WHEN TO SOW
May and June.
WHERE TO SOW
Prepare a nursery bed and sow in shallow drills in May or June, or sow thinly in seed trays.
WHAT TO DO NEXT
When large enough to handle, thin the seedlings to 5cm apart. Transplant into the flowering site in September, spacing them 15cm apart.
MATURITY
March to July
HANDY TIP
Commonly used as an edging plant but gives an early splash of colour when planted in clumps in a border.
FLOWER SEED SOWING TECHNIQUE
HARDY BIENNIAL
Prepare a nursery bed well in advance, ensuring that it is weed free. Choose a time for sowing when the soil does not stick to your shoes but is moist below the surface and fairly dry on top. The soil should be crumbly and even. Rake the surface after a light treading.
Mark out drills in the nursery bed or mark out an area for scattering the seed to rake in afterwards. Rows should be approximately 30cm apart and clearly labelled at the end.
Sow the seed carefully and thinly, aiming to get a seed every 2cm (3/4") and then gently rake the soil to cover, and firm with the back of the rake. Water gently if the weather is dry for a period, but do not water too often as this will encourage the roots to form just below the surface and you will be watering all summer long to save your plants. Aim to encourage the root to look further down for water, and you will have a more relaxed summer and a finer show of flowers in the long run.
When the plants have formed their first pair of true leaves, thin the plants to 10cm (4") apart and firm the soil around the bases.
In September or October carefully raise the plants taking a ball of soil with the roots using a trowel and plant them in the flowering site and gently water them in. It is sometimes beneficial to give a little protection from winter winds for the first year