Sow in April

Cosmos ‘Candy Stripe’ – Seeds

(Cosmos bipinnatus)

Cosmos ‘Candy Stripe’ is an elegant annual with delicate, bicolor flowers in white with soft pink stripes. Its tall, airy stems make it perfect for borders, wildflower meadows, and cut flowers. Easy to grow, long-flowering, and attractive to pollinators, it adds a charming, whimsical touch to any garden.

Why Grow Cosmos ‘Candy Stripe’?

• White flowers with soft pink stripes

• Tall, airy stems

• Long-flowering and easy to grow

• Attracts bees, butterflies, and pollinators

Key Features

• Type: Annual

• Height: 100–150 cm

• Flowers: Summer to autumn

• Position: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile

Ideal For

• Borders, wildflower gardens, and meadows

• Cut flowers and floral arrangements

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

• Low-maintenance colorful displays

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April in seed trays

• Sow outdoors: April–May in prepared soil

• Germination: 7–14 days at 18–22°C

• Spacing: 25–30 cm apart

• Care: Moderate watering; remove weeds and deadhead for continuous blooms

🌼 Rudbeckia hirta ‘Rustic Dwarf Mix’ – Compact Coneflowers with Warm Autumn Tones

‘Rustic Dwarf Mix’ is a charming compact rudbeckia (coneflower) blend producing masses of daisy-like flowers in warm, rustic shades of golden yellow, bronze, copper and mahogany, all with distinctive dark central cones. The plants form neat, bushy clumps and flower freely from mid-summer into autumn, making this mix ideal for borders, bedding displays, containers and pollinator-friendly gardens. Hardy, reliable and easy to grow, it provides long-lasting colour when many summer flowers begin to fade.

Life cycle: Annual (often grown as an annual; some plants may behave as short-lived perennials)

Key Features

● Warm, rustic colour mix with dark central cones
● Compact, uniform plants with tidy habit
● Long flowering season from summer to autumn
● Excellent for borders, containers and bedding
● Highly attractive to bees and pollinators

How to Sow & Grow Rudbeckia ‘Rustic Dwarf Mix’ (UK)

Sow indoors: II–IV (February–April)
Transplant outdoors: V–VI (May–June) after last frost
Direct outdoors: IV–V (April–May)
Flowering: VII–X (July–October)

Germination temperature: 18–22 °C (64–72 °F)
Average germ time: 10–21 days
Depth: Surface sow – do not cover; press gently into soil (light required)
Light required: Yes
Moisture: Moderate
Environment: Full sun (tolerates light shade)
Soil type: Well-drained, average garden soil
Plant spacing: 25–30 cm (10–12 in)
Height: 30–40 cm (12–16 in)

Sowing & Growing Tips (variety-specific)

● Start seeds under cover for earlier flowering.
● Deadhead regularly to extend the bloom period.
● Drought-tolerant once established.
● Excellent performer in hot, sunny positions.
● Ideal for low-maintenance and wildlife gardens.

Special Features

● Compact rudbeckia ideal for smaller spaces
● Rich, autumnal colour palette
● Reliable, long-lasting summer flowers

Black-eyed Susan Mix – Seeds

(Thunbergia alata)

Black-eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata) is a fast-growing climber with masses of cheerful, brightly colored blooms in shades of yellow, orange, and cream, each with a characteristic dark center. Perfect for adding a splash of long-lasting color, this mix thrives on trellises, fences, or hanging baskets, creating a vibrant display all summer long.

Why Grow Black-eyed Susan Mix?

• Free-flowering climber with vivid blooms

• Long season of color from summer to frost

• Easy to grow and fast covering

• Great for both vertical and container gardening

Key Features

• Type: Annual climber

• Height: 150–200 cm

• Flowers: Summer to autumn

• Position: Full sun or light shade

• Soil: Fertile, well-drained

Ideal For

• Covering fences, trellises, and arches

• Hanging baskets and balcony displays

• Fast seasonal screening

• Bright summer color in any garden

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April in pots/trays at 18–22°C

• Germination: 14–21 days

• Transplant: Harden off and plant outside after last frost

• Outdoor sowing: Late spring in warm soil, directly where plants will climb

• Support: Provide trellis, netting, or string for climbing habit

Yarrow ‘Milfoil Cerise Queen’ – Seeds (Achillea millefolium)

Yarrow ‘Milfoil Cerise Queen’ (Achillea millefolium) is a hardy perennial featuring flat-topped clusters of vibrant cerise flowers above fine, fern-like foliage. Blooming from early summer to autumn, it adds long-lasting color and texture to borders, rockeries, and wildflower gardens. Drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, and attractive to pollinators, this yarrow is ideal for sustainable gardens and mixed perennial beds.

Why Grow "Milfoil Cerise Queen"

• Vibrant cerise, flat-topped flower clusters

• Long flowering season from early summer to autumn

• Hardy, drought-tolerant, and low-maintenance

• Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators

Key Features

• Type: Perennial (Achillea millefolium)

• Height: 40–60 cm

• Flowering: Early summer to autumn

• Position: Full sun

• Uses: Borders, rockeries, wildflower gardens, pollinator-friendly beds

Ideal For

• Adding bold color and texture to perennial borders

• Sustainable and low-water gardens

• Pollinator-friendly planting schemes

• Cottage-style or naturalistic gardens

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April in trays or pots

• Sow outdoors: March–May directly in soil

• Germination: 10–20 days at 18–22°C

• Thin seedlings 30 cm apart

• Prefers well-drained soil in full sun

• Cut back spent flowers to encourage rebloom

Sweet Pea Old Spice ‘Starry Nights’ Seeds (Lathyrus odoratus)

Sweet Pea ‘Starry Nights’ is an heirloom Old Spice variety prized for its fragrant, deep purple blooms speckled with lighter lilac spots, evoking a night sky full of stars. This climbing sweet pea is heat-tolerant, long-flowering, and perfect for trellises, arches, or cut flower arrangements that fill the garden with scent and color.

