Polkadot Polly Foxglove
Digitalis x hybrida. Create a colourful show with these sterile long-lasting flower spikes. Deep blush pink and apricot shades with speckled dots carefully placed. A great performer that will add beauty to your flower beds. Strong stems make Polkadot Polly ideal for cut flowers. Foxgloves are an excellent choice for attracting bees and hummingbirds to your garden. Their showy spikes of flowers are perfect for creating vertical focal points in cottage gardens, woodland gardens and other informal plantings. They are low maintenance and show resistance to deer and rabbits. Height 36”. Approx. 20 seeds/pkg.
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Details
Growing Information
Planting:
Foxglove seed may be sown early indoors and transplanted outside after frost or sown directly in the garden.
Starting Seed Indoors: Sow seeds indoors in late winter by barely covering the seed with seed-starting formula. Keep the soil evenly moist and around 60-65 degrees F. Seedlings emerge in 14-21 days. As soon as the seedlings emerge, provide plenty of light on a sunny windowsill or 3-4” beneath fluorescent plant lights for 6-10 hours daily. Fertilize when the seedlings are 3-4 weeks old using a starter solution. You may need to transplant the seedlings to 3-4” pots when seedlings have at least 2 pairs of true leaves to help develop strong roots. Before transplanting to the garden, seedling plants need to be hardened off. Accustom young plants to outdoor conditions by moving them to a sheltered place outside during the day for a week. Be sure to protect from wind and hot sun for the first few days. If frost threatens at night, cover or bring indoors and take them out again the next day. This hardening off process toughens the plants and reduces transplant shock and scalding.
Transplanting outdoors: Select a full sun to part shade location with moist, organic soil. Prepare the bed by turning the soil under 6-12” removing debris and raking the soil level. The addition of organic matter (compost, well-rotted manure) will benefit the plants. Dig holes large enough for the root ball approximately 18” apart large. Gently loosen the root ball to encourage root growth. Plant the root ball even with the soil surface and fill in around the root ball pressing firmly with your hand. Thoroughly water and apply a light mulch on top of the soil.
Direct Seeding Outdoors: Direct sow in rich, moist soil in full sun to part shade after all danger of frost. Remove weeds and work organic matter into the soil. Sow seeds evenly and thinly barely covering with soil. Keep soil moist. Seedlings will emerge in 14-21 days depending on soil and weather conditions. Thin to approximately 18” apart after the first few sets of true leaves appear.
Growing:
Keep weeds under control during the growing season as they compete with plants for water, space and nutrients. Mulch will help with weed control as well as help to retain moisture and even temperatures. Water thoroughly at least once a week. Soil should be damp up to 1” below the soil surface. One inch of water or rain per week is recommended. A light fertilizer will be beneficial, keep away from the plant crown to avoid burn injury. Mulch after the ground freezes in the fall to prevent heaving. Remove mulch in spring when new growth appears.
Please Note: foxgloves are poisonous if eaten.
Pests & Diseases:
Aphids, Japanese Beetles, Mealybugs, Damping off, Leaf spot, Verticillium wilt.