Plant now or in Spring?

Just because they're there, and because I can - I've collected a huge quantity of both lupin and aquilegia seeds. It matters not if they 'come true' as I shall use them purely to fill a dark corner but should I plant them now and over-winter them in my unheated greenhouse, or wait until Spring before planting?

 

Sow now, plant out in autumn - so get a move on! Both are hardy, so will survive winter outside as baby plants - in fact I find lupins planted in Autumn do better surviving slug attacks that those planted in Spring, when the slugs are emerging to feed.

 

Aquilegias are weeds and will sow themselves anywhere. But if you think you need to help them then sow them now - they will get on more than fine.
Lupins will overwinter fine in their first year.
Get a wiggle on and sow them now. Overwinter in a cold frame, plant out in the spring and they will flower next year.

 

In everyone's garden, except mine!!

No prizes for guessing what I'll be doing today. Thanks for that.

 

I love them too - but then I also love Evening Primrose which seeds everywhere with 'gay' abandon!

 

In everyone's garden, except mine!!

Fidgetsmum!! you are not alone, I can't grow Aquilegias to save my life, I've tried all
ways but the seeds germinate grow to about 3" and then give up and die. have tried them in soil, peat compost, coir compost, you name it I tried it. so I don't try now lol!!.

Pete

 

I'm like that with foxgloves Peter - everyone else seems to have a plague of them, me I can't even get small plants shop bought to survive, let alone get them to self seed. I'm giving them one last try next Spring - growing them in pots in the same location as my Hostas thrive in.

 

Aaron, foxgloves aren't a problem, they grown in the joints between the paving, I
have to pull then up as weeds, but Aquilegias :( Nah!!. but never mind, can't win em all

Pete

 

Ditto.

We'd been in this house about 18 months, knew less than nothing about gardening and thus gratefully accepted 6 foxglove plants which my 'kindly' neighbour offered. We've lived here for 26 years and I still get the odd foxglove seedling pop up (personally I think that same neighbour - still growing her foxgloves - throws handfuls of seed over the fence at dead of night :hehe.

 

The one which tries my patience is Verbena Bonarensis, it's seeds come up everywhere you look and as quickly as I can lift them, more appear.
Have to say my success with Aqueligia so far is nil althoughI note that those that have reverted to the dark blue colour will happily spread themselvesd about.