Cobea .. Cup and Saucer Plant

LoL, can't you cross polenate them yourself as I did with my Caesalpinias?

 

I think I'll do that Strongy to see what happens. That's with a paintbrush, isn't it? We've had light rain overnight and drizzle this monring and it's forecast for the rest of the week ... does this matter?

I've found out to have a look and the two pairs I photographed have dropped already so found another pair and they are "next door" to each other on a single stem.

 

You need to pollenate when its warm and dry I would guess.

 

Oops ... tried it in the damp so will have to wait till next week! :eek:

 

There's success with or without my help ... although I rather think it was the bees :rolleyes: ...

 

Don't be silly, LoL - of course it was down to you! :D

 

I still opt for the bees rather than my paintbrush! Now if someone can tell me when I should pick them, you can start planning those hanging baskets! Isn't this exciting! :D

 

My mother grew it for years from seed and never got a flower. She gave me a plant and it flowered all summer. We never found out what I did different.

 

My seed pods never ripened properly, the frost always got there first.
I would guess there will be some kind of change in colour or wrinkling of the outer case when they are ripe. As I remember the seed is a kind of winged wotsit, that is most likely spread by the wind, so would think the pod needs to dry out when ripe.

 

Ye, gads, Pete, spread by the wind ... someone will have to come over here and dig me out! :eek:

Seriously, the seeds I planted (bought) were flat winged characters and I have since learned that you plant them up on end! Perhaps that why I didn't have a 100% success rate! :D

 

You could end up being accused of intoducing a noxious weed to Portugal. :D
No, I'm sure someone else got there before you.

 

Pete, don't laugh too soon ... I just discovered another four "froo-its" and dozens more in the making ... :eek: God and the birds can only see what's on the top of the cane roof it lives on .... (maybe I should take my binoculars up onto the deck and view from above)!

We've had this idea of plopping pods in "unattractive" places nearby and "hope for the best", if you know what I mean! :wink:

It's amazing, there are still zillions (only exaggerating a weeney bit! :rolleyes: ) still to come if the frost doesn't hit us first! :D

 

I've grown it and I think that the flowers seemed lighter when they first appeared and grew darker as they matured.Very easy to raise from seed. A fantastic plant!

 

I've read this, too, g_f, (green on to purple) but my two colours seem to be different next to each other, if you know what I mean?

Forest of Dean ... what a lovely part of the world. We used to love to go to Ross on Wye and wander around from there. Rank Xerox (an ex with me) has/had a big plant in that area, Micheldean, I believe.

 

There are 2 varieties.Cobaea scandens and cobaea scandens alba.Alba is a greenish white colour and doesn't change colour.
Seed can be obtained from www.chilternseeds.co.uk for both varieties.
They don't keep well though, as I found that seed stored for 2 years had very poor germination.
Yes, the Forest of Dean is a lovely place to live.Rank Xerox was in Mitcheldean, although their factory has been scaled down now.
I live in a village called St.Briavels, which borders the Forest and Wales. We have no shop or post office, but we do have a castle and 2 pubs, so it's not all bad.(and some fantastic scenery.)