sweet Alyssum planting

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Just bought a bunch of plugs at home depot. I think I may have planted them too close together. How long do they take to grow? How do you plant these? I picture a big white mound after they all grow. I'll take a pic when I get back home.

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

8 years ago

is that them in front of the rock ???

if so.. yes.. they can be planted 8 to 12 inches apart .... each plant has the potential to be at a min.. one foot around ... so a foot apart ... they will fill in ... when they are good ready to fill in ...

closer together.. will just get you your mat faster ... and will not affect them ... but will help you achieve your goal early in the summer ...

were the plugs heavily root bound ... i usually stick my finger in the bottom.. and rip it apart.. so the roots get out into native soil ...

and your soil looks bone dry ... once you replant them.. water the whole area.. until it is moist 3 or 4 inches down ... when you dug the holes.. was there any moisture in there ....

replant on a cloudy or rainy day ...

ken

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Comments (10)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
8 years ago
In my experience, Lobularia maritima grows quickly if planted in a suitable environment. My preference is to give them elbow room at 8-10 inches but 6 inches is typically recommended.

Have you grown this plant before?
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
heres a trick for a newb ...

my hand trowel was probably about 12 inches long ... and i used to to space plants ... some even have an inch scale scribed on the blade ....

i would have started 8 to 12 inches from a corner ... and used the trowel.. at 45 degree angle ... to plant 2 rows of them ... boy words fail me .. lol ..

front row.. 12 inches apart .. then a triangle.. using the trowel.. to plant the second row in between the front row.. but what would end up about 8 inches back ...

so.. 2 staggered rows ...

in this case.. i would have used a tape measure.. to find the middle of the bed.. left to right ... and worked left and right ... instead of starting in the corner... and needing to go get more plants ...

BUT ... sheesh.. lol .. with that boulder.. i would probably have ended up.. just that as the center ... instead of trying to force some mathematical precision on it ... in other words.. eyeball it. .. lol ...

ken

it sure looks like that rock is not centered ... but close enough .. so use its position .... like you already did ...
User
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks, everyone. We got lots of rain last night which is why I planted them. We will mulch soon. I'll have to wait a bit to move them.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
in general .... either move them ASAP ... or leave them.. but if you can avoid it.. dont let them recover from the planting stress only to restress them ... though it probably doesnt matter all that much with these plants ...

ken
User
Original Author
8 years ago
It's been raining nonstop so probably won't be able to until Monday.
Paul MI
8 years ago
I'd have planted them about 4-6 inches apart but you could just leave them and see how they perform for you if you wish ....maybe even add some more. As Ken said, closer together simply means you'll have a full mound sooner. I wouldn't do the 8-10" Rhizo mentioned .... but he has a much longer growing season than we do.
Ellie Wood
8 years ago
Consider buying seed for alyssum as it is super easy to germinate and you get a lot of bang for your buck. I buy several packs of seed, dump the whole pack on top of the soil, even on the mulch/soil, water it in and it will fill in beautifully. Create a border with it and often it reseeds the following year.
porkchop_z5b_MI
8 years ago
Alyssum tolerated crowding quite well - I usually plant about 6" apart
donna_in_sask
8 years ago
Watch out for flea beetles, last time I grew alyssum, they were eaten up by those pests.