Ipomoea purpurea "Grandpa Ott" flowers of intense violet-blue, with a ruby red star produced in profusion on the plant. It is a good climber for walls, trellis work or if allowed to scramble through other plants or trees.
It may be grown in a warm sheltered spot outdoors, or inside a conservatory. The blue, trumpet shaped flowers up to 7cm (2½in) across, close in the afternoon and are attractive to bees and butterflies. It requires a warm sunny position and well drained soil.

This heirloom morning glory originated in Bavaria (Germany). “Grandpa Ott” is one of the original Bavarian varieties that started Seed Savers Exchange. It was given to Kent and Diane (Ott) Whealy in 1972 by her grandfather, Baptist John Ott, who lived on a 40-acre farm near St. Lucas, Iowa.

Kent Whealy and Diane Ott Whealy, founded the Seed Savers Exchange, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the preservation of the seed lines of heirloom plants and to the sharing of such seeds both through sales and by facilitating exchanges among member gardeners. The organisation works to maintain genetic diversity in both food crops and ornamental plants.
Seed Savers Exchange is credited with very valuable contributions to conserving the genetic diversity of vegetable crops especially those of the USA. In 1988 Mr. Whealy received a Fellowship from the MacArthur Foundation.

Preparation:
Choose a sunny position with moist soil, they cannot grow or bloom properly in the shade. The seed coating is rather hard, and it will hasten germination if you stand the seeds in tepid water for a day or two before sowing.

Sowing:
Sow indoors in late winter, or outdoors in early spring
Sow indoors in early spring no sooner than 3 to 4 weeks before the last expected frosts, and 4 weeks before you plan to plant them outside. Alternatively, the seed can also be sown directly where they are to flower once all risk of frosts has passed. Keep soil moist during germination.

Sowing Indoors:
Sow into individual pots or trays of seed compost. Paper or peat pots are preferable.
Use well drained soil and cover to a depth of 3mm (1/8in). Maintain a temperature of around 20°C and keep compost moist. Germination will take place 5 to 14 days
Plants are extremely resentful of root disturbance, even when they are quite small, and should be potted up almost as soon as they germinate. Prick out to individual pots, transplant into 7.5cm (3in) pots or trays.
Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10 to 15 days before planting out in growing position after the last expected frosts. Space 15cm (6in) apart. Consider giving them some protection such as a cloche until they are growing away actively.

Sowing Direct:
Prepare the ground well and rake to a fine tilth. If sowing more than one annual in the same bed, mark the sowing areas with a ring of sand and label. Sow 1mm (1/18th in) deep in rows 7cm (3in) apart.
Sow seed sparingly or they will choke out other seedlings.
The seedlings will appear in rows approx 3 to 4 weeks after planting and can be easily told from nearby weed seedlings. Thin the seedlings out so they are finally 30cm (12in) apart. Carefully replant thinned plants.

Cultivation:
Easy to grow in most soils, postion in sunlight and water if particularly dry.
Remove spent flowers to encourage prolific blooming….and if you do not wish to have volunteer seedlings next year!

Note:
Seeds are harmful if eaten.

Ideal for:
Clambering up Trellis, Obelisks and Trees. Also for Containers and Tubs

Nomenclature:
Ipomoea is a member of the Convolvulus family, pronounced kon-VOLV-yoo-lus.
It is taken from the Latin convolvere, meaning to twine around.
Grandpa Ott is named for Baptist John Ott, originally from Bavaria, he was the original "Seed Saver"!

Kent Whealy, a journalist who got interested in heirloom plants when Baptist Ott, his wlfe's grandfather, gave him some bean, tomato, and morning glory seeds he had brought from Bavaria and kept going for four human generations.
Whealy was soon so involved in seed saving that he quit his day job, lived through some financial hard times, and eventually founded a non-profit organisation called Seed Savers Exchange that became the rallying point for individuals interested in saving heirloom plant varieties from extinction.