FLOWER-CANTERBURY BELLS (SALE)

How to Grow Canterbury Bells

1. Canterbury Bells prefer full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil.
2. They can be started indoors  8-10 weeks before the last frost date in your area.
   Sow the seeds in seed trays or pots filled with seed compost and cover with a plastic wrap or propagator lid to maintain humidity.
3. Transplant seedlings once they have grown to about 5-7cm tall, and have at least two sets of true leaves.
   They can be transplanted into larger pots or into the garden.
4. Provide proper care by regular watering and fertilisation to thrive.
   Water the plants when the soil is dry to the touch.
   Fertilise them every 2-3 weeks with a balanced fertiliser.
5. Keep an eye out for pests such as aphids, whiteflies and spider mites, and diseases such as powdery mildew and blight.
   Use organic pest control methods if possible.
6. Provide support for your Canterbury Bells as they can grow quite tall up to about 120 cm.
7. Deadhead by pinching off dead flowers to encourage new blooms and maintain a neat appearance.

Additional growing tips for Canterbury Bells

• Pinching off growing tips of young plants early in the season ncourages compact growth and strengths the plant or prevent them becoming leggy and flop over in the wind.
• Mulch with a fine gravel or grit layer around the base of the plant (especially young seedlings) for slug control and soil drainage to reduce root rot risks.
• Plant in Slightly Raised Beds as they don’t like “wet feet.”  The mounds improve drainage, particularly in areas with heavy or clay soil.   This helps prevent crown and root rot during wetter months.
• Succession Sowing for Continuous Blooms will give you blooms every year with a little careful planning.   Sow the seeds every Spring and Autumm.  While one set is blooming, another is maturing, giving you flowers every season.
• Companion Planting with taller, light-canopy plants such as cosmos or sunflowers, provide dappled shade during the hottest part of the day. This helps prolong the blooming period and protects delicate flowers from sun scorch.
• Use Them as Cut-and-Come-Again Flowers by cutting the flower spikes when only half of the bells are open.  This also stimulates the plant to produce new flower spikes, effectively doubling your blooms.
• Pre-Chilling Seeds by placing seeds in a moist paper towel, seal them in a plastic bag, and refrigerate for 1–2 weeks. This mimics the cold stratification process they experience in nature, encouraging better and faster germination.
• While Canterbury Bell flowers are frost hardy, young rosettes and seedlings can be damaged by frost or extreme cold.  In these conditions you need to cover them with a lightweight fleece or cloche for insulation. Alternatively, grow seedlings in pots and move them to a sheltered area like an unheated greenhouse during winter.

Heritage of Canterbury Bells

SHOP Garden Supplements
Category Colour Guide
Planting Guide for Australia