The Gardeners Almanac

The place to find out what to do in the garden this week
My Back Garden

Verbascum

Common name: Mullein

Related Links

Week Numbers

Coldframe

Compost

Deadheading

Heating

Planting Out

Pricking Out

Root Cuttings

Seed Sowing

Carribean Crush

Clump of Tall Raceme type flowers

White Variety
Overview:

Verbascum is a tall flowering perennial suited for the back of the herbaceous border, or as a structural feature in an island bed.

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

The individual flowers are saucer shaped and can be 30-35mm (1¼") across, the leaves are usually quite large and are often felt like with white hairs.


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 / deadhead dying spikes regularly and the plants should flower continually during the summer.


Circa 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.