Crop Rotation Group
Miscellaneous
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Soil
Any average, well drained soil.
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Position
Full sun.
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Frost tolerant
Phacelia will survive mild frosts to overwinter and bloom in spring.
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Feeding
None generally required.
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Companions
-
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Spacing
Single Plants: 15cm (5") each way (minimum)
Rows: 15cm (5") with 15cm (5") row gap (minimum)
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Sow and Plant
Sow in late summer or early autumn as a green manure. Make sure seed is well covered, because phacelia seeds need darkness to germinate.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
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Notes
Phacelia is a wonderful plant for attracting bees and other beneficial insects, particularly useful in early spring if it has overwintered as it is an early pollen source for bees coming out of hibernation.
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Harvesting
For maximum benefit as a green manure dig in when quite small. Otherwise leave plants to grow up to 1m (3 ft) tall as the flowers attract beneficial insects.
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Troubleshooting
Although native to California in the US phacelia harbours damaging lygus bugs, so it is rarely grown there.
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