Lobelia

No pond as yet, but maybe sometime in the future. I’ve completely stripped out one of my borders, so looking at re-planting. I’ll enrich the ground before I do this. This one really caught our eye. Doing a little browsing, I noticed one site suggesting that this particular variety is usually grown as a biennial?

 

I got mine from Poundland @Freddy . Might be worth hanging on till the Spring now. Mine just gets watered the same as anyting else and has made quite a large clump this year.

 

It's really nice but I doubted it would survive up here so still in a pot (repotted from last year). I'm going to save seed and see if I can get more. If so I will risk planting out anything I manage to grow after a year of being cossetted in the greenhouse over winter (remember Longk advising to give young plants an easy time of it to begin with) and keep my fingers

 

No, it just needs nice humus rich soil which doesn't get waterlogged over the winter.

They're perennial. Suggesting that they're biennial is about managing expectations as most people trim the stems back in the autumn.

If you get babies plant the mature plant out - it will romp away!

 

Ok, I thought I’d pop in my local Wyevale to pick up a few seed in the 50p sale. On the way through, I noticed one of these Lobelia plants (Fan Burgandy), so decided to bite the bullet. I know, I know, don’t give me a hard time eh? So, got it home and plonked it into a larger pot. So, the plan is to divide it up into three when it’s died back and plant it out, does that sound about right?

 

I cut mine in half. Both plants seem to be healthy enough. Maybe next year I can cut them in half again.

G.

 

Yep Freddie but you can do it now too. If the flowers are over cut back the foliage and divide ....I use a sharp serrated knife or saw.....into pieces you require. I prefer to pot up and over winter in gh or protected spot. In mid spring your 3 pieces will be as big as the original plant.

I have been dividing herbaceous plants since mid summer and all are in robust health. I think if well watered they respond fast during this time without any sulking over cold autumn

 

What can I say, I like odd numbers

 

It still has a few flowers (which is why I noticed it), so maybe wait another week or so before dividing? I have a greenhouse that doesn’t get heated over winter, so sounds ideal.

 

Sounds good Freddie
Agree about "odd numbers".......a group of 3 always looks better than 2 side by side or as individuals

 

Whilst we’re at it, I also picked up a Coreopsis, in full flower pretty much. I’d also like to divide this up. Any thoughts?

 

Yep.....same thing. Mine are still in full flower too so they will be divided later this month. Most herbaceous like, need, to be divided regularly. Doesnt harm them in the least Freddie

 

Excellent, thank you