Grandpa Ott is a very attractive and powerful climbing annual with large, attractive, trumpet-shaped flowers surrounded by lucious foliage. These flowers have a very attractive dark purple colour with contrasting warm pink stripes. This variety begins to flower in july and continues to flower till september. The flowers open early in the morning. This climbing plant is very well suited for the covering of trellis and fences. This easy to grow variety can also be sown in pots and large containers. Needs full sun and some shelter and support. Very well loved by bees and butterflies. Non hardy annual. Height: 1½ - 3½ meter.
Soaking: 24 hours
Indoor sowing: March - April
Outdoor sowing: end of May - June
Germination: 5 - 14 days
Germination temp.: 15 - 20 °C
Sowing depth: 1 - 1½ cm
Plant distance: 30 cm
Plant position: full sun
Flowering period: July - October
Sow indoors in a warm room or propagator from March on. Soak the seeds approx. 24 hours before sowing in tepid water for a optimal and faster germination. Use a tray filled with moist potting soil. Sow the seeds in holes approx. 1 - 1½ cm deep, but don't cover the seeds because Morning Glory is a light germinator. Keep warm and moist during sowing and germination. Cover the trays with a lid or clingfilm.
Remove the lid or clingfilm when the seedlings emerge. Transplant the seedlings to seperate pots when they're approx. 8 cm in size. Be very carefull with their roots. Harden the seedlings of by putting them on a sunny and sheltered plot during the day for 14 days in the beginning of May. Put them on a very sunny plot with shelter and free draining soil after this period. Keep 30 cm apart. Give this fast growing climbing plant a sturdy support.
Sow outdoors when the soil is warming up and there's no longer any danger of nightfrosts from the end of May. Sow in holes approx. 1 - 1½ cm deep and don't cover the seeds. Thin the seedlings, when they're large enough to handle to 15 - 20 cm apart. Give the seedlings some extra support. Protect them against slugs and snails. Morning Glory needs a very sunny and sheltered plot. Don't overwater and overfertilize this plant. This plant needs soil that isn't overfed. This plant is a cultivated version of it's wild cousing. This plant doesn't spred and overgrows everything. Deadhead oftern to enjoy this plant for a longer time. This annual isn't hardy and will die down during the first frosts.
