digitalis poisoning, an ambulance should be called immediately. With prolonged use of drugs from the plant, toxic substances accumulate in the body, which can lead to loss of appetite, anorexia and hallucinations.

Literature

  1. Read related topics on Wikipedia
  2. Peculiarities and other plants of the Plantain family
  3. List of all species on The Plant List
  4. More information on World Flora Online


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Digitalis growing from seeds when to plant Planting and care in the open field

Digitalis (scientific name - digitalis) is a herbaceous plant of the Plantain family. Digitalis is Latin for "thimble". The name is given due to the shape of the rims.

The genus includes about 35 species, mainly living in the Mediterranean, it is also found in other parts of Europe, in Western Asia, North Africa. Digitalis grows in clearings, edges, forests, among shrubs. nine0007

The plant is biennial or perennial. In the natural environment, it can take the form of a shrub or even a shrub. The stem is rigid, reaches a height of 30-150 cm, does not branch. The leaves are large, entire, with pointed tops, lanceolate in shape, oblong, arranged alternately. The color of the stem and leaves is light green.

When and for how long foxglove blooms

Digitalis in the country house photo

Flowers appear at the top of the stem, collected in one-sided or two-sided brushes. The flowers are large, bell-shaped, drooping: generously showered with pollen of insects that climb into them. They then transfer the pollen to other plants, thereby carrying out pollination. The color of the flowers is yellow, reddish, pale pink, purple. nine0007

Flowering lasts all summer, capturing the beginning of September . After flowering, a fruit appears - a box with many small seeds. One plant can produce about 2,000,000 seeds. Their germination lasts 2-3 years.

Be careful: all types of digitalis are poisonous. Despite this, some of them are grown decoratively, and some are medicinal plants. Due to the presence of glycosides in their leaves, foxglove is used in folk and traditional medicine. nine0007

The plant is easy to care for, tolerates drought and cold well.

Growing foxglove from seeds at home

Digitalis seeds photo

Seeds can be sown in open ground or grow seedlings.

How to plant foxglove seeds in the ground

Sow foxglove seeds in open ground in the spring, as early as possible, as soon as the ground ripens - from the end of March to the end of April, if you are late, you can also in May. It is better if the bed is prepared in advance, the soil is well dug up and has had time to settle. The surface should be leveled with a rake, the breasts should be broken and raked onto the sides of the bed. nine0007

digitalis growing from seeds when to plant in open ground photos of seedlings0012

  • Later, plant the clumps 20-25 cm apart for a continuous flowering row, or 40-50 cm for a single clump.

    • Digitalis reproduces well by self-sowing, so you can not worry about the seed, but simply in the spring choose the best "carrion" plants and plant them in a permanent place (but only if your digitalis is not a hybrid).

    Digitalis from seeds at home

    Digitalis from seeds at home photo of seedlings

    Sow foxglove seeds for seedlings from the beginning to the middle of March .

    Digitalis grows best in an open sunny area. It will feel fine in the shade, but it is important not to allow moisture to stagnate, otherwise the plant will not bloom or even die.

    The soil needs nutritious, loose, without stagnant water.

    How to plant seedlings in the ground

    How to plant foxglove seedlings in the ground Photo

    Dig the area to the depth of a spade bayonet, apply compost for digging at the rate of 4-5 kg ​​per square meter. Make holes according to the size of the root system and transfer the foxglove along with the earthy clod. Keep a distance between plants in a row of 20-25 cm, between rows - 25-30 cm. Compact the soil, water it. nine0007

    In the first year of life, green mass will grow, and flowering will come in the next season.

    How to propagate digitalis by lateral processes

    Digitalis root photo

    Digitalis is propagated by basal processes. After flowering, cut off wilted inflorescences. After 2-3 weeks, young shoots will appear at the base of the root. When they have 7-8 leaves, carefully separate them from the main plant and transplant. By the beginning of the cold weather, they will take root, and next season they will bloom. nine0007

    How to take care of foxglove in the garden

    Hybrid foxglove flower Dalmatian photo

    Water only during long periods of drought, the plant can be content with rainfall.

    Carefully loosen the soil after watering and rain. Do not go deep, because the root system is superficial, it is easy to damage it.

    Feed a couple of times during the season with complex mineral fertilizers. Bring them in with watering.

    Remove wilted flowers to keep the plant looking decorative. Leave only the most lush inflorescences to collect seeds. nine0007

    Digitalis after flowering

    Collect seeds if necessary. When the seed pods are fully ripe, they will acquire a dark yellow, brown hue. The best seeds are in boxes located at the bottom. Take them off before they burst. Sprinkle the seeds on a newspaper and dry in a well-ventilated area. Store in paper bags in a dark, dry place.

    Often the roots of the plant can protrude to the surface - for the winter they should be sprinkled with nutrient soil. Cut the stems, leaving about 10-15 cm above the surface. Mulch the soil with sawdust, dry leaves, cover with spruce branches. nine0007

    Diseases and pests

    Powdery mildew, spotting - diseases from which the plant can be saved. It is necessary to remove the affected areas, treat with a fungicide. Measures need to be taken in the early stages. With a strong infection, the plant will have to be destroyed.

    In case of root rot, viral mosaic, the plant will have to be removed and burned to avoid infecting other plants in the area. Treat the soil with a fungicide.

