Agapanthus: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you sow agapanthus outdoors?
Before sowing agapanthus outdoors, check the seed packet’s temperature and timing instructions. In a temperate climate, wait until spring conditions are mild and frost has passed. A sheltered pot is easier to monitor than seeds scattered into a border. If nights remain cold, start under cover instead of assuming that outdoor sowing will work everywhere.
Use a clean container with drainage holes and fine seed compost. Moisten it first and firm the surface lightly. Sow thinly, label the variety and date, and add only the light covering specified on the packet. Do not bury the seeds in holes 3–4 cm deep or place every seed at an adult plant’s final spacing.
Keep the compost evenly moist without soaking it. Shelter the pot from heavy rain and rapid drying. Germination may take several weeks or a few months, depending on the species, seed lot and temperature. Keep the label in place and do not discard a slow pot after a few days.
Let the seedlings develop before separating crowded plants, handling their roots carefully. Grow them on in pots and protect them during their first winter in frost-prone areas. Plants raised from seed may differ from a named parent and often take several years to flower; sowing does not guarantee an identical colour or a display in the first summer.
How do you plant agapanthus?
When does agapanthus flower?
How to care for this plant
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Remove faded flowers
Once every flower in a head has faded, remove its stalk at the base if you do not want seeds. Leave heads still in bloom and all green leaves. You can keep dry heads for their appearance or collect their seeds; leave those stalks in place.
