Re: Foxgloves

I may have deleted a response to this in a fit of madly trying to clear my
inbox, but in case not...FWIW..

To get seeds from your foxglove, you need to wait until the seedpods are
dry and beige brown.  This means the entire stalk will have finished
flowering and turned brown - the top flowers will form seedpods that ripen
earlier than the lower flowers.   If you observe them closely, you will see
that they start to crack open when ripe.  

The seed is very fine, almost like dust, and spills out at the slightest
jostling of the plant.  The plants will look very ratty at this point -
brown stalks and yellowing leaves.  If the plant is going to return for you
next year - or think seriously about it (some do and some don't) you will
see new growth at the base.  In this case, cut off the stalk at the base
and remove the ratty leaves and you very well may have the plant return and
bloom again the following year.  

If all is black or brown and dried up looking, including the basal rosette,
it has done it's thing and you can pull the entire plant.  Sometimes,
plants will throw new foliage at the base yet die over winter and sometimes
they will return as a many stalked clump.  Digitalis purpurea is what I'm
talking about - not other species who behave differently.  D. purpurea is
basically a biennial, but can also be a short-lived perennial.  Usually two
flowering seasons are the most you will get from any plant and those plants
who are in well-fed ground and kept moist are most likely to return for
you.

I gather a bunch of stalks, and if I'm not saving seed to give away, I just
take them - carefully so's not to spill too much seed - and shake them
where I want plants to grow - seed comes out like salt from a shaker.

Or, if you don't want seed all over the map, quickly upend the stalks in a
brown paper grocery bag or bit shopping bag.  Seeds will fall out into the
bag; stems can be composted and seed scattered by hand where you want them
to grow.

If you deadhead for possible additional flower stalks, you may or may not
get them and you may not get good seedheads from the second
flowering....depends on the weather and the mood of the gods.

I find that, often, secondary, smaller flowering stalks will form from
lower down on the plant without removing the main stalk...not always; not
every plant, but sometimes.  Secondary flowering stalks never seem to be as
robust as the main stalk - but that may just be my plants in my garden,
others may have wonderful secondary flowerings.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
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----------
> From: jeanne latta <jplatta@yahoo.com>
> Date: Saturday, May 22, 1999 9:40 AM
> 
> Good morning,
>     I say that because we are getting some much needed
> rain here.
>     Several of you mentioned that you collect the
> foxglove seeds and plant them where you want them and
> have great success.  I deadheaded mine immediately
> after bloom last year and so I don't really know what
> the seeds look like.   The book I had said that for
> rebloom, deadhead the plant when the flower stalk has
> 3/4 of its bloom spent, which is what I did. In other
> words, how do I know when to collect  the seeds and
> how do I go about doing it. Do I wait until the flower
> is brown and dry?  Thanks for the help.,  I bought a
> new foxglove this year and would like to try saving
> and planting the seed if I can do so.
> Jeanne 
> 
> ===
> Jeanne
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