Crambe cordifolia

What a wonderful combination :-)))

So that's what my crambe should have looked like - it didn't! I had two, both in very sunny positions; wrong place maybe? Any advice welcome Simbad.

All the plants complement each other, very nice.

Grew this from seed several years ago Ginellie, only got one plant, but as you can see thats all you need, lol, must be arount 5ft x 5ft, its growing in full sun in heavy clay soil, text books say fertile well drained soil, which it certainly hasn't got here, seems to love it though, has lovely honey scent too, there's another smaller variety too maritima.

Thanks Dawn ;-)

Well have the same soil as you Simbad and same position so I will try again next year. Thanks.

Beautiful mix!

There's a big picture of this in Carol Klein's book. Apparently a great fav. of Gertrude Jeykll. Id love this Simbad but have read its smells like cabbage (being a Sea Kale)!!!

I love love love this plant Tetrarch, never noticed the cabbage smell except at this time of year when I clear the soggy dead foliage uurgh, the flowers are quite strongly honey scented.

Thats good then I love that scent..same as Choisya. Now! where can I put it???

Kathy, where did you buy the seeds from? It's so nice.

Dawn Ive just tried T&M but they are out of stock.

That is pretty stunning Simbad..better than CK's!

Ooo thanks Tetrarch, if my head gets much bigger I won't fit through the door,lol.
Dawn yes thats were I got my seeds from Thompson and Morgan.
Think I might have some in my seed box collected from mine, although if I remember rightly they've been in there several years, may be ok they've been in the fridge, I'll have a search later, if I have I'll split them between you,lol, if not I 'll collect some this summer:-)

Thanks Tetrarch.
Thanks Kathy ..... OK, that would be good, thank you.

If you find them I wont say no to those Simbad, Ta muchly!

Found them, 2006 though, I'll post them to you both over the weekend,worth a try, I'll also put myself a reminder to collect seed in summer in case they don't grow :-)
Think its one of those you can grow from root cuttings isn't it? must have a go when I get round to it, if I ever get all these borders weeded and cleared :-)

Yes they grow from root cuttings about now Simbad..not that Im dropping hints of course..but its becoming all the rage, will pm you.

Thats kind of you Kathy. I have a few seeds for you too :). I'll give them a go, you never know.

Oh crikey, my borders are awful, I've been trying to give them their initial weed before they go really mad - lots of rain tomorrow apparently, tut

Thanks Dawn, know I promised you some vernona gigantea seeds but unfortunately it was still flowering when the snow hit and didn't have time to set seed sorry, just a mushy mess when I cleared it the other day, will look what else I have if I can remember what I've already sent,lol,do have some corydalis 'Bronze Beauty' that I put aside for you,new one I grew from seed last year so know you don't have that, good one for your wood.
You're right its raining here too so no gardening today, maybe some pricking out in the greenhouse, the propogaters on the go again :-)
Ooops nearly forgot have remembered the pond plant will send later when the weather gets a bit warmer:-)

Hi Kathy, not to worry about the Vernona seeds - do you think the plant will pull through, if its all mushy? Lets hope so. The Corydalis Bronze Beauty sounds good, thank you.

I've been going through my seeds today, too early for most to go in but I can get a few started in the propagator tomorrow.

Sending you a little envelope on Monday. x

Im fed up with waiting for them to germinate. Ive ditched the greenhouse in favour of bedroom window with a radiator underneath!

Oooh Tetrarch you need one of the heated windowsill propagators, thats what me and Dawn have got, super7 think its called, fits on your windowsill with 7 trays, had mine 10 years now brilliant, sowed seeds last friday and all 7 have germinated already, it must be near your birthday,lol.
Thankyou Dawn look forward to them will post yours Monday too :-), hopefully the vernona will be ok only the top growth dead, will keep my eye on it:-)

Cant get any more than 4 half trays on a windowsill Simbad, got mullions in between. If they do a smaller one would be good, but it cant be wider than a seed tray either cos even that barely fits widthwise

Yep, the Super 7 is brilliant, compact and hardly takes any power to run. Got my tomato seeds going in a couple of trays at the moment and setting the other 5 tomorrow, thanks Kathy for putting me onto it.

Glad you think the Vernona will be OK and looking forward to receiving my seeds :-)

Hi Tetrarch, its 18.5cm wide, perfect for the window sill, check this link out:

http://www.charliesdirect.co.uk/products/garland-super-7-electric-windowsill-propagator

Think they're 1/4 trays aren't they Dawn?, would be lost without mine, certainly had my moneys worth out of it.

