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How to grow Granny's bonnets (aquilegia) in the UK
Nodding bonnet-shaped flowers in late spring. Pops up all over the garden.
- DifficultyEasy peasy
- WhereBeds or Pots
- Sunfull sun or part shade or shade
- Grows to60cm
- Spacing30cm
- Time to first pickabout 10 weeks
- Typeperennial
When to sow, plant and harvest granny's bonnets (aquilegia)
| Plant | mid March to late May or early September to mid October |
|---|---|
| In flower | early May to late June |
Dates are for central England. Sow about two weeks later in the north and Scotland, and up to two weeks earlier in the south and south west. Get the dates for your postcode.
Planting it
- Water your new plants in their pots first
- Dig a hole a bit bigger than the pot
- Tip the plant out gently, holding the leaves, not the stem
- Pop it in the hole, firm the soil around it, and water well
- Space the plants about 30cm apart each way
Top tips for growing granny's bonnets (aquilegia)
- It seeds itself - every seedling is a slightly different colour.
Soil and feeding
Poor soil - really!. Nasturtiums flower best in poor soil. Feed them and you get all leaves and no flowers.
Harvesting and eating granny's bonnets (aquilegia)
Enjoy them in May.
Saving your own granny's bonnets (aquilegia) seed
It does it for you!.
- Leave a few flowers to set seed - it scatters them itself and new plants pop up next year
- To move them, dig up the seedlings in spring and replant them where you want them
- Or shake the dry seed heads into a paper bag in late summer
Where to buy granny's bonnets (aquilegia) plants
Thompson & Morgan · Suttons · Amazon
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Granny's bonnets (aquilegia) questions
When do I plant out granny's bonnets (aquilegia)?
Plant granny's bonnets (aquilegia) out from mid March to late May or early September to mid October.
When can I enjoy granny's bonnets (aquilegia)?
Granny's bonnets (aquilegia) is ready from early May to late June. Enjoy them in May.
How long do granny's bonnets (aquilegia) take to grow?
Roughly 10 weeks from sowing or planting until the first harvest.
Are granny's bonnets (aquilegia) easy to grow?
Granny's bonnets (aquilegia) are rated 'easy peasy' for beginners, and can be grown in the ground or a raised bed or in pots and containers.
Plan your own garden: it tells you what to do and when, for your postcode.
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