Carnations

[stella]

Never grown these before but I do love them, are they difficult to grow any one got any hints tips please. Got the seeds fo 29p so if they fail not a big loss.

[Peppermint]

I bought a packet of these seeds too I've no idea as to the best way to grow them so I'll follow this with interest. Packets of seeds for 29p are just too tempting, especially when they offer them at 2 for 50p!

[stella]

Lets hope that some one pops along and gives us some good tips

[rustylady]

Follow the instructions on the seed packet

[stella]

Was gonna do that but was hoping for some inside information and fail safe method

[stella]

as in 'must always plant them on a sunny day with a NW wind facing NNS and in soil that has a ph of 2.67, with no slugs around' he hehe

[Jeanied]

Well I grew some annual ones a long time ago. They were lovely. Normal rich soil I think, and if you want show size ones, you have to pinch out all the side buds to let the leader form the flower. Otherwise you get spray carnations with smaller flowers but lots of them. I was picking a bunch of these a week - fabulous perfume and colours too.

[Peppermint]

I might try pinching some out and leaving some to make spray carnations. I really hope these grow up here, I saw some Pinks in gardens last year so I've got my fingers crossed for these.

[Peppermint]

Lets hope that some one pops along and gives us some good tips

That's what I'm hoping. Lidl's seed packet doesn't have a great deal of detail. I have lots of veggie books but nothing about growing flowers.

[veggiechicken]

I buy bunches of carnations/pinks when they're being sold off in supermarkets. If you check them over first, you'll usually find pipings growing out of the stem joints. Break these off, put them in water and they'll throw roots. Plant them up and freeish plants for your garden. Or put the piping straight into a pot of compost and let them get on with it.

[Peppermint]

Thank you Veggiechicken - I didn't know this. I like the idea of 'freeish' plants. I've a lot of space to fill (creating a garden out of a large lawn area and a former paddock) and I'd like flowers as well as veggies, bushes and trees but a very limited budget.

[bazzaboy]

I buy bunches of carnations/pinks when they're being sold off in supermarkets. If you check them over first, you'll usually find pipings growing out of the stem joints. Break these off, put them in water and they'll throw roots. Plant them up and freeish plants for your garden. Or put the piping straight into a pot of compost and let them get on with it.

Good idea VC... I had some in containers and used to do that but they bit the dust in last year's severe temperatures and I didn't replace them... but will do now....

as in 'must always plant them on a sunny day with a NW wind facing NNS and in soil that has a ph of 2.67, with no slugs around' he hehe

Don't think it specifies the (all-important) ph, Stella, but these pages might prove useful:

Growing Carnations - TheFlowerExpert
and
Carnations - Facts, Types, Plant Growing and Caring Tips

[veggiechicken]

Most of my garden has been filled with free(ish) plants and flowers. The plants are renamed in the process too so there is Muriel's Red Robin and Ethne's Japanese anemones and so on. Both Muriel and Ethne were my husband's aunts, and both of them passed away some years ago. Their cuttings have become their memorials in my garden. So I can look around my garden and remember friends through their plants. So go and visit family and friends and take cuttings from their gardens and fill your garden with them.

[stella]

I may be being a bit urm........ but what exactly am I looking for VC. I have a spray carnation in front of me from the supermarket. It has a grey stem and knobbly lumps along it and leaves and then other stems growing from the side of the stem with flowers on the end. Which bit is the piping???

[stella]

What a great idea VC however I dont know anyone who grows anything apart from grass