Calendula Wintersun – exactly as the name suggests this variety will give you cheery winter colour of in shades of golden-yellow set against mid green foliage.  Make a feature of these in containers by your house or to cheer up you plot with some colour amongst your overwintering veg.  Sow July/August. 

Height to 30cm

Annual

Price for 40 seeds

SOW: in July and August either where they are to flower or in modules for transplanting.  We have always opted to transplant as their final position is normally still in use at this time of year!  Germination takes around 2 weeks.

GROW: plan where you want splashes of winter colour to be and pop them in!  You can plant them quite close in a container, out in the garden aim for 15-20cm apart

ENJOY: we have found them to reliably flower from the autumn into the winter, some plants in a more sheltered position close to the house have flowered through to March. 

Candytuft shades are from palest pink to deepest violet, the large fragrant flower heads will fill a room with their scent. This is a perfect size for a small vase or glass on a shelf or desk. Flowering May to September.

Height 15-25cm.

Annual.

Price for 200 seeds.

SOW & GROW: these are best sown in spring where they are to flower (weed thoroughly and prepare the soil).  They really need a sunny position to do their best with a well-drained soil. You can broadcast the seeds (scatter) but if you sow them in rows it will be easier to tell the young Candytuft seedlings and any weeds apart! They can also be sown in September and overwintered. 

Canterbury Bells bloom in shades from pale blue, lilac to deep purple.  Each large cup shaped flower is surrounded by a curled back calyx of the same colour as the petals hence the name cup and saucer flowers. Flowers May to July (2nd year).

Height 60-90cm.

Biennial.

Price for 150 seeds.

SOW: in May and June in trays or modules of seed compost or a seed bed.  Lightly cover the seeds no more than 1cm deep. 

GROW: when large enough to handle prick out into trays 10cm apart and grow on.  in late summer (August) select the best small plants to move to their flowering positions. They will like sunny spot or semi-shade. They will flower the following summer

ENJOY: each large cup shaped flower is surrounded by a curled back calyx of the same colour as the petals hence the name cup and saucer flowers.  Ideal for attracting bees or to use as a cut flower.

Carnation Superb is super strong stemmed variety, the best carnation choice for cut flowers. The double flowers have deeply feather edged petals and come in yellow, red, pink, white and bicoloured.

Height 40-45cm. 

Annual

Price for 100 seeds.

SOW: between January and March in pots or modules of seed compost, cover with perlite or vermiculite.  Seal in a plastic bag and keep at about 18°C.  Germination takes about 2 weeks. 

GROW: after germination grow on with protection, potting up if necessary before eventually planting out in May.  Space plants about 15cm apart.  They like limey soils but well drained garden soil (not acid) in a sunny spot will suit them.

ENJOY: it is easy to see why this is one of the most popular cut flowers: the traditional wedding flower for buttonholes

Catananche Caerulea Amor White – beautiful papery white flowers, purple centred with orange stamen, held aloft on long stems. Easy to grow, very hardy and drought tolerant, long lasting make an ideal flower for cutting (use fresh or dried). Although a perennial an early sowing of this lovely plant can provide you with flowers in the first year.

Height to 60cm

Perennial

Price for 25 seeds

SOW: in pots or modules of seed compost.  Cover with 3-5mm perlite or vermiculite Germination takes 1-2 weeks: can be kept at 15-20°C or wait for natural spring germination. When large enough to handle pot on individually before hardening off to plant out after all risk of frost has passed. 

GROW:  space the plants about 15-25cm apart.  They like to be in a sunny position and need good drainage for the winter. They can flower in the first year but normally produce more abundant flowers in subsequent years. 

ENJOY: ideal for cutting for either fresh or dried flowers. Deadhead for more blooms,  Perfect for cottage and informal gardens, gravel or prairie style and also as a more unusual container plant.

