Ball thistles impress with their striking appearance and attractive coloring. These extremely easy-care plants can be propagated relatively easily using seeds.
When and how are globe thistles sown?
Global thistles should be sown in March or April. Sown in seed boxes with potting soil, cover the seeds with soil and moisten them. The plants germinate after about 20 days. Cultivate in pots in the first year and transplant outdoors in autumn.
Buy seeds or harvest them yourself
You can get globe thistle seeds in any well-stocked gardening store. Alternatively, you can use seeds from your own plant. Cut off the flower heads that have just bloomed and gently shake out the seeds. Store the seeds in a cool and dry place until sowing.
When do you sow?
The best time for sowing is March or April. The globe thistle is a cold and warm germinator and therefore has no special demands on the ambient temperature.
Sowing the globe thistle
Although globe thistles can also be sown directly outdoors, sowing in seed boxes is recommended. Proceed as follows:
- Fill bowls with potting soil.
- Make grooves with a wooden stick.
- Carefully place seeds in the grooves.
- Cover with soil, as Echinops is a dark germinator.
- Moisten the substrate with a sprayer (€27.00 on Amazon).
- Place the lid on the seed box, but do not close it completely.
After about twenty days the first little plants appear. As soon as they have reached a height of around ten centimeters, the globe thistle is pricked out in rows.
Transplanting into the open ground
So that the plants thrive, it is recommended to cultivate them in small pots in the first year and not to transplant them to their final location until autumn. Cover the small globe thistles with some brushwood or plant fleece, as the young plants are sensitive to frost.
Care for young plants
Echinops is a very undemanding plant that requires little care. It should only be watered sparingly when the soil feels really dry. There is no need to fertilize in the first year.
Tip
In a suitable location, globe thistle often propagates by self-sowing, as long as you leave the flower heads on the plant after it has bloomed.
