The pretty bluebell (Campanula) delights garden owners and viewers alike all summer long with its lush, delicate blooms. It can be grown easily from seeds with little effort.
How do I grow bluebells from seeds?
To grow bluebells from seeds, first determine whether your variety is a light or dark germinator. Sow accordingly in nutrient-poor potting soil or coconut substrate and place the container in a bright place but without direct sunlight. Keep the seedlings evenly moist and plant them outdoors after the ice saints.
Light or dark germinators?
First of all: Simply throwing the seeds into the growing substrate and waiting is unfortunately not enough for some types of bellflowers. Many bluebells are dark germinators and should be covered with soil about a centimeter thick. This includes the Carpathian bellflower. Others, such as the popular St. Mary's bellflower, germinate in the light and should never be covered with soil. Some species, on the other hand, must first be stratified before sowing, i.e. H. stored in the refrigerator for a few weeks. It is therefore advisable to check exactly what requirements the desired species has before sowing. However, all bellflowers have the same thing in that they germinate best at temperatures between 15 and 18 °C.
Sowing bluebells
Bluebells can be sown directly into the bed, but due to the risk of frost in many regions of Germany, this will probably only be the case after the Ice Saints in mid-May. It is therefore advisable to grow the plants on your home windowsill from the end of February / beginning of May.
- Fill the cultivation container with suitable, nutrient-poor soil.
- You can use potting soil, herb soil or even cactus soil.
- Coconut substrate (“cocohum”) is also particularly suitable for light germinators.
- Lightly moisten the soil with a spray bottle.
- Plant the fine, very light seeds according to their variety.
- Place the growing container in a bright place, but avoid direct sunlight.
- A cover would be advisable, but is not absolutely necessary.
- Especially if you place the growing pot on a saucer.
The seedlings are pricked out as soon as they have formed at least one pair of leaves in addition to the two cotyledons. You can go into the bed or outside from around mid to late May, as soon as night frosts are no longer expected.
Proper care and planting of seedlings
The bellflower seedlings should be kept evenly moist and should not be exposed to direct sun. Frost – especially night frost – should also be avoided. Prepare the garden soil well by loosening it and removing any disturbing elements (stones, root residues, weeds). Mix the excavated planting hole with some sand and mature compost. Maintain a planting distance of around 30 centimeters as bluebells spread very quickly. Water the freshly planted bluebell well.
Tips & Tricks
Of course, it will be particularly easy if you let existing bluebells sow themselves instead.
