I really like these plants and enjoy seeing them in other gardens that i visit. I always marvel at how well they grow and flower. My problem is i have one in my garden that i have had for about 3 years which doesn't seem to grow or flower much. I am starting to wonder if i have it in the right place. Its in a partially shaded border, which in most years doesn't dry out as quickly as other sunnier borders. I put it here for the last reason really as i thought they needed a slightly damper soil and wouldn't mind the partial shade. I am now wondering if I have got this wrong and it needs a sunnier spot, even if that means drier soil (although like most gardens everywhere is dry a the moment!)
Can anyone offer me any advice or growing tips please?
I have these plants growing in full sun, shade, dry soil and moist and they seem to do fine in each place.
Try giving it a boost now with a dose of liquid rose or tomato food and see if that helps. Don't do it any later though as late new growth will be more susceptible to frosts. Next spring, give it a handful of blood, fish and bone or pelleted chicken manure for slow release food and a tonic of liquid food as above.
If you do decide to move it, wait till autumn when the soils is wetter but not cold. Give it some bonemeal in its planting hole and soil to help root production for a stronger plant. Protect it with some slug pellets in spring as they love the new growth.
Hi,
Obbelix has pretty much said it all, but yes, I've grown the tall varieties in heavy clay in a North facing garden and the same plants travelled with me to a sandy South facing garden and after a short sulk, they've taken off again growing through the peonies, crocosmia and phlox.
A great plant and worth putting in some feeding effort. I've never tried the shorter Princess varieties though.
Have you had a bit of a ferkel to see if the tuberous roots are plump and white? that's what they should look like if they're healthy?
Cheers