Sow in April

Zinnia 'Burpeeana Giants Mix' – Seeds

(Zinnia elegans)

Zinnia 'Burpeeana Giants Mix' is a spectacular blend of bold, fully double blooms reaching up to 12–15 cm across. This mix features an array of dazzling colours, from vibrant reds, pinks, and oranges to golden yellows and whites. The tall, sturdy plants make a striking display in the garden and provide excellent cut flowers. Heat-loving and easy to grow, these zinnias are perfect for a summer of nonstop colour.

Key Features

• Type: Half-hardy annual

• Height: 75–100 cm

• Spread: 30–40 cm

• Flowering: July–October

• Position: Full sun

• Soil: Fertile, well-drained

Ideal For

• Cottage gardens

• Bold, colourful borders

• Summer bedding displays

• Cut flower gardens

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: March–April at 18–22°C

• Sow outdoors: May, after frost risk has passed

• Germination: 7–14 days

• Transplant/Thin: 30–40 cm apart

• Remove spent blooms to encourage more flowers

Aster ‘Pavlova’ Deep Blue – Seeds

(Callistephus chinensis)

Aster ‘Pavlova