Foxglove

March 20, 2023

Life Cycle	Perennial, sometimes treated as biennial in warm climates.
Zone 5 Treatment	Can plant 4-6 weeks before last frost for a first year bloom, otherwise you may or may not get a first year bloom. Cover over the winter and they will comeback in early spring and also re-seed themselves.
Seedling Care	Transplant within 2 weeks of receiving otherwise the roots can get too crowded and harm the overall health of the plant.
Netting / Staking	Foxglove will need staking if you are growing in a location with high winds or heavy rains
Temperature Range They Will Tolerate	-20 to 75F
Spacing/Height	9” for cutting. 12” If in landscape24”-36”
Soil Preference	moisture retentive soil. Per usual, compost and spend time on soil health before planting
How to cut for maximum blooms	Make the first cut from the central stem, 2-3 inches above ground level. More shoots will continue to mature and develop after the central stem is harvested. Cut all future stems the same. For longest lasting flowers, cut when the first flower on the bottom of the stem opens.
Pinching	No
When to Plant if you are NOT in Zone 5	In hot summer locations, plant 4-6 weeks before first frost for blooms the same spring. Can also be planted in a cool greenhouse in winter for spring flowers. In cool summer locations, plant any time and establish as a true perennial.
Post Harvest Care	Room temp water with flower food. Delphinium is highly sensitive to ethylene, therefore DO NOT store them in a cooler with any fruits or vegetables. Take off all of the leaves and foliage. Leaves and foliage of any cut flower should never be submerged underwater because they decay quickly in water and cause a fast build up of bacteria.*Please remember that ALL parts of foxglove are poisonous to humans and animals.
Diseases / Insects	Because they like partial shade and moist soil, they are prone to fungal diseases and crown rot, most commonly anthracnose. Try not to overhead water if possible and use mulch to prevent mold spores from splashing from soil to the plants. Pests include aphids, Japanese beetles, and slugs are most commonResource for organically controlling aphids:https://www.arbico-organics.com/category/aphid-control-prevention-ipm Organically controlling Japanese beetles: Neem oil mix with dish soap sprayed directly on the plantOrganically controlling slugs: Sluggo applied directly into the soil.
Sweet Pea’s Notes	Foxglove hate the heat. They’ll stop blooming in the summer, but are not dead! Remove the blooms as they fade, just above a leaf. This will keep new blooms coming and also control re-seeding. Continuing to keep cutting from the plant will reinvigorate the growth.
Vase Life	6-8 days (WITH a preservative)