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Cerinthe major


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Week Numbers

Bees

Coldframe

Collect Seeds

Compost

Harden Off

Heating

Planting out

Pricking out

Seed sowing

Cerinthe major purpurascens
Overview:

Cerinthe major purpurascens is a half hardy annual with unusual oval, fleshy blue-green leaves mottled with white, and rich purple-blue tubular flowers held inside sea blue bracts.

They grow to around 500mm (18") high with a similar spread.

It is a useful plant for attracting bees into the garden.

It is a prolific self seeder so deadhead regulary if you do not want it multiplying every year.

Allow a few seedheads to dry off then collect them and store for future use!


Cultivation:
Week 14:

Sow seeds in pots/trays of seed compost and germinate at 18°-20°C (64°-68°F)

Germination should take about a week.


Week 16:

When seedlings are large enough to handle prick out into trays/boxes of potting compost and grow on at 10°- 12°C (50°-54°F) for a week to ten days, then place in a coldframe to harden off until planting out time.


Week 22:

Plant out 300m (12") apart in a sunny position in any fertile garden soil.