teasle

[denn]

could any body please give a little advice on planting teasle (spelling ?) when to plant, location,height etc. i am trying to attract goldfinches to my garden, as they are in my area, but dont seem to visit my feeding station, or am i on the wrong track completely, denn

[aeshna5]

Teasel is the common spelling! These plants are biennials + you can purchase rosettes in pots from wildflower suppliers or collect your own seed in late summer + scatter where you want them to grow- ideally a fairly sunny position, but will grow in partial shade. You will need to do this for 2 consecutive seasons so that you have a yearly supply of flowering/seeding plants. You will probably get more new plants than you require but are easy to remove when they are small.

Not only a magnet for Goldfinches but the flowers attract butterflies, bumblebees, etc.

[denn]

aeshna5, many thanks for the advice,the more it attracts the better, its on my list of plants for the trip to the garden centre thanks, denn

[smartie]

You asked about height. They can grow to about a metre and a half in good conditions so don't plant them at the front of a border.

[thunder]

Originally Posted by smartie

You asked about height. They can grow to about a metre and a half in good conditions so don't plant them at the front of a border.

Even up to two metres

henrya

[tony a]

Hi Denn,

If you want to attract goldfinches, there are easier way than growing teasel.

Nyger seed (you will need the correct feeder) and sunflower hearts are better, I have been growing teasel in my garden for years to try and attract goldfinches but got nothing until I started to regularly put out the nyger and sunflower hearts (it may take a couple of weeks for the goldies to appear).

If you have already gone down the teasel route when they have grown you can sprinkle nyger seed into the teasel seed head, this will get the goldie on the teasel for a nice photo.

Tony

[Jez]

Originally Posted by tony a

sunflower hearts are better

At last some one who agrees with me.

[ChrisJB]

I tried growing Teasel from seed in little pots. Unfortunately none germinated (I did it in the autumn as I thought winter frosts would aid things). Do folk think just scattering them where I want them would bring greater success?

Regards, Chris

[tony a]

Hi Chris,

I sowed the seeds in small pots in spring, teasels are biennial so the first year you will get a small rosette of spiky-ish leaves. If you plant this out the following spring then it will grow into the 1.5 - 2 metre tall spikes.

In the third spring you will be on your knees for hours digging out teasel seedlings.

Tony

[denn]

thanks all, tony think the niger seed route in conjunction with the teasel is a great idea, thanks denn