Canterbury Bells
Common name; Cup and Saucer flower
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Overview:
A hardy biennial, that is a member of the Campanula family and sometimes goes under the name of calycanthema.
The bell-shaped flowers in either white, pink, blue or lavender appear in mid summer.
It grows to a height of 400- 1200mm (15"-48") subject to variety.
It is suited to growing in both containers and herbaceous borders.
Deadhead regularly to encourage further flowering, a potash feed at this time can be quite beneficial.
Cultivation:
Week 15:
Sow seeds in trays of seed compost and cover with vermiculite.
Germinate at a temperature of 16°- 18°C (61°-64°F)
They should take about a week to germinate.
Week 16:
If large enough to handle prick the seedlings out in 70mm (3") pots of potting compost and grow at a temperature of 16°- 18°C (61°-64°F)
Week 20-22:
Place in a frost free coldframe until planting out time.
Week 26:
Seed can be sown in a nursery bed at this time and left to grow until the following spring when they can be transplanted to their final quarters.
Prior to the onset of winter these plants can be covered with a mulch to keep the worst of the weather off them.
Week 38:
Plant out 300mm (12") apart in full sun or partial shade.
The soil should be fertile, well drained and water retentive (but not over wet)