Gardening with Gary

Gardening Advice from an Expert

Canterbury Bells

Servants writes~ About Canterbury Bells, I was wondering if they will come back next year, or do I have to just rely on seeding. Is it possible they will come back the next year in the same spot?

A. Canterbury bells [Campanula] should be given full sunlight and should not be crowded in the beds. The taller varieties need staking to prevent injury from the high winds. They like a good, rich soil, and in the spring some dehydrated steer manure and bone meal should be dug around each plant. Most of the varieties, especially the taller ones, need winter protection, for if allowed to stand naturally, the heavy snows will flatten the crown of leaves to the ground, causing it to decay. Dried leaves should be packed between the plants, holding the leaves of the Campanula together with one hand. Evergreen boughs, straw or hay will serve for the dwarf ones. If the flowers are cut immediately upon fading, the blooming season can be prolonged for several weeks.
Most of the Campanulas are biennials. For this reason seed must be sown each year in order to have plants which will bloom the next year. A common mistake is sowing the seed too late. It should be sown any time from May until August, according to the variety, in rich soil which has been carefully prepared, and it should be watered daily.

The plants should he hardened gradually, after they have been wintered over in cold frames, and can be removed to the open ground in May. The rows should be 12" apart, with an almost equal amount of space between the plants. Campanulas are also propagated by cuttings and division.

Regardless of the climate, be sure to keep the soil evenly moist, but not wet. Canterbury bells are not fond of high humidity and have been known to rot during excessively wet summers. Once established, however, Canterbury bells are extremely easy to care for, will bloom for weeks and will more than likely reseed themselves -- an added bonus for the perennial gardener.

Assistance from The Backyard Gardener