This is the journal of my endeavours to grow a range of fruit, veg and flowers from seed, grow organically, and my attempts to create a personal paradise with 1/2 acre of maintained gardens and 1/2 acre wild meadows. Northern Ireland's average daily high temperatures are 18 °C (64 °F) in July and 6 °C (43 °F) in January. Soil type: Clay

Sunday 9 October 2011

Amaranthus (Love-lies-bleeding)

Lots of rain over the weekend, and there's talk of an early frost this year. First frost last year was on 20th October 2010. In between rain showers I've been trying to get photos of some of the annuals I grew from seed this year. I've really enjoyed the Amaranthus (pictured with Sedum Autumn Joy in the background).

VarietyAmaranthus 'Pony Tails'. Common name: Love-lies-bleeding. Half hardy annual.
Grown from Thompson & Morgan Seeds. Sown on 10 April 2011 indoor. Planted outside June/July 2011. Easy to grow.



Signs of Autumn with leaves turning yellow. I'll be sad when the first frost hits and the annuals will soon disappear.

Do you ever buy gardening magazines because of the free seeds that often come with them???

I do! I admit,  I love getting a pack of free seeds. The Amaranthus came with an issue of Amateur Gardening.


Happy Autumn!

12 comments:

  1. I really like that amaranthus and I know you will hate to see frost come and kill it. I don't know if it grows here....I've never seen it.

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  2. The trouble with free seeds on magazines is that they are usually for really boring stuff - like Spring Onions, Carrots, Basil etc, which you already have tons of. I have to admit though that Amaranthus is nor usual or boring.

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  3. I used to buy Amateur Gardening but I hardly read it - I just wanted the free seeds! I stopped buying it but I had a job at a newsagents for a while and was allowed to keep the free gifts from the unsold magazines that were returned. Nobody seemed to buy the gardening magazines so I ended up with loads of free packets of seeds.

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  4. Yours look just like the ones on the seed packet! I have to say, I don't like the white as well - the red are just so colorful. I've never tried growing this, but really like its looks. Maybe I'll try it someday. Now to just find a magazine that's giving away free seeds! ;)

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  5. yep, been sucked into the seed magazine deal, those flowers are amazing and what a great name for them. Will you eat the seeds or leaves?

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  6. You had a great year, didn't you! I have enjoyed all of your pictures and am, as I have said many times, quite amazed at what your grow in pots and from seed. I am hoping to start a few seeds next season. I may be asking for some tips. We, too, are expecting our first killing frost.

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  7. Happy Autumn Kelli! You won my October give-away :) Drop me a note here rainydaycreations13@gmail.com with where I can mail them!
    I spent the day cleaning out pots of annuals, as they are beginning to get mushy. I can't remember when the first frost was here, last year...I'll have to take better notes this year.

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  8. It's so beautiful especially the red one! Happy Autumn!

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  9. The only problem is that often the free seeds come after you have made all your purchases and very often are things you have already bought. We end up with lots of packets of sunflowers or lettuce or tomatoes!

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  10. Oooh, that's a pretty annual. I think I'll try it next year!

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  11. I've only grown amaranthus once and it didn't do very well at all, not like your beauties. I've had many free packets of seed from magazines but they're usually things that I've already got.

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  12. Hi Kelli, don't forget to drop me a note and tell me where I can send your giveaway prize! :) Cheers, Jenni

    rainydaycreations13@gmail.com

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