Due to its special properties, the Phacelia (colloquially also called bee friend) is increasingly sown as bee pasture or as green manure. When buying the seed, you should pay attention to certain differences between the varieties sold in specialist shops.
It can take up to two weeks for the phacelia to germinate
The germination time of Phacelia tanacetifolia
One of the best-known varieties of phacelia, which actually comes from North America, is the "tansy" variety with the botanical name Phacelia tanacetifolia, which can grow up to 100 centimeters high. At soil temperatures averaging 15 degrees Celsius, it has a germination period of around 10 to 15 days. When cultivating, the following things should be considered:
- the phacelia is not hardy
- the annual plant easily settles permanently in the garden by self-seeding
- during the germination period, the seeds should be kept evenly moist
- as a green manure and to prevent self-sowing, it should be "mowed" before flowering
The germination time of low-growing phacelia
Another popular variety of phacelia, also known as "Büschelschön", is phacelia purshii. With a germination time of around 10 to 16 days, this has a germination time similar to that of Phacelia tanacetifolia. However, the plant grows significantly shorter at around 30 centimeters in height, making it a lovely annual ground cover.
tips
Since the phacelia generally flowers about 7 weeks after sowing, it is suitable as a visually attractive intermediate seed for soil improvement in a raised bed in the vegetable garden that has already been harvested.