The flower seed sowing thread 2019

[annie8]

Balloon Vine - cardiospermum halicacabum
Purple bell vine ( maybe a bit late)
Ammi Visnaga
Cosmos - double click cranberries
Scabiou - snow maiden
All down today


Seeds sown and germinated - now in the GH
Pink cosmos
Annual lupin
Nicotiana
Bells of Ireland
Echinacea
Rudbeckia - goldsturn
Globe artichoke
NGs Clary
Calendula - NGs Snow something

Sadly my giant yellow scabious has been hit with frost.

Scarlet - would you say it is worth growing globe artichoke from seed? I had seen it suggested that it would be better to buy as plants. Saw that Marshalls have green and purple artichoke seeds on sale at 99p a packet and was tempted.

Sc

[Scarlet]

I think they can be hit and miss...probably best to take a cutting from someone's veg plot. But I'm growing mine for the flower border, so I'm not that bothered ...but my seed sown ones that I did several year ago were ok.

[veggiechicken]

I've heard a cutting (from a known good plant) is best if you want edible artichokes. If its for ornamental value it doesn't matter.

[Small pumpkin]

Just some sweet William today.

[Small pumpkin]

Sown
Petunia colourama
Nasturtium Tom Thumb
Godetia dwarf mix
Alyssum carpet of snow
Marigold French dwarf
Lobelia sapphire

[toomanytommytoes]

Alyssum Carpet of Snow really lives up to its name. Self seeds like mad and its dead foliage is straw-like and gives the soil a toasty blanket over winter.

Orange/yellow calendula, Cosmos 'Polidor Mixed', Dahlia 'Bishop's Children' and Rudbeckia 'Gloriosa Daisies'.

That's most of the flower sowing done for this year apart from poppies and cornflowers direct into the ground a bit later.

[jdlondon]

I grew globe artichokes from seed, and they're huge now. They need space though, so planted them here instead of on the London balcony and one that was tucked in a side bed where runner beans and Asian chives grow is much smaller. Still flowers though!

Eating them is more trouble than it's worth, I found. Much better left pretty.

I've got asparagus seeds too so fingers crossed on them too.

[jdlondon]

Purple lotus nymphaea, in a bowl with soil and water an inch above. In the sun porch. Wondering if I should move it into a warmer room at night since it's a hotter clime thing.

But then some say the difference in temp is good too. Choices, choices!

[rary]

Never been on this thread, don't know why, just seemed to miss it
Seeds sown
4 different verities of French marigold
2 dwarf African marigold, Inca gold and an orange one
Lupin Russell hybrids
Lupin mini gallery
Lobilia cascading mix
Lobilia blue sapphire
Begonia trailing
4 different varieties of petunias
4 different varieties of wave petunias

[Bren In Pots]

Not sown many flowers only Nasturtium, sweet peas and marigolds. All the other flowers in the garden self seed.

[jdlondon]

I thought nasturtiums self-seeded? Poor man's capers? I bought some seeds because I wanted to see if companion planting really worked, but I thought it was something that came up year after year. I always have a preference for those over annuals.

[veggiechicken]

Plants will only self seed if they're left to set seed in situ. Lots of people dead head or pull out plants that no longer look "pretty".
Nasturtiums will self seed but its not a given!

[Bren In Pots]

I thought nasturtiums self-seeded? Poor man's capers? I bought some seeds because I wanted to see if companion planting really worked, but I thought it was something that came up year after year. I always have a preference for those over annuals.

They self seed all over my veg beds I only really move them if they're in the way, i found this packet in my seeds box so thought I might as well sow them. More the merrier

[Small pumpkin]

Sown some more sunflowers.
Had poor germination from the first lot.

[burnie]

Flower seed sowing

We seem to have a thread for veg sowing, but not for fleurs, so today I have sown some Calendula, part of my helping the bees by having more flowers in what was once a bit of a dessert as far as pollen went, I was a bit like Huge Fearlessly eatsitall and grubbed out anything that wasn't edible.