Edelweiss for Sale! - no, not the Rogers and Hammerstein version from the Sound of Music! 

100+ fresh Edelweiss (Leontopodium Alpinum) - a beautiful mountain flower that should be in every rockery or alpine bed.

Its flowers are delicate, beautiful and interesting - they have a hairy appearance which is probably to protect it from high UV levels in its mountain home.  Unsurprisingly It is a national symbol of many mountainous countries including Romania, Austria, Bulgaria, Mongolia, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Italy. According to folk tradition, giving this flower to a loved one is a promise of dedication.

ALL ORDERS RECEIVED BEFORE 8PM WILL BR DISPATCHED SAME DAY

SAVE PACKAGING MATERIALS  - SEE OTHER INTERESTING & UNUSUAL SEEDS & PLANTS IN MY SHOP

INSTRUCTIONS - TO SAVE PAPER I NO LONGER SEND OUT WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS TO CUSTOMERS. INSTRUCTIONS ARE BELOW SO PLEASE BOOKMARK THIS PAGE. FEEL FREE TO MESSAGE ME WITH ANY GROWING QUESTIONS.


Seed Germination

  • Sow directly before the last frost in the spring by sprinkling seeds on the garden bed ideally onto a bed of small gravel etc so the seeds can wash down between the stones to keep them cool and moist
  • Alternatively start seeds indoors about two months before the last frost. 
  • Wrap the seeds and a small amount of slightly moist compost in plastic bag and place it in the fridge for three weeks. 
  • Sprinkle the seeds on the surface of prepared seed tray of moist seed compost
  • Gentle press seeds into surface to ensure a good contact but do not cover as they require light for germination 
  • Keep in a coolish location 12-15c and ensure compost does not dry out
  • Transplant seedlings to the garden after the last frost in the spring. 
  • Can also be grown in a container or pot.


Olly's General Guide to Seed Sowing!

I love sowing seeds and it runs in the family - dad, granddad and finally my great-granddad for whom the hobby helped him get over his experiences in the Great War. I still get a big kick when I see the first seedling poking through from a new plant that I have never sown before or been successful at. However, even the most experienced gardeners draw "blanks" from time to time. Whilst I sow all the seeds that I sell so I know that they are viable, some are trickier than others and problems can arise so here are some tips to make "blanks" few and far between:

1) Don’t Rush! Tempting though it is when that packet arrives in the post to simply bung the seeds in some compost!

2) Google and YouTube are your friends! Take some time so see the methods other people use to germinate the seed. 

3) Think Nature! What conditions do seeds face? For example a seed from a tropical plant will fall to the warm, wet and dark jungle floor. A seed from the mountains of Europe will fall to the floor in Autumn, then have to endure months of freezing temperatures before germinating in the spring. So as growers, what we are trying to do is to simulate the conditions that the seeds will naturally experience and there are plenty of tricks that can be done to short cut the processes somewhat.

4) Good compost pays dividends. The best investment you can make is to purchase three bags - one of potting compost, one of vermiculite and one of horticultural sand. With these three bags I can make up whatever soil type a particular seed likes (although for most seeds I find a 50/50 mix of compost and vermiculite works just fine) 

5) Rot is your enemy. The single biggest danger to seed germination is rot - either before or after "damping off" the seeds germinate. To reduce the risk, ensure you have good free draining soil mix and that it is moist but not wet. Unless the seed variety absolutely requires it I prefer NOT to cover my seeds trays with plastic bags, Whilst germination is often faster this way, it greatly increases the risk of rot. I prefer to place my seed trans inside a watertight plastic tray and water from the bottom - airflow over the surface reduces the risk.

Overseas Orders

Buyers please note that they are responsible for any local customs duties or other taxes in their local country and should also ensure compliance with an biosecurity regulations.

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