DID YOU KNOW… Catananche is also known as Cupid's Dart – historically used in love potions, and represents love in the language of flowers

Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum Crazy Daisy has frothy white blooms with yellow button like centres and a prolific flowering habit make this a delight in the garden and a superb flower for cutting. The blooms can be 6cm across and, like snowflakes, no two are exactly the same: fun, funky and gorgeous flowers from June to August.

Height to 70cm

Perennial.

Price for 50 seeds.

SOW: during March to April in pots/modules of seed compost, lightly cover with perlite or vermiculite and place in a cold frame.  Germination takes 2-3 weeks: pot up when large enough.

GROW:  harden off and plant out at least 40cm apart.  They will need staking as they to withstand windy conditions.  They like to be in a well-drained and sunny position.  Every 3 years divide plants when they start to grow in the spring.

ENJOY: a prolific flowering habit make this a delight in the garden and a superb flower for cutting.

Cleome Violet Queen – sumptuous is the best word I can find to describe the purple blooms. These airy loose balls of flowers, 12-15cm across, are fragrant, loved by bees and followed by seed pods. These become a seed source for birds late on in the year. Long lasting and statuesque and with careful picking fab in a display. Flowers June to September.

Height to 120cm.

Annual.

Price for 100 seeds

SOW: between March and May in pots or modules of seed compost, lightly cover with perlite or vermiculite & put them where the daytime temperatures will be warm such as coldframe, greenhouse or windowsill.  Germination: about 2 weeks. 

GROW:  after germination grow on with protection, potting up if necessary before eventually planting after all frost risk has passed.  Space plants about 20-25cm apart in a sunny and well drained position

ENJOY: these look lovely with verbena, amazing with sunflowers and pretty good with everything else (bees and butterflies love them).  Careful picking (there is a spine at the base of each leaf) will give you a lovely cut flower.

Cornflower Black Ball has a fabulously rich dark mauve colour, they look almost black on cloudy days and add a touch of drama to any garden.  The blooms are double to add to the impact plus they attract bees, beneficial insects, birds and other pollinators. Flowering June to September. Growing up to 75cm this is both a stunner in the border and a showstopper in a vase.

Height 75cm

Annual

Price for 50 seeds

SOW: where they are to flower (in situ) during March and April depending on the weather and your location – ideally when the night-time temperature will not fall much below 10°C.  Can also be sown August/September for slightly earlier flowers the following year. Germination takes about 2 weeks or so.

GROW:  these flowers may need staking or growing through a frame if your garden catches the wind.  Attracts bees, beneficial insects, birds and other pollinators.

ENJOY: an excellent cut flower that adds dramatic colour to your garden

Cornflower Classic Romantic – perfection in every bloom with shades of pink to rose red edged and speckled with white to highlight their beauty.  A classic cottage garden plant in classic colours that will bring a breath of fresh air to your garden and home. 

Height 90-100cm 

Annual

Price for 50 seeds

SOW: where they are to flower (in situ) during March and April depending on the weather and your location – ideally when the night-time temperature will not fall much below 10°C.  Can also be sown August/September for slightly earlier flowers the following year. Germination takes about 2 weeks or so.

GROW:  these flowers may need staking or growing through a frame if your garden catches the wind.

ENJOY: delicious colours to fall in love with: these classic cottage garden flowers work just as well in modern garden designs

Cornflower Double Blue an essential ingredient for every garden. The lovely blue flowers are held on strong, straight stems making them perfect for cutting to enjoy the long lasting double blooms in your home.

Height 60-80cm

Annual

Price for 50 seeds

SOW: where they are to flower (in situ), seed depth 2-4mm, during March and April depending on the weather and your location – ideally when the night-time temperature will not fall much below 10°C.  Can also be sown August/September for slightly earlier flowers the following year. Germination takes about 2 weeks or so.

GROW:  these flowers may need staking or growing through a frame if your garden catches the wind.  They are an excellent choice to attracts bees, beneficial insects, birds and other pollinators.

ENJOY: an essential ingredient for every garden and an excellent cut flower with strong straight stems. Dry petals to make your own confetti.