Granddad Thunderbug always used to keep an Echinops flower in his buttonhole for church on Sundays…he said it made the ladies go wild with desire and that no red blooded man should ever be without it. He had his eye on Miss Tickleton the vicar…I never told him…but I think Granny Thunderbug had got there first.
Echinops is a globe like thistle with jagged edged silver green leaves…it grows to 120 cm tall…the flower heads look like the ‘Maces’ that knights of old would use to bash other knights of old….in the days of knights of old.
How To Grow Echinops From Seed.
*First off, Gramps grew ‘Ritro’, it has a strong stem and great colour.
*If you would like to start it off indoors, then sow your seeds on good quality seed compost in a seed tray….and press them firmly down.
*Cover them VERY lightly with compost. They need some light to germinate.
*Water with a fine sprayer and place the tray in a clear plastic bag.
*Plant out when the frosts have gone and space to two feet apart.
*Outdoors… Find a bed which gets lots of sun and has light free draining soil. (Not clay!)
*Not before mid April, press the seeds firmly into the ground and lightly cover.
*Keep the area weed free and lightly watered.
*Seeds should germinate in about two weeks.
Echinops ‘Ritro’ makes a great cut…I shall be sowing some more next spring for the new Higgledy Garden in Cornwall. :)
Have fun flower chums.
Benjamin
October 25, 2014 @ 10:20 am
I realise the post was a couple of years ago, but due to lack of space I grew echinops ritro in pots. It was fine, stayed quite small, and one year suffered from massive aphid invasion, but kept coming back. Planted it out this year 2014, now thriving.
September 29, 2012 @ 2:59 pm
Disclaimer: Apologies if this question earns me the award of ‘idiotic moron of the year 1998’. I”m very new to this flower growing malarkey. Think of me as a tiny fledgling birdy.
Can I grow these bad boys in pots?? My initial thought is ‘no’ as they grow quite large, don’t they? But could being in a pot encourage them to be a little less prolific? My garden is this big: * <– there, that star is it.
Many many thank yous for your kind assistance.
October 3, 2012 @ 12:57 pm
Hi Nik, I have never grown Ritro in pots before…but I’m sure they would be fine…best use a fair size container though and make sure they don’t get left to dry out…as can be a problem using pots.
I’d say give it a go and see…nothing ventured and all that. :) x