Echinops don’t need any special treatment other than cutting back after flowering. Sometimes, this can encourage a second flush of blooms. You may need to stake taller varieties, but only if your garden is a little more exposed and windy. If clumps become congested, lift and divide them in autumn or spring.

When can I move globe thistle?

If you plan to first grow globe thistle as seedlings indoors then they take from two to nine weeks to germinate at a temperature of 18 to 24 degrees Centigrade. Once growing, the Echinops should be transplanted into the garden after the last frost of spring at a spacing of between 60 and 90 cm.

When should I cut my thistle?

Timing of cutting is crucial. This should take place just before the flower bud turns purple, as this is when the maximum reserves from the thistle roots are being used to produce seed. This old saying often proves true: ‘Cut a thistle in June, it’s a month too soon; Cut a thistle in July it will surely die.