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I have a couple of wild teasels, and for the first time, I yesterday saw goldfinches on them. I now see their value, and I have ordered seed so I can grow a teasel bed in a corner of the garden.

Does anyone have experience sowing teasel?

I bought some from a nursery hoping they would  self seed but they haven't. I bought more because when we had them in flower it was wonderful to watch the bees on them. They stayed for hours going round in circles. I haven't grown any yet but am getting some seeds frm T&M in the free seed offer. I think you sow this year & they flower next. Well done on the goldfinches that was why I got them in the first place.
Janet

Quote from: Bjerreby on February 11, 2009, 09:47:25
I have a couple of wild teasels, and for the first time, I yesterday saw goldfinches on them. I now see their value, and I have ordered seed so I can grow a teasel bed in a corner of the garden.

Does anyone have experience sowing teasel?
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go and shake the teasels into a paper bag! collect your own seed!! (or send your address to me (PM) for some seed) they are a biennial, by the way!

If you have some already, and have dug over ground nearby, you will probably have plenty more next year!!  ;D

Maybe teasels aren't all you need for goldfinches.

We had heavy snow the night before last, and the teasels bent over under the weight. It pleased me to see the goldfinches, having found my garden, set about eating the sunflower seeds I put out on the ground for the other finches. They seem to like sunflower seeds better than teasels, although it is a lovely sight to see them swaying about on a dried thistle!

Anyway, aren't teasels and cardoons used in dried flower arrangments?

Quote from: Bjerreby on February 12, 2009, 09:45:15
Maybe teasels aren't all you need for goldfinches.

We had heavy snow the night before last, and the teasels bent over under the weight. It pleased me to see the goldfinches, having found my garden, set about eating the sunflower seeds I put out on the ground for the other finches. They seem to like sunflower seeds better than teasels, although it is a lovely sight to see them swaying about on a dried thistle!

yes i have noticed they are very partial to sunflower seeds, another one the seem to enjoy in my garden are the seed heads of the evening primrose. come spring all the seed heads are open in a way that makes them look like flowers themselves.

Planted a number of seeds in small pots last year which grew into nice looking little basal florets type of plant; I put them in the ground then, they've survived & now waiting for them to 'grow up' into nice tall natural plantings for the birds.  I love the structure of the plant in the garden when massed.  Apparently teasels were used in the past in tailoring according to my neighbour.

Manufacturers have tried everything in the past, but teasels are the only thing that is good enough to brush the nap on snooker baize material.

They seed like mad once established - about 2000 seeds per seed head, I believe - so it's best not to leave too many seed heads on.

I sowed 2 teasel seeds on my lotty for the birds ... I now have millions of seedlings every year, and boy do they have big tough roots

just transplanted some from the free seed pack from T&M  :)