Why are my Self Sown Annuals so big?

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Kristen, Sep 8, 2014.

  1. Madahhlia

    Madahhlia Total Gardener

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    The best sweet peas I ever grew was from dropped seed that germinated in the autumn and overwintered. Massive, they were. The ones I sow are spindly weak things.
     
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    • Kristen

      Kristen Under gardener

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      You don't need to understand it, just memorise it and quote it at him next time :)

      Although if I had done that with my Father he probably would have said "Yes, but the problem with the 'Modified Lorette' system is ..." :heehee: Half the time he made up his response, but delivered it with a dead pan face and peppered it with enough facts to make it seem utterly convincing!

      Most are. Some aren't (which is a bit surprising as I assumed they were all open pollinated - they may have cross fertilised, of course)

      Hmmm ... well in my case then :) its relative between "pampered" and "abandoned" styles of nurture!

      I haven't got any good photos of Amaranthus, last year, showing them in combination with other plants - close ups don't indicate "relative size" very much.

      2013:

      IMG_0977_Amaranthus_ElephantHead_2013.jpg

      IMG_1021_Amaranthus_Foxtail_2013.jpg
      Note relative height of Crocosmia Lucifer behind

      2014:
      IMG_4988_Amaranthus.jpg
      Clearly not quite the same Look & Feel as last years, in this position, but a lot taller than the Crocosmia (which is, itself, taller than last year - a year more established)

      2013: (taken from the right)
      IMG_1282_Amaranthus_2013.jpg

      same patch in 2014 but taken from the path (from left of shot above). Different Dahlia variety planted behind

      IMG_4982_Amaranthus.jpg
      Another 2014 self-sown one
       
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      • Lolimac

        Lolimac Guest

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        That sounds very familiar:biggrin:...
         
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        • Madahhlia

          Madahhlia Total Gardener

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          Lovely pics, Kristen. Think I might chuck a few seeds of those on the deck next year!
          There is a lot of variation - are they all originating from the same batch of seed? I like the 2014 dark-leaved plants with the bushy upright habit, the floppy ones are less appealing. Any chance of saving some seed off the dark plants?
           
        • Kristen

          Kristen Under gardener

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          No, I bought one of every type to try out :)

          Amaranthus caudatus Red (bog standard one)
          From Nickys Nursery:
          Amaranthus Foxtail
          Amaranthus Dreadlocks / Caudatus gibbosus
          Amaranthus Tower Red
          Seed parcel:
          Amaranthus Fat Spike
          From Georgiavines:
          Amaranthus gangeticus Elephant Head

          Not tried Tricolour - I think @JWK has a liking for that one

          Actually I disliked the plain ones, last year, so although I sowed some of those this year I threw the tray on the compost heap rather than planting them ... when the Self Sown ones sprung up I didn't know which was which, of course, and now that they are really decent sized plants I love the bog standard one - funny how things turn out, eh? :)

          Sure, no problem.
           
        • longk

          longk Total Gardener

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          Which species is that one - A.hypochondrius (spelling?) maybe?
           
        • Kristen

          Kristen Under gardener

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          Looks like A. hypochondriacus but that's not one that I have grown before. Foxtail was grown there last year, but that had green leaves ... and the flowers are not very Foxtail-like this year ... maybe it crossed with one of the others.
           
        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          I tried 'Joseph's Coat' for the first time this year, I'm not too impressed with it, probably needs more space and sun than I gave it.


          I saved seed last year and these have been variable, a few have underwhelming green flowers.
           
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          • noisette47

            noisette47 Total Gardener

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            I've got hundreds of a red-leaved, red-tasselled amaranthus so will include seed in the seed swap, as well as 'Lime Green'.
             
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