The Gardener's Almanac

a place to find out what to do in the garden this week

Weather Forecast
Home
Preface
Faqs
Links
Zones
Gallery
Bookshop
Guestbook
 
 
   

Verbascum

Common name; Mullein

Aspect

 

A tall flowering perennial suited for the back of the herbaceous border.

 

It grows to around 900-1200mm (3-4ft) high and flowers from July onwards.

 

Cultivation;

 

Week 13; If not done in November and if conditions allow, take 75mm (3”) root cuttings and insert them into a 50-50 (by volume) mixture of compost and sharp sand and grow on in a coldframe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the plants show three to four leaves pot them up into 75mm (3") pots of potting compost and grow them on in a

coldframe until planting out time.

 

 

Week 15; Sow seed and germinate at a temperature of 18°C (64°F)

 

Germination should take 7-10 days.

 

When seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into 75mm (3")

 

Grow on at a temperature of 12°-16°C (54°-61°F) for a couple of weeks then place them in a cold frame until planting out time.

 

 

Week 35; Plant out now or in March –April 300-400m (12-15") apart in an open, sunny site that has good drainage and moderate fertility.

 

Remove dying spikes regularly and they should flower continually during the summer.

 

 

 

Week 45; Cut plants down to ground level.

 

 

 

Week 46; If conditions allow, take 75mm (3”) root cuttings and insert them into a 50-50 (by volume) mixture of compost and sharp sand and grow on in a coldframe.

 

When the plants show three to four leaves pot them up into 75mm (3") pots of potting compost and grow them on in a coldframe until planting out time.

 

 

Related Links

Coldframe

Compost

Heating

Planting out

Pricking out

Root cuttings

Seed sowing

 

 

Top of page
 
 
Copyright © Updated 2011