Growing Stunning Picotee Blue Morning Glory Vines in Your Garden

If you’re looking to add vertical interest and gorgeous blue blooms to your garden, picotee blue morning glory is an excellent choice. This heirloom climbing vine features stunning double flowers in deep violet blue edged in white. With proper care, picotee blue morning glories will cover fences, trellises and more with abundant summer color.

An Overview of Picotee Blue Morning Glory

Picotee blue morning glory, also known by its botanical name Ipomoea purpurea ‘Picotee Blue’, is a variety of the common morning glory vine. This fast-growing annual climber can reach heights of 5-10 feet in a single season.

The trumpet-shaped blooms display a deep blue-violet color with a white picotee edge. The blossoms open fully in the morning sunlight lasting for one day before fading in the afternoon heat. Each vine produces flowers continually from midsummer into fall.

In addition to their visual appeal, morning glories attract pollinators like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Their carefree growth habit makes them ideal for covering unsightly walls, fences, arbors and more.

Growing Conditions for Picotee Blue Morning Glories

This morning glory thrives with:

• Full sun – At least 6 hours of direct sun daily for the best growth and maximal blooms

• Fertile, well-draining soil – Loamy garden soil amended with compost or manure provides ideal nutrients and drainage.

• Consistent moisture – Water whenever the top few inches of soil become dry Avoid overwatering

• Temperatures above 55°F – Growth stalls if temperatures drop below this threshold at night.

• Neutral soil pH of 6.0-7.0 – Add lime if needed to reach the ideal pH range.

• Support for climbing – Provide a trellis, fence, strings or other vertical support.

With the proper care, picotee blue morning glories grow vigorously even in hot, dry conditions. They’re also able to tolerate some shade.

How to Plant Picotee Blue Morning Glory Vines

When: Plant seeds directly in the garden after the last frost date for your area. Soaking seeds for 24 hours before planting helps speed germination.

Where: Choose a site with full sun and fertile, well-draining soil. Amend clay-heavy or sandy soils with compost.

How: Plant seeds 1/2 inch deep and 4-6 inches apart where they are to grow. Water gently after planting to settle the soil.

Care: Keep seeds consistently moist until they sprout in 7-14 days. Thin seedlings to 1 plant per foot of support. Add a trellis or strings when plants are 4-6 inches tall. Water during dry periods.

Ongoing Care Tips

Once established, picotee blue morning glories require minimal care to perform their best:

• Water deeply once or twice per week during dry spells to keep soil evenly moist. Avoid overhead watering.

• Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during the growing season.

• Prune off spent blooms to encourage new flowers.

• Provide strong support for the rapid vertical growth.

• Monitor for aphids, spider mites, whiteflies and other common pests.

• Mulch around plants to suppress weeds and retain moisture.

• Cut back vines to 6-12 inches after a hard frost in fall.

With proper siting, planting, and care, these vines will cover their support and bloom prolifically right up until frost.

How to Save Picotee Morning Glory Seeds

To save seeds for planting next year:

• Allow several blossoms to fade without picking.

• When dry pods form, collect and place in an envelope.

• Store in a cool, dry spot over winter.

• In spring, remove seeds and soak overnight before planting.

Saving your own seeds ensures you’ll have this delightful vine in your garden year after year.

Companion Planting for Picotee Morning Glories

Some smart companion plants for picotee blue morning glories include:

• Sunflowers – These tall plants provides support for climbing.

• Marigolds – Repels pests and attracts pollinators.

• Zinnias – Adds bold color at the base of the vines.

• Cosmos – Accounts for different bloom times.

• Nasturtiums – Trailing vines complement upright form.

• Beans & peas – Vines share vertical space efficiently.

Combining morning glories with any of these plants results in an attractive and productive garden design.

Design Ideas for Picotee Blue Morning Glories

There are endless ways to incorporate picotee blue morning glories into your landscape:

• Train vines up a garden obelisk or pyramid trellis in a flower bed.

• Grow on strings fanned out against a bare wall or fence.

• Cover an arbor or pergola to create a living tunnel.

• Plant at the base of sunflower stalks or corn plants.

• Edge a vegetable garden with vines on a short fence.

• Mix colors by combining with other morning glory varieties.

• Grow in containers and train onto balcony railings or posts.

With proper siting and support, picotee morning glories can beautify vertical spaces in any garden.

Common Problems With Picotee Blue Morning Glories

Occasional issues to watch for include:

• Poor germination – Ensure seeds are fresh, planted at proper depth and kept evenly moist.

• Leaf yellowing – Apply nitrogen fertilizer and monitor watering.

• Dropped buds – Give more sun, trim off spent blooms and avoid overwatering.

• Holes in leaves – Apply insecticidal soap to control pests.

• Slow growth – Move to sunnier location and check for root damage.

• No flowers – Needs more sunlight, give supplemental fertilizer.

With proper culture, pests and diseases are usually not a major concern.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are picotee blue morning glories annual or perennial?

A: Picotee blue morning glory is an annual vine in most climates, living for one growing season. The seeds must be replanted each spring.

Q: What does morning glory picotee mean?

A: “Picotee” refers to flowers that have petal edges in a contrasting color, usually white or yellow. The picotee blue morning glory has a white fringe on the deep blue petals.

Q: How do you grow morning glory vines quickly?

A: Grow morning glories quickly by soaking seeds before planting, giving full sun, watering regularly, and fertilizing every 2-3 weeks. Rapid growth occurs in warm weather.

Q: Why are my morning glory leaves turning yellow?

A: Yellow leaves often indicate a nutrient deficiency. Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer and ensure plants receive sufficient water. Extreme heat can also cause yellowing.

Q: How do I get more morning glory flowers?

A: Getting more blooms involves planting in full sun, using fertile soil, watering during dry periods, pinching off faded flowers, and providing strong support for vines.

Bring Unique Color to Your Garden With Picotee Blue Morning Glories

With their stunning two-tone flowers and vigorous growth habit, picotee blue morning glories are an excellent way to add vertical color in the garden. Proper planting, care and troubleshooting will keep these heirloom vines flowering abundantly all season. Try adding this eye-catching climber to your space for gorgeous summertime color!