    Digitalis can be attacked by various types of aphids. If pests appear, treat with an insecticide. nine0007

    Types and varieties of foxglove with photos and names

    Perennial purple foxglove Digitalis purpurea

    Perennial purple foxglove Digitalis purpurea photo

    Perennial plant. The height of the plant is 1.5 m, with about 80 cm covered with flowers. Stem erect, weakly branched, densely pubescent. The lower part of the stem is covered with oblong long-petiolate leaves arranged alternately, the upper leaves are sessile, rounded, all leaf blades are pubescent. The length of the corolla is 5 cm. The color can be white, cream, pink, purple, fiery red, inside the corolla a smear of a darker shade. The inflorescence is unilateral. nine0007

    Varieties of the species are foxglove gloxiniform and spotted.

    Varieties:

    The Shirley - one-sided inflorescence composed of drooping pink corollas with a cream or purple spot inside;

    Excelsior Hybrids Mixed - flowers are large, arranged in a spiral, white, pink, red;

    Purple foxglove variety Alba Digitalis purpurea ‘Alba’ photo

    Alba – snow-white flowers, grows well in moist soils; nine0007

    Snow Thimble - plant 1.2 m high, white flowers;

    Digitalis purpurea Pantaloons Pam s Choice Split

    Pam’s Choise - snow-white corollas with cherry-colored spots inside;

    Pam's Choice Split Corolla - orchid-shaped carved whisk;

    Pink champagne - attracts with delicate colors;

    Digitalis cultivar ‘Illumination Apricot’ photo

    Apricot – apricot flowers; nine0007

    Glittering Prizes Mix - white to burgundy;

    Digitalis purpurea Dwarf Red

    Dwarf Red – a plant about 70 cm high, bright pink flowers;

    Foxy - plant height is 80 cm, flowers are white, pink, purple, bright red.

    Digitalis grandiflora or Digitalis ambigua

    Digitalis grandiflora or Digitalis ambigua photo

    Plant 1.2 m high. Leaves are lanceolate, oblong edges of leaf blades and veins are pubescent. The length of the corolla is 6 cm. They are yellowish, inside there are streaks of dark brown color, the surface of the corolla is pubescent.

    Domestic varieties:

    Rusty digitalis Digitalis ferruginea

    Rusty digitalis Digitalis ferruginea photo

    Plant height is 70-120 cm. Leaves are oblong, glabrous or slightly pubescent. The corolla has a pronounced lower lip - it looks like an orchid flower. Color from pale yellow with a pinkish tint, yellow-gray, rusty, golden brown. Inside the corolla there are streaks of lilac, red-brown hue. nine0007

    Woolly foxglove Digitalis lanata

    Woolly foxglove Digitalis lanata Photo

    Medicinal plant. The flowers are small, yellow-brown with purple veins. The stem is densely pubescent.

    Yellow foxglove Digitalis lutea

    Yellow foxglove Digitalis lutea photo

    Height is 80-100 cm. Leaves and stems are bare. Leaf blades are oval-oblong. Flowers have

    Gelb Janus - the most popular variety of the species with flowers of a pale yellow hue. nine0007

    Digitalis in landscape design

    Rusty foxglove in landscape design photo

    Tall species and varieties serve as a background in linear flower beds and mixborders, plant them to cover unsightly walls. Medium-sized ones are good for decorating flower beds; with the help of undersized ones, frame borders and paths.

    Digitalis in landscaping flower beds photo

    Can be planted in vases or pots to decorate terraces, balconies.

    Create a clearing of foxglove in the garden - it will look gentle, romantic, natural. nine0007

    With what flowers to plant foxglove photo mixborder

    Shrubs and trees will be good partners in the garden: viburnum, wild rose, honeysuckle, rhododendron; shade-tolerant plants: hosta, primrose, geranium, aquilegia, dicentra; universal neighbors: irises, decorative onions, peonies, poppies, angelica, valerian.

    Cut flower stalks please about a week. They look good in tall ceramic and glass vases.

    Medicinal properties of foxglove and contraindications

    Leaves are the main medicinal raw material. They are rich in glycosides (biologically active substances that help in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases). Digitalis has been used in traditional medicine since the 18th century. The leaves, crushed into powder, are part of the medicinal preparations.

    Infusion is used in folk medicine. It has long been taken for epilepsy, as an anesthetic and a means to cleanse the body.

    For a long time healers used digitalis to treat epilepsy, abdominal and chest dropsy, used it to relieve pain in skin diseases, as well as a constipation remedy and to cleanse the body. However, with the wrong dosage, vomiting, diarrhea, and often death were observed. Therefore, for a whole century, humanity forgot about foxglove. nine0007

    The plant is very poisonous, so the infusion should be taken under medical supervision. At the first sign of poisoning, call an ambulance. Poisoning is manifested by nausea and vomiting, severe abdominal pain, skin rashes, convulsions, respiratory failure and heart failure are possible. Prolonged use leads to a cumulative effect of toxic substances, which may cause loss of appetite, hallucinations.

    It is strictly forbidden to take foxglove to children, pregnant or lactating women, as well as people who have had a myocardial infarction, have lung diseases, suffering from pericarditis, angina pectoris, gastric tachycardia.

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