Re: Foxglove

Hmmm, Donna.  Is the one that lived but didn't bloom still there as a
rosette of foliage?  If it is, it will likely bloom this year.

I have noticed that various of mine will blacken at the end of their
blooming period - usually the ones who have put themselves in less
than ideal conditions and got too dry.  Always figured it was some
kind of rust that did them in.

I'd say that morning sun would be better than shade all day with only
very late evening rays - even where you are.  Trick is that the soil
shouldn't dry out for them and, of course, they don't like sitting in
a puddle all the time.

If you planted your seed fairly late - like September or so, they
will likely germinate for you this spring once the weather warms up. 
If you allow the plants to self-seed, you can often find seedlings
around the parent plants in the fall, since they go to seed end of
May, early June around here - plenty of time for them to germinate.

If you want to grow them under controlled conditions - like in pots
or nursery rows, plant the seed in spring and transplant to their
final locations in the fall.

Also, seed should not be covered when it's planted.  It's fine as
dust and watering or rain will cover it sufficiently.

See if you don't have some seedlings this spring.  Go ahead and buy
some plants that are ready to bloom and let them seed. Then, even if
your seeds from last fall germinate, you will have started more. 
With biennials, you have to sow every year for a few years until
there are enough of different ages to self-seed each year and still
have some coming on for blooming.

Sometimes it takes a few tries to get something started in the
garden, but it's worth it....so keep on trying with them.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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----------
> From: James & Donna Davis <dsdavis@intop.net>
> Date: Friday, February 11, 2000 2:53 AM
> 
> Marge
> 
> I bought 2 plants last season   and   1 of them lived and had
beautiful
> forage,  but never bloomed for me    the other one  just   "like
rotted
> in the ground"  when all was said and done  I had a mass of black
folage
> sitting at ground level.   never knew what I did wrong.  they were
> planted in the shade with some late evening sun.  don't know about
the
> drainage,  it was a new flower bed,  so that could have been one of
the
> problems.   I planted  gazillions of seed back in the fall,  but
never
> seen anything.   should they have come up in the fall   or do you
think
> they might come up for me this spring.
> I will probable have to buy new plants this year.
> we didn't have any rain to speak of in the fall,  that could
explain why
> my seed didn't make a showing.
> 
> Donna   in NE Mississippi   zone 7
> 
>
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