Lobelia tupa

Germination

Sow indoors in late winter-late spring. Best to sow early in the year. Surface sow, finely, onto moist well-drained seed compost. Mixing seed with silver sand may help you to do this. Do not cover the seed as it needs light to germinate. Ideal temp. 15-20°C. Germination takes 10-14 days. Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle to 8cm pots. Acclimatise and plant out once danger of frost has passed with 100cm spacing.

Growing

Prefers a well-drained, fertile soil in full sun. Almost Hardy. Best grown against a sunny wall and offered protection in hard winters.

Cultivation

Cut back after flowering. Will dies back to ground level after the first hard frost. Offer a dry mulch protection in winter. If container grown can be moved to a greenhouse, cut down foliage and only water when dry.