Where can I buy foxglove seeds? What are the seedling-raising methods?
Foxglove, also called digitalis, fairy bell, and hanging bell flower, blooms in a variety of colors, including white, pink, and deep red, and is often used to decorate gardens. So if you want to grow foxglove, where can you buy the seeds? What are the seedling-raising methods? Let's take a look below.
Where can I buy foxglove seeds?
There are many channels for buying foxglove seeds. You can buy them from flower markets or seed sellers in various places, and you can also buy them online. However, if you want to buy high-quality seeds, it still takes some effort. You must choose the right seller and buy from local, legitimate, and reliable vendors. You can select them yourself, and the quality is more guaranteed. Even if problems arise later, you can still find the seller to resolve them. The risk of online shopping is relatively high, and seed quality cannot be well guaranteed, though the official websites of legitimate seed companies are still trustworthy. The price of foxglove seeds is about 260 to 280 yuan per jin. Although the price is on the high side, this flower also has high ornamental value, so it is still very worthwhile.
What are the seedling-raising methods for foxglove?
1. Sowing
In the south, flat beds or raised beds are used for raising seedlings, while in the north, sun-facing beds are mostly used. In the sun-facing beds, decomposed horse manure is used as base fertilizer. After fully mixing the fertilizer particles with the bed soil, level it. Sow in early March, drilling or broadcasting in rows with a row spacing of 6 cm, and cover with thin mats to keep warm. Generally, open the thin mats at around 10 a.m. and cover them at 4 p.m. to promote moisture retention. In mid-May, when the seedlings have grown to 3-5 leaves, transplant them to the field at a row spacing of 30 cm x 20 cm, and water after planting.
2. Water and fertilizer
For seedlings, pay attention to timely watering and loosening the soil and weeding to reduce disease. After transplanting, water immediately to help the seedlings recover. The first topdressing is from late June to early July, and the second topdressing is in mid-August. Apply 90-150 kg of ammonium sulfate per 1 hm². Fertilizer demand is relatively high; it likes continuous liquid nitrogen fertilizer at 100 ppm to 150 ppm (15:5:15 or 15:10:15), and humidity should be maintained between levels 2 and 4 (humidity level 4 means the substrate moisture remains perceptibly moist to the touch but not soaked).
3. Temperature
Foxglove is a plant that slightly prefers shade, but when there is sufficient humidity and appropriate low temperature, it can grow under a certain light intensity. Before flowering, the plant will produce 8-12 leaves. Although the temperature range suitable for plant growth is 12°C-19°C, the ideal nighttime temperature at the finishing stage is 12°C-16°C.
4. Pests and diseases
Fusarium wilt, mosaic disease, and aphid damage commonly occur. When disease occurs, promptly remove diseased plants and disinfect with lime. When pest damage occurs, spray with 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate at 2000 times dilution, which can also reduce the occurrence of mosaic disease.
Foxglove is not only beautiful, but also has very fanciful alternative names, such as fox's brush and fairy's glove. Legend says that when foxes forage in the woods, their footsteps often startle their "food," so a fairy made a wreath woven from foxglove and gave it to the fox to wear on its feet. As a result, the fox's footsteps indeed became much quieter. Don't you love such a legendary flower?
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