Verbascum bombyciferum, 'Arctic Summer'

Germination

Sow indoors. Surface sow into deep pots or root trainers filled with moist well-drained seed compost. Just cover with a fine layer of soil or vermiculite. Keep moist but not wet. Avoid direct sunlight. Propagate 15-18°C. Germination takes 14-21 days. After germination reduce moisture allow soil to dry out a little. Transplant at 5-7 weeks into 18cm pots. Acclimatise and plant out once danger of frost has passed. Leave the rosette to develop for the first year.

Growing

Prefers full sun in a moist well-drained soil. Offer mulch protection during winter. Fertilise if desired, but this may cause leaf growth at the expense of flower growth. Once established requires little attention.

Cultivation

After flowering the stalks still look attractive and are best left on the plant. If growing for foliage pinch out flowering stems to encourage leaf growth. Tidy leaves in spring.