Hi,
Has anyone out there had any experience of growing these plants?  I purchased them as plug plants and they are now in their second pot and over 6" high.  Do I pinch out the tops?  I was also thinking of hardening them off this weekend with a view to planting on the allotment.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
jal :)
			
			
			
				If you don't pinch them out you will very quickly end up with a single, large (and gorgeous imho) flower. Pinching them sets them back considerably, in my experience, but you will produce a fabulous 'bouquet' later in the season. I always pinch mine but the choice is yours. In their native habitat, the southern great plains of the U.S.- hence 'Prairie Gentian'-they are perennials, probably sending up the single flower in their first season and multiple flowers subsequently. 
			
			
			
				Hi,
Thank you - I will pinch out half and see what happens.
jal