Because
I like to have Lathyrus flowering early in the season, already at this time of
the year I sow the Lathyrus seeds in pots.
Last
year the Lathyrus bloomed very beautiful in my picking garden. This year however,
I will have to plant them at a different spot, otherwise the soil will tire out
to much. I came up with the idea to put some stakes in my – now excavated - boxwood
garden, and let the Lathyrus overgrow these stakes. This will give some height to
this now "bare" garden immediately.
I have
chosen the variety “Charlies Angels”, because these produce flowers in the most
beautiful lavender blue you can imagine. They also bloom richly. They have long
stems too, so they are simply ideal to fill a vase with.
Besides
all this, the seeds I harvested last year come in handy.
Sowing Lathyrus, step by step:
First
you will have to remove the seeds from the pods.
Because
Lathyrus makes long roots, I use toilet paper rolls to plant the seeds in.
On
each roll I write the name of the Lathyrus.
Because
toilet paper rolls have a tendency to fall apart, I put some adhesive tape over
it.
Next
I put the rolls in a plastic box, in order to be able to water them easily.
Fill the
rolls with potting soil. Mind you, do not fill them up completely!
Put three
seeds in each roll and then fill it up with potting soil completely.
Do
not forget to water them on a regular basis. Lathyrus likes a drink now and then!
Finally
I place the plastic box in my - unheated - greenhouse.
Once the
Lathyrus are large enough, they - together with the toilet paper roll - should be
planted in the soil outside. By doing so, the fragile roots will not get damaged.
Eventually the roll will rot away, except for the adhesive tape. That you will
find back in your border in autumn and can be removed easily by then.
The
whole job described is ready in fifteen minutes!
All
that is left to do is waiting impatiently for something beautiful!
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Last year in my picking garden. The lavender colored Lathyrus 'Charlies Angels' at the right. |
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Seed pots |
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Lathyrus seeds |
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Toilet paper rolls |
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Toilet paper rolls in a plastic box |
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Three seeds in each toilet paper roll |
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Do not forget to water them on a regular basis. |
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