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Has anyone got any handy tips on growing foxgloves.  I've just put some in a propagator in my mini greenhouse and sown some in the corner of my front garden.  The instructions on the packet were not very informative -  sow outside in May, will flower following year, a top dressing of peat will aid germination...

Any info would be great. ;D

The instructions are right; sow outside in May; they are biennial ie they will grow and get established this year then grow some more and flower next year, after which they'll set seed and die. Hopefully if they've been happy in the place you sowed them then those seeds will grow and you'll keep getting foxgloves every year!  :)

I prefer to grow seeds in the greenhouse in the autumn, then prick out/pot on when big enough. plant them in the garden about now.  I have about 5 varieties as they flower at different times, but they prefer part shade.

I have sown my seed direct - at the back of my shady bed ... looking forward to them next year ! :D

Fingers crossed - I'll just have to wait and see what happens.  I'll keep trying until these babies are a fixture somewhere - thanks for the info guys...! ;D!

I found I had more success with autumn sewn seeds  in direct ground. They've come up a treat this spring. Its probably  to do with more water about, if we get a dry spring I forget to water, they get hidden by everything else that needs doing.

I got one plant from a lottie neighbour alst year and it flowered beautifully - still there and putting on fresh green growth so I guess It will be in full bloom again this year - but I don't see any signs of "babies" around it - tho maybe they will not appear until next year ? Beautiful plant.....

Is it just me, or has anyone else had problems with sowing foxgloves from seed?? :-\ I bought a packet of Foxglove "Camelot Series FI Hybrid From T &M - I nearly died when I opened the packet - I've sown small seeds before, but I couldn't see anything this time apart from a hardly-visible speck of something  :o  I tried to carefully plant anyway in a small pot indoors covered with clingfilm, but it's been almost a month and  none of the 18 pelleted seeds have produced anything... I already complained to T & M and got an exchange for some primula vialli (look's lovely so I thought I'd give it a go!), but the experience left me thinking I'll never sow foxglove from seed again (especially given the price of the seeds - ouch!!!  :( )  Would appreciate knowing others' views and experiences - cheers!  :D   

The packet I bought had 2500 seeds in it.  It was like pepper, 18 doesn't seem like a lot Rox.  The seeds I bought were Mr Fotheringhams or something like that...  Still waiting for some seedling action though...

luter, apricot,  grandiflora, lanata, tetra, chocolate, all grown from seed mostly suttons usually about 300 plants from each packet and as we have about 38 acres of woodland to plant as a five year project we need a lot more.

Previous sowings have thrown up a few sports, two in particular are very nice with variagated leaves, one is lemon coloured and the other is rust.  It looks as if there are going to be a few offspring from each so I am going to cross them both again. Fingers crossed!

I have them everywhere in my garden and never had problems sowing them.  Have the bog standard pink ones, luteas and another couple of different fellas.  I just sow in trays in late summer/early autumn for planting out in spring.  Did that once with all my varieties and now they self seed at will, which suits me just fine!