Bells of Ireland Growing Guide

Moluccella laevis

Bells of Ireland

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous ●

Soil

Any sunny site with good drainage.

Position

Full sun.

Frost tolerant

Moderate. Young seedlings often escape damage from light frost, but may be injured by sudden freezes.

Feeding

Mulch the soil with compost prior to planting. In early summer, drench plants with a liquid feed to support strong growth.

Companions

Bells of Ireland can grow to 4 feet (120 cm) tall, so they are best use as background plants.

Spacing

Single Plants: 11" (30cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 11" (30cm) with 11" (30cm) row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Sow seeds where you want the plants to grow in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. Or, start seeds indoors in late winter and set out the seedlings while the soil is still cool.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

The tiny flowers hidden within the shell-shaped calyxes are surprisingly fragrant.

Harvesting

Cut stems for flower arrangements when half of the bells on a flowering spike are open. When growing bells of Ireland for drying, allow the spikes to remain on the plants until all the bells have opened.

Troubleshooting

Seed germination is often better outdoors than indoors because the seeds are exposed to cold, wet conditions. In many climates, bells of Ireland reseed themselves when given the opportunity.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Bells of Ireland