The ultimate social climber
Glorious trumpets of colour are a must for Ruth’s garden
HIS week’s packet of seeds is a ‘keeper’ in every sense of the word. Morning glory ‘Grandpa Otts’ is one of the most stunning and striking of annual climbers, with lush, large, indigo-hued trumpets fanning out from their vivid ruby central stars.
However, because they are half-hardy the plants don’t take kindly to our chilly wet winters, so they need to be kept somewhere cool, dry and safe from hungry rodents until next spring when they can be safely sown undercover.
When you do get round to starting them off, do so in March and April. Germinate and grow them on in a greenhouse or light bedroom.
They flower for months on end and look extremely glamorous scrambling up trellis, through shrubs and over walls.
Morning glory seeds are large and easy to sow, but you will have improved germination if you soak them first overnight. Discard any that float and only sow the sinkers as they are more likely to be viable.
Sow in trays or pots of fresh, dampened seed compost and cover lightly with more of the same.
Add a lid or seal the pot in a clear plastic bag and set somewhere warm and light, though out of direct sunlight.
Keep the compost damp and seeds should germinate in around three weeks. The seedlings can be potted on into individual 3in (8cm) containers when they are large enough to handle carefully. Use small stakes to support the seedlings as they grow, and then plant them out after hardening them off when the frosts have passed.