Why Grow 'Starry Nights'

• Rich, deep purple flowers with lilac “stars”

• Exceptionally fragrant and heat-tolerant

• Long stems ideal for cutting and bouquets

Key Features

• Type: Hardy annual

• Height: 180–240 cm (climber)

• Flowering: June–September

• Position: Full sun

• Uses: Trellises, fences, arches, cut flowers

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: January–April in pots or trays

• Sow outdoors: April–May in prepared soil

• Germination: 10–20 days at 15–20°C

• Plant out after frost, spacing 20–30 cm apart

• Provide climbing support

• Deadhead to prolong flowering

Purple Coneflower 'Starlight' – Seeds

(Echinacea purpurea)

Purple Coneflower 'Starlight' is a hardy perennial known for its striking lavender-purple petals surrounding a prominent orange-brown central cone. Its long-lasting blooms attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, while its robust, upright growth makes it a standout in borders, wildflower meadows, and perennial gardens. This variety is low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, perfect for sustainable planting.

Key Features

• Type: Perennial

• Height: 60–90 cm

• Spread: 40–50 cm

• Flowering: July–September

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile

Ideal For

• Perennial borders and cottage gardens

• Pollinator-friendly planting

• Cut flower arrangements

• Naturalized or meadow-style gardens

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April at 18–22°C

• Sow outdoors: April–May, directly in soil

• Germination: 14–21 days

• Thin seedlings to 40–50 cm apart

• Mulch and water moderately; low-maintenance once established

Snapdragon 'Trumpet Serenade' – Seeds (Antirrhinum majus)

A striking variety of snapdragon with tall, trumpet-shaped blooms in a rich mix of colors. Long-flowering and versatile, 'Trumpet Serenade' adds height, structure, and vibrant color to summer borders and cutting gardens. Beloved by pollinators, it brings life and charm to any display.

Why Grow Snapdragon 'Trumpet Serenade'?

• Showy, trumpet-like blooms in mixed colors

• Long flowering season

• Excellent as a cut flower

• Attracts bees, butterflies, and pollinators

Key Features

• Type: Half-hardy annual

• Height: 60–75 cm

• Flowers: Summer into early autumn

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Use: Borders, cut flowers, cottage gardens, containers

Ideal For

• Adding vertical color to mixed borders

• Cutting for fresh bouquets

• Pollinator-friendly plantings

• Cottage-style and wildlife gardens

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April, lightly pressing seeds into moist compost (do not cover, needs light to germinate)

• Germination: 10–21 days at 18–21°C

• Transplant outdoors after frost, spacing 25 cm apart

• Flowers: June–October

Tip: Pinch out young plants to encourage bushier growth and more blooms.

Coleus ‘Rainbow’ Mixed – Seeds (Coleus hybridus)

Coleus ‘Rainbow’ Mixed is a vibrant foliage plant celebrated for its dazzling mix of colors and leaf patterns. From bold reds and purples to greens, yellows, and pinks, each plant brings unique interest. Perfect for beds, borders, containers, or as a striking houseplant, it’s easy to grow and thrives in both sun and partial shade.

Why Grow "Rainbow Mix"

• Stunning mix of colorful foliage

• Easy to grow and low-maintenance

• Suitable for indoor and outdoor use

• Adds long-lasting color without flowers

Key Features

• Type: Tender perennial (grown as annual)

• Height: 25–40 cm

• Foliage: Multicolored, patterned leaves

• Position: Sun or partial shade

• Uses: Bedding, borders, pots, houseplant

Ideal For

• Patio containers and pots

• Houseplants and indoor displays

• Colorful summer bedding

• Shade and semi-shade gardens

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April on surface of compost (do not cover)

• Germination: 10–20 days at 20–24°C

• Prick out and pot on when large enough

• Harden off and plant outdoors after frost

• Pinch tips for bushier growth

“Blindeyes” Poppy – Seeds (Papaver dobium)

Description:
Add delicate charm to your garden with “Blindeyes” Poppy (Papaver dobium). This striking annual produces elegant, cup-shaped blooms in shades of white or pale pink with a dark central “eye,” giving it its distinctive name. Perfect for borders, cottage gardens, and wildflower meadows, these poppies attract pollinators and bring a soft, whimsical touch to any garden. Easy to grow from seed and long-flowering, they are ideal for both naturalistic and formal plantings.

Key Features

• Elegant cup-shaped blooms with a dark central “eye”

• Annual variety, easy to grow from seed

• Long-lasting blooms from late spring to summer

• Attracts bees and pollinators

• Adds delicate charm to borders and meadows

Ideal For

• Borders and mixed flower beds

• Cottage and wildflower gardens

• Pollinator-friendly plantings

• Naturalistic or whimsical garden displays

Sowing & Growing

• Sow Outdoors: March–April

• Germination: 7–14 days at 15–20°C

• Height: 40–50 cm

• Spacing: 20–25 cm apart

• Light: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile

Care Tips

• Water lightly until seedlings establish

• Deadhead faded flowers to encourage prolonged blooming

• Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot

• Allow some self-seeding for future seasons