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Posted by arati (U14426424) on Friday, 16th April 2010
I have Cobaea growing indoors from seeds. They are around 15 cms high and growing pretty quickly. Wondering if its a good time to start planting them out in the front yard(London).Also do they need deep beds for growing? (my frontyard has shallow beds). Any advice to grow them would be really helpful.
Link to this forum: Cobaea Cathedral bells - time to plant out?
I would give them a couple more weeks in case of frost. You can pinch off the tops to make them bush out a bit. Also harden them off by taking them out during the day and bringing in at night. I grow mine in a pot under a camellia which they grow through - so I think they will be fine in a shallow bed. What support have you got for yours?
Link to this forum: Cobaea Cathedral bells - time to plant out?
Hi (sorry for the late reply - was struggling to reply not realising the borad closes at night and wondering waht i was doing wrong)
thnx for the advice of pinching off the tops-have done them over the weekend. At the moment i have just put them on a metal support, but they seem to be gripping well on the glass of the window - so am planning to not give them any support and let them crep ont eh window glass itself. In case i do decide to grow them on a metal support - just a bit doubtful if they will get too heated to harm the plant.What would you advice?
Link to this forum: Cobaea Cathedral bells - time to plant out?
I can't see metal overheating them any more than glass - both might get a bit toasty if we have a hot summer. I think you will just have to keep an eye on them and adapt accordingly!
Link to this forum: Cobaea Cathedral bells - time to plant out?
Ta. Actually think its on the path to disaster now though. I put out the plants to harden but looks like the sun burnt them out The leaves turning papery and crumbling when i touch it .. Guess i have lots to learn on caring for seedlings !!
Link to this forum: Cobaea Cathedral bells - time to plant out?
I was just going to ask how you managed to get your seeds to germinate when I read about your disaster. My first lot moulded away. The second lot had only one plant growing but that one seems to be doing well. I have it out during the day with my other seedlings and are aiming to plant it in my stairwell where it gets the morning sun and have a banister to cling to.
Link to this forum: Cobaea Cathedral bells - time to plant out?
it was one of those few lucky plants. Most of my other seedlings have failed. Germinated them on my kictchen window (pretty warm) and then moved them out to the lounge window which was cool but not sunny. think it likes shade more than the sun - but not too sure.
Link to this forum: Cobaea Cathedral bells - time to plant out?
How big a container does this plant need. Im thinking of planting it out in a 23cm pot alt one that is narrow and slim but roughly the same volume.
Link to this forum: Cobaea Cathedral bells - time to plant out?
Hi there. If its any consolation, ive made several sowings of Cobaea and they have all failed. So im at a complete loss as to where ive gone wrong. Ive done the rounds of the garden centres, with no luck. This means ive got a year to sort it out. Best wishes with ya plant. Clubbie
Link to this forum: Cobaea Cathedral bells - time to plant out?
They seem to germinate very slow. One of my seeds that was planted a month ago seems to have decided to germinate now. The other seed that was planted at the same time has now developed its first set of proper leaves and is about 10 cm tall.
Link to this forum: Cobaea Cathedral bells - time to plant out?
Hi just bean reading your message about The most Beueatfull,Cobaea, i sowed four seed in Feb, they are in the ground, i sowed four more in march but they did not Germinate, i sowed four more at the beginning of April i planted them out on Friday. they were all in a heated greenhouse,Inside a propagator.When i sow them i lay the seed on top of the compost, then i sieve i mix of sharp sand and compost over them about 1/8" deep. I Hope this has been some use to you.
GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY GARDENING
TAZMAN
Link to this forum: Cobaea Cathedral bells - time to plant out?
I agree tazman they do need good drainage or they rot off.
I'm not growing them this year but did for past 2 years. Realised they have a very long growing season, to get any flowers you need to get them sown early March, somewhere warm for quick germination. Once well established they romp away.
I would think a narrow deepish pot would work ok.
Link to this forum: Cobaea Cathedral bells - time to plant out?
my plants grew ok in the small pots (about 7cms i think) ones , they grew about one-fourths of the 2.4m arch and when i took hem out for repotting the roots were not too thick, so i guess they would have grown alright on even the small pots. however note that the stems are really weak and snap very quickly - so good to minimise moving them around. i snapped all my 3 plants when repotting but they seem to be growing back alright so far.
Link to this forum: Cobaea Cathedral bells - time to plant out?
Are these plants highly loved by slugs and snails. Mine is doing quite well in the staircase down to my flat but something has almost eaten all of the two first leaves now.
Does it branch by itself or do I need to chop the top of? It has only one stem at the moment and no sights of branches.
Link to this forum: Cobaea Cathedral bells - time to plant out?
yes, i had to pinch off the top to make it branch . as for the slugs - i grew mine in hanging basket since i didnt find the root system too extensive so thats probably y i escaped the slug problems.
Link to this forum: Cobaea Cathedral bells - time to plant out?
Hi just was browsing and saw your post. When I bring plant from the inside to harden outside, I put them in a shady area outside (not deep shade) for 2-3 hours a day for 3 days and then increase the time outside by an hour every three days until they are ouside all day long. When I want to bring a plant indoors from the outside (chilli pepper plants) I put them in a shady area outside for two weeks before bringing indoors. It usually works for me unless of course I forget that I have them outside and leave them out too long, put them outside too early or I get too impatiant!
Link to this forum: Cobaea Cathedral bells - time to plant out?
I'll do that on mine. It's almost one m long and single stranded.
Link to this forum: Cobaea Cathedral bells - time to plant out?
is it flowering yet? Mine is growing well - but no sign of flowers !!
Link to this forum: Cobaea Cathedral bells - time to plant out?
No but I think it will attack the postman if he slows down. It is throttling everything it can see. Even rubbish that comes its way.
Link to this forum: Cobaea Cathedral bells - time to plant out?
mine has flowered last weekend. must mention that the buds are hardly noticable since they very nearly match with the colour of the leaves -purplish . The flowers too must admit dont stand out too much especially since mine is purple (white would have been better choice)and they just come up scattered - but well am just happy its finally flowering !!
Link to this forum: Cobaea Cathedral bells - time to plant out?
Mine has probably started to flower, but cant be sure as I am at the Edinburgh Fring at the moment. It had buds when I left
Link to this forum: Cobaea Cathedral bells - time to plant out?
I have now something on my plants that looks like a cross sail. Will these open up to become the flower? They look like two papery things that crosses. They are about an inch high and a half across. I cant see these opening up to the blue flower on the seed package.
Link to this forum: Cobaea Cathedral bells - time to plant out?
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