It overhangs my windowsill by 3.5cms..about 1.5 inches..and just fits lengthways...if you dont think that will overbalance, I dont reckon it will by the look of it..I will get one. Thanks girls, much obliged!

Hi Tetrarch, I've just over hung mine over the windowsill by 1.5 inches to test it, I think you'll just about be OK. When the 7 trays are full of compost etc. they are quite heavy, I think it would be fine.

Yes, Kathy, measured the trays and they are 6" x 4". All my 7 trays are set now and warming up nicely.

really kind of you Dawn for trying it out. Im buying one now!

You're welcome Tet - noticed that Garden For Less have them for £28.50 with free delivery, that's good as I paid about £32 or something like that.

http://www.garden4less.co.uk/super-7-windowsill-propagator.asp?partner=fr

Hey Kathy, just noticed too that you have buy spare trays - 7 for £10.99 plus delivery from Keen Gardener - that could be useful, dont you think ;-)

That would be very useful Dawn did wonder if you could buy spare trays,thanks for that :-), pricked out my first lot of seedlings today, then had to bring my seed tray stand into the sunroom, not warm enough in the greenhouse for the seedlings yet.

Love your seed tray stand Kathy, I've had to make do with Ikea racking lol. Weather should be milder next week. I'm amazed that the seedlings in my greenhouse survived -10 temps, crazy really but most seem ok. Did you grow the purple loosestrife I sent - they take time to prick out, I think every seed germintes.

Hi Kathy, just to let you know your Crambe Cordifolia seeds have germinated, a couple of coming up. Set them in the Super 7 after you sent them.
2006 seed or not - they are good. Thanks so much. x

Oh wow thats great news Dawn, really didn't hold out much hope with them being such old seed, mind you I sowed some old agastache seed as all the ones in the garden had died and they all germinated too, wonder if Margo's sown hers yet.
Just sowed your clematis a couple of days ago so fingers crossed :-)

No I havent sown them yet, got no room left at the moment..I do think I might have to get those extra trays. My verbascum look all thin and spindly Kathy, do they look like that normally when they are about half inch high? They are in a northwest facing window and Ive kept them out of direct sunlight. Had to turn them tho, cos they were growing one sided!

Hi Kathy, Im so pleased, I hope the clematis germinate for you. X

Sorry Tetrarch only just seen this, yes the seedlings do look a bit spindley at first,mine are on a northwest windowsill too, pot them on as soon as they're big enough to handle they'll soon bush out as they get their true leaves, I always put them deeper in the pots so the leaves are level with the soil, the perennials I put in the greenhouse when I 've potted them up bit more light, the hollyhocks are in there already and are fine, the less hardy ones are in the sunroom where its a bit brighter till it warms up a bit.

Thanks for that. Will try potting some up this week then.

:-)))

Found some Crambe seed (T & M) from last year that I hadn't opened. Now on the windowsill and hoping for signs of life from some. I also found seeds of 'Palms Trachycarpus Fortune', now why would I have ordered those - must have been free. Anyway I put them on same windowsill and can't believe little green specks already. How thrilled would I be if they actually grew into palms - any chance do you think?

Hope the crambe sprout soon Ginellie:-) I only got one plant from the T+M seed but as you can see thats all you need:-), Trachycarpus is not something I've ever tried either well done getting them growing, don't see why they wouldn't grow into palms, may take a while though, might give them a go myself now, always like to try new seeds.

Dawn the clematis germinated around 25 seedlings so far, thankyou:-) xx

I'll send pics of the 'palms' if they get big enough to photograph Simbad.

Hi Kathy, that is excellent news, thanks for letting me know. I set mine at the weekend so fingers crossed. I'm delighted that the seed I collected has 'worked', wasnt sure if I'd caught them at the right time, I'm really pleased.

One of the crambe seeds has sprouted Simbad - I am away for 5 days from next Sunday so hope it will be ok on the windowsill uncovered, what do you think?

Sure it'll be fine Ginnellie as long as its not in full sun and you water before you go, they do grow pretty quick once they get going, I've done some strange things to stop my plants biting the dust while I've been away on my holidays, a wet cloth under the seed tray works well,lol, ok now the kids are older though as they don't come with us anymore,so they water for me,eldest daughter nearly had a heart attack when I said she'd have to dead head all the daylilies while we're away this year,only joking,lol.