The Bigg Bird Forum

[mjcoon]

[quote="Silver Sparrow"]Can anyone tell me how long teasel takes to germinate, because I seem to be waiting for ever!!![/quote]

I've had teasel in my garden for several years after taking home a few seed heads from nearby rough ground. I chose heads that were already germinating on the stalk since they were unlikely to grow in situ nor feed the wild birds.

Although I found that they germinate readily (and self-seed all over the place) they are biennial. Thus you only get a large rosette in their first year and the tall stalks with flower/seed heads in the 2nd year. So ideally plant in two successive years to get seed heads every year.

But although greenfinches have certainly tried them they were not such a success as I'd hoped. The tiny, low down, seed heads of lemon balm are much preferred!

Mike.