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Hints & Tips
Sowing Directly Outdoors
Choosing the site Most of our species grow in average, well-drained soils that are not too rich or fertile. If you have in mind a large area, then select an open sunny site preferably away from overhanging trees. |
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Preparing the site Best done in the autumn or early spring, but can be anytime really. Lightly dig over, removing weeds, and break down any large lumps of soil. |
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Planning where to plant The flowers we offer are really effective sown in large swathes. If you’re planning a mixed flower border with blocks of colour, mark out areas for the different species using a stick or trickle sand from a plastic drink bottle (easy to rub out if you change your mind). Take account of plant heights and place colours next to each other that contrast, or compliment each other well. |
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Other approaches to planting Maybe mix curvaceous lines of different species together to give a pleasing meadow or drift effect, with the colours mingling together. Or just sow a couple of small lines in-between perennials, grasses or shrubs in mixed sunny borders, or in gravel patches. Its useful to keep noting what you’ve planted where! |
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Sowing the seed Sow seeds in short straight shallow lines (or drills as they are referred to in garden speak). This helps when it comes to weeding. You’ll be able to tell the desired seedlings from the weed impostors. Alternatively sow them in imaginative wavy drifts, diagonal lines or large ‘X’s’. If the soil is dry when sowing, then water along the drill with a watering can, and sow the seed into this once the water has drained away. Trickle the seed in evenly from your hand. Mix very fine seed with sand or vermiculite which makes it easy to sow less thickly. Cover the seeds by gently pushing soil back across the drill. Another option is to cover the seed drills with sharp sand or vermiculite. You definitely know where they are then, and its easier for the seedlings to emerge (no hard surface crust to break through). |
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Seedling aftercare Water the seedlings in, if rain is not imminent (then again if it was you may not be out there gardening!). Water well every couple of days if the weather is going through a dry spell, until the seedlings appear. This will help get them off to a good start. Then just keep on top of the weeds between the rows, and once the seedlings have developed their second set of leaves thin them out to their suggested spacing. |
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Pesky pests and how to deal with them We also recommend taking precautions against would be pests like slugs and pigeons if they are a problem in your garden. They can devastate seedlings or peck at newly planted seeds. |
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Slugs first Everyone and their grandmother have a remedy for slugs. Methods include organic and inorganic controls. As we’re into organic methods here are some suggestions. Slug hunts with a torch after dark, nematodes watered in with a watering can (available as Nemaslug and highly effective), and beer traps (empty yogurt pots buried to soil level and filled with ‘the amber nectar’ work well). Plump pigeons Plastic netting or twiggy sticks over the patch where the seeds have been sown, are two great ways of discouraging these winged seedling predators. Remove the netting carefully once seedlings have begun to pop through. You could leave the twiggy sticky in to add support to taller plants as they grow up. |
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When the plants have established If you like to extend the flowering period you can deadhead or cut off old flowers. Remove wayward seedlings and weeds until the plants are established. Then just enjoy your floral wonder! |
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