Stunning and stately, with blooms fashioned from many individual starry flowers into steely blue spiky balls held aloft to a height of 120cm. The cobwebbed leaves (green above, grey below) give interest and texture from spring until the flowers appear in late summer. Cuts well for use fresh or for drying. Perennial. Price for 40 seeds

Easy to grow and very pretty with lacy foliage below the delicate single blooms, this mix includes white, red, yellow and pink shades. They are loved by bees and happy in the border or a more naturalised setting. Flowering July to September, height to 30cm Annual. Price for 100 seeds

 A perfect edging plant, low growing and floriferous  featuring very large, almost saucer like, yellow flowers with delicate petals.  Pollinating insects love it, the flowers are edible (perfect for a veg plot).  This AGM winner can flower from June into the autumn.  Height to 25cm

  Price for 50 seeds. 

Tall elegant spikes with upright trumpets of white, cream, pink and purple, flowering from June the year after sowing. Attractive to bees, this Excelsior strain also makes an excellent cut flower. Height to 150cm (5ft!) Biennial Price for approximately 500 seeds

This bloomin Colourful Mix is exactly that: large daisy flowers, each with a bright yellow centre.  The single blooms range from cream to deep pink. Grow them where they can move in the breeze.  A good cut flower that is attractive to butterflies and bees.  Height to 75cm    Price for 50 seeds

 

SOW: during March to April in a tray of seed compost, lightly cover with perlite or vermiculite and then place in a cold frame.  Germination takes 2-3 weeks.  When they have their first true leaves pot on into small pots.  Gradually harden off

 

GROW:  space plants at 20cm apart.  They may need staking.  They like to be in a well-drained and sunny position: mid border will suit them well.

 

ENJOY: remove dead heads to encourage more blooms to be produced.  These strong stemmed flowers are super cut for a vase in your home.  They are attractive to bees and butterflies in your garden

In wine red shades the blooms can measure 5-7cm across. The centre of the flower is yellow and changes to deep red as you move outwards. They are irresistible to butterflies making this a must have variety in a wildlife friendly plot, you will be torn between keeping them in the garden and cutting them for the home. . Perennial Price for 50 seeds 0.75

This is a multiflowered Gypsophillia with pure white blooms. It makes a medium tall plant that is perfect for cutting. Flowers June to August. Height to 60cm Annual Price for 500 seeds.

For a splash of something different look no further than Astra Gold with its fabulous feathery, shredded petals giving this stunner a wild and untamed look.  This branching variety (quite tall too) will give you lots of gorgeous flowers all summer long

 

Height 150-170cm

 

Annual

 

Price for 15 seeds

 

SOW: indoors in February or March in individual pots or modules, about 1cm deep.  They need about 20°C warmth.  Germination takes 1-2 weeks.  They can be sown later in April in pots or in situ in a milder area through to June.

 

GROW:  harden off and plant out at 45-60cm apart (to allow for their branching habit).  They really prefer a sunny position. In a rich soil, do keep them well watered. 

 

ENJOY: a splash of spectacular – impressive at the back of the border or dotted around your garden & perfect for cutting too.

Autumn Beauty displays a stunning mix of warm, more earthen, shades including gold, bronzes, browns and burgundy.  These large blooms, 10-20cm across, can appear in solid or bi-colour forms.  And the show just goes on… these are multi headed tall plants reaching 180cm to 250cm high.  Following behind the flowers come the seed heads to feed your winter birds.

Price for 20 seeds

 

To dry sunflower seeds, cut the heads off when they begin to yellow at the back and hang them upside down in a dry location away from rodents and birds. Some seeds may fall off as they dry.  You can hang a head from your bird feeder or, if you prefer, rub the seeds off the heads and feed a little at a time to your wild birds.  The seeds are rich in natural oils and they help birds maintain winter condition to survive cold weather

Fabulous, rich and opulent, deep chocolate with small touches of gold.  These sunflower blooms are 12-15cm across, stunning.  The plant is branching, free flowering and reaches 70-100cm tall, it even grows well in partial shade.  What more could I say to recommend?

Sunflowers are a super easy annual to grow.  Sow indoors in February or March in individual pots or modules, about 1cm deep.  They need about 20°C warmth.  Germination takes 1-2 weeks.  They can be sown later in April in pots or in situ (where they are going to grow and flower) in a milder area.