I garden in 2 large raised beds (20'x5') on the 4th floor of a condominium 50 k north of Toronto Ontario. The boxes face NW to N and are subject to the winds from those quarters. For three years now I have tried to grow foxgloves - reputedly an easy to grow plant. I have tried both seeds and plants but nothing thrives very well and certainly does not overwinter. The area I have tried happily supports meadow rue, penstemon, echinacea, cornflowers lavender etc My soil is essentially clay loam which I amend with compost. Does anyone have any advice? :-|
I am about 45 minutes north of you and I have some trouble getting Foxglove to grow too. Mine have south eastern exposure in a semi sheltered spot in the yard. I have never been able to raise them from seed, but have had store bought plants bloom beautifully after surviving one of our winters. Foxgloves are Biennial so they die off after blooming. My guess would be yours aren't doing well due to exposure-you must get good winds 4 stories up, especially during winter- and not enough sun.
Philomena The plants that thrive in your planting beds are plants that in Western WA grow well in drier areas (at least in my microclimates in my yard), and not where the native foxgloves grow. Our temperate climate has a variety of microclimates. In my experience foxglove self-sews in sheltered, disturbed soils that are moist through the spring months. Although they don't need full sun year around, they do seem to need full sun for the better part of the spring/summer. Hopes this helps to understand one of my native favorties. Happy gardening,
Thank you very much Jewell. I suspect that my raised beds are too hot for the foxgloves. I will try just once more in a more shaded place near my very small pond Thanks Phil
Thank you Netty I find this site fascinating because of the widespread locations the posts come from but it's nice to have someone close also. Thanks again Phil
Around here my little micro climate is wet all winter with short cold snaps. The wild foxglove grow best in spots where they get full sun all summer and there is heavy mulch from neighboring trees and grasses. My guess would be heavy mulching, the ones I have pulled up here have bulbs sometimes 12-18 inches under ground.
Hello, I grow these plants ina variety of conditions...but the ones that do the best are in slightly acidic, loose and moist soil in partial shade. Digitalis should grow in practically any soil or sunlight condition. So perhaps your problem with them requires a scientific analysis. I wonder if they are geting enough sunlight since they face North-northwest. The raised beds are known for being dryer than the regular ground, so perhaps they are not quite moist enough either. This is a curious problem. How do they look as they start to die and when they do die. Do they go limp or turn colour? Can you describe how the leaves look as they begin to not do well?
