Germinated outdoors ok, despite the cold night temperatures. Now a 4-leaf seedling after 2 weeks. Will update again once it flowers! ...Read More/>
update on 27th September 2011:
It is a very happy and cheerful plant! Multiheaded, vigorous grower and tolerant of mild frost. The main flowerhead (6'' diameter) bloomed a couple of days ago, and the smaller flowerheads are close to blooming too. The plant itself is about 6' tall with deep, dark green, purplish edged glossy foliage. The bloom looks like it has a bronze-ish metallic sheen in bright light. Also showing signs of branching out from the main stem.
The plant is very robust and healthy grown in a largish container (2'x1'x1') with assorted other plants (basil, amaranth, coriander, flowering tobacco). Weathered a few severe hailstorms very well - only punctured holes into the bigger leaves.
The package says from seed to flower in 90 to 100 days, but with the cool weather and only 7 hours max direct light it took close to 120 days from seed to flower where I am.
Will grow more of these cheerful splash of colour next year.
Germinated outdoors ok, despite the cold night temperatures. Now a 4-leaf seedling after 2 weeks. Will update again once it flowers!
...Read More
Germinates in 7-14 days.