Wallflowers?

Hi,

Iv'e grown my wallflowers from seed and now they are planted in the garden.

My question is: Do I have to pinch out the growing tip? I'm sure someone on here mentioned that they did it, but I haven't in previous years!!

Thanks:thumb:

 

I've grown them in the past and never pinched out the tops either, but that doesn't mean it's right or wrong!

 

Mine are planted out now and doing some token flowers.
After they have flowered I'm going to pinch them out. I believe that will make them bushier for the spring. I don't think it's ever essential to pinch out but you might get a better show if you do. Sometimes it's just about how much time to do have and how much do you have to do.

 

It may not be neccessary - but It won't do any harm. There is a principle called the Chelsea Chop and there is a book written about the same principle by an American - Tracy DiSabato-Aust. This principle, which applies to most perennial plants is that an early cut back, which is the same as pinching out, will make plants shorter, sturdier (won't need support) and bushier.

If its done in the same year that the plant is expected to flower, it will only delay flowering a bit. But if you do it now to Wallflowers it shouldn't have any effect on the flowering time.

 

Good point about pinching out not setting-back a Biennial like Wallflowers. I reckon if I pinch out things like Peppers in the Spring it puts back flowering / fruiting by 2 - 3 weeks, but I'd prefer bushy Wallflowers that don't fall / blow over - and they are going to flower on Day-length or warmth in the Spring anyway ... good tip!