Safflower

[Meggylou]

Hi there
I'm new to this forum.
I've just received a great gift of seeds from a friend of mine, and these were included in the lot. I'm not sure about much regarding this plant. I've placed the seeds in a peat tray at the moment and waiting to see what happens. If anyone has experience growing safflower at home I'd love to hear about it.
Thanks!

[Sheikea]

Do you have a picture of a Safflower I don't think I have ver seen one.

[Meggylou]

I"d tried to post a picture but I'm too new to the forum.
if you go to google and search safflower and then choose images, you'll see some pictures of them. They're a thistle/nettle like plant with spiky orange or yellow flowers. very neat looking.

[dlb]

I've grown them. They were in a nice warm spot, in not that good soil and flowered mid summer. I think I dried the flowers. Nice size, bright color.
Dora

[Meggylou]

dlb did you sow directly outside or start them inside?

[dlb]

Looking at my notes I think I planted the seed outside directly by late May. I have a note on the 27th that I'm not sure which are sunflowers, and which are safflowers, but that they're 'prolific'.

That would make sense because I didn't have much luck with indoor seeding the first year I was here.
Dora

[Meggylou]

great thank you.
I've tried 5 in peat pots and I'll see how they grow and if they do and I'll try some more outside at the end of May.
I definitely need to start a garden journal what a wonderful idea!

[dlb]

I can't tell you how many times I've gone looking back in the journal trying to find information. I just wish I took better notes. I've also started an excel spreadsheet, but the journal is good for recording the sequence of what happens in the garden. I'm trying to get an entry in every week of what is coming up, the temperature, and other things like that.
Dora