Do you want to add some pinkish-purple flowers to your garden? Then you should start growing one of the most beautiful plants – foxgloves! They are really easy to grow. Even if you are a beginner, growing them will be a piece of cake!
As foxgloves are biennial, they will produce leaves in the first year. Over the winter these flowers go dormant until summer arrives, when foxgloves finally start blooming in the second year.
Let me tell you, they are worth waiting for once you see how lovely they look in your garden! Luckily, I’ve got some amazing tricks for taking care of them that might even speed up their growth!
#1 Let’s Start With Sowing The Seeds
You can start planting in September, which is also the best time for doing it. Place foxgloves in the shaded part of your garden. The soil needs to be rich, well-drained, and slightly acidic, with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5.
Sow seeds directly in the ground and space them eleven to fifty inches apart. Water them well, and with that, we can finish the planting part and move on to the growing tips!
#2 Use This Watering Technique
Water your newly planted foxgloves more often for the first few months. That will help the roots to establish well and ensure healthy growth. The best time to do it would be early in the morning when the soil is still cool as this will prevent evaporation!
In summer, these flowers need to receive at least one inch of water weekly. If you accidentally forget to water them and notice that the soil is dry, use a drip hose and water the plants thoroughly!
#3 Apply Fertilizer For Long-Lasting Blooms
Improve your soil with plenty of organic matter such as garden compost. You can also add a thick layer of mulch around the base of your flowers.
If you test the soil and discover that it is poor, add a small handful of slow-release 5-10-5 fertilizer in the spring. Avoid nitrogen because overdoing it with this nutrient can harm the plants’ growth!
#4 There’s A Few Pests You Should Keep Your Eye On
When foxgloves start to grow, their leaves will become a perfect snack for slugs and snails! Lucky for you, I’ve got the perfect trick that will drive them away.
I also struggled with them until I found that crushed eggshells are a great repellent for these pests. Putting eggshells around the stems of your plants will keep foxgloves safe and sound!
Aphids, mealybugs, and Japanese beetles are some of the pests that will try to feed on your blossoms. If you don’t want to use strong chemicals, try planting natural repellents around your plants, such as lavender, peppermint, and sage!
Ready to grow this stunning flower? By following these easy tricks, you’ll create a beautiful landscape filled with pink petals!
I wish I had known these care tips earlier because they have proven to be incredibly useful. Planting them every few years has become a tradition for me, and now I can’t imagine my yard without them!
Since September is here, you can already start planting foxgloves. You’ll be amazed once you see how beautifully they thrive in your garden!