P. tanacetifolia self-seeding?

[Peter Armitage]

I planted a couple of large beds of Phacelia tanacetifolia (Purple tansy) last June and July and the honey bees and various bumble bee species were all over it for the entire summer, and into October for the honey bees. It's an annual, but does anyone know how well this plant reseeds? Can I expect it to grow next spring based on the previous season's self-seeding, or should I plan on reseeding? Thanks.

 

[Finman]

.
It reseeds yes, but fertilize well those seedlings, that soil has power.
.

 

[Into the lions den]

I planted a couple of large beds of Phacelia tanacetifolia (Purple tansy) last June and July and the honey bees and various bumble bee species were all over it for the entire summer, and into October for the honey bees. It's an annual, but does anyone know how well this plant reseeds? Can I expect it to grow next spring based on the previous season's self-seeding, or should I plan on reseeding? Thanks.

budget on reseeding. It DOES do some self seeding and also some seeds from the first year actually come up the second time around. However the cover will probably be sparse and if not can be too dense for a proper strength of growth.

 

[Poly Hive]

ITLD?

Thank you for some common sense on this board.

Spent this afternoon with some very keen beginners so between that experience and here I can take hope.

It's bloody rough at times... looking east.

PH

 

[kevrhcfag]

It does seed but not in abundance, Borage self seeds much more readily and vigorously imho.

 

[madasafish]

I grow PT and it self seeds in great quantities on our heavy fertile soil. Indeed it germinates and grows over winter - it is hardy down to about c-4C at least - so a very early crop is possible.
BUT self seeded often is far too dense and requires thinning out.If not you get a thick mat of it.

 

[BrianO]

I grow PT and it self seeds in great quantities on our heavy fertile soil. Indeed it germinates and grows over winter - it is hardy down to about c-4C at least - so a very early crop is possible.
BUT self seeded often is far too dense and requires thinning out.If not you get a thick mat of it.

But what a Bee plant.... They love it and such Beautifull Purple Blue Pollen http://www.leinsterhoney.ie/fullscr...-a9b089d984ff/3/?i=3&p=c1dmp&s=style-iwbyantg

 

[birdsandbees]

I've bought some Phacelia seed to plant next month, I'm actually meeting up with the Farmer where my bees are to discuss what he's planting this year, so far on the list are White Clover, Phacelia and possibly Crimson Clover.

looking at planting up set aside and whole fields!

as above, Phacelia will self seed but successive planting is recommended to extend the blooming period.

 

[madasafish]

But what a Bee plant.... They love it and such Beautifull Purple Blue Pollen http://www.leinsterhoney.ie/fullscr...-a9b089d984ff/3/?i=3&p=c1dmp&s=style-iwbyantg

Best plant for beekeepers in my view.. grows anywhere.

Guerilla gardening..

 

[Little John]

It does seed but not in abundance, Borage self seeds much more readily and vigorously imho.

That's my experience too. Borage is like a bee-magnet - only down-side is that it falls over if there's no support - so protected site and/or dense sowing is recommended.
LJ

 

[Tremyfro]

I saved all my seed from my borage plants last year...so they will be sown next month. I have some of those low bags for making raised beds. The seeds supplied with them are phacelia, borage and buckwheat.

 

[linoleum bonypart]

Just wondering if you could seed molehills in a grass paddock with clover or wild seed mix ?

 

[Tremyfro]

Just wondering if you could seed molehills in a grass paddock with clover or wild seed mix ?

You could but you would need to flatten them or else the field
Would be covered with tussocks. Lovely soil though...you've given me a good idea....lightbulb moment. We have some very active moles ATM....and I need to fill some raised beds with soil...

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Just wondering if you could seed molehills in a grass paddock with clover or wild seed mix ?

A friend of mine goes round with a bucket to collect the friable soil the moles throw up. Wonderful potting soil.

 

[Peter Armitage]

Do any of you know anyone with enough Phacelia around an apiary to generate a monofloral honey? Curious to know what it tastes like.

 

[Amari]

I grow PT and it self seeds in great quantities on our heavy fertile soil. Indeed it germinates and grows over winter - it is hardy down to about c-4C at least - so a very early crop is possible.
BUT self seeded often is far too dense and requires thinning out.If not you get a thick mat of it.

I sowed some rather late (last week Sept) as a green manure on my allotment. It grew nicely to about 12cm. I've just returned from 3/52 away to find every plant chewed off down to the stems - ?pigeons -we need to net all our brassicas.

 

[drex]

I net all mine, in a cage actually, only to find the rats and mice get a lot of them

 

[Peter Armitage]

I'm a bit surprised that Phacelia isn't more in use in North America. It seems to be quite popular in continental Europe, and there is a lot in the scientific and popular literature about it.

 

[MartinL]

Always classed Tansy as a weed & therefore assume that it would readily self-seed.
Borage grows in and around the ditch at the end of the road but is cut back by the local authority just about the time is starts to flower!

Have tried scattering seeds nearer my bees over 3-4 years with little affect. Last year I grew some in pots in the greenhouse & transplanted them, just waiting to see if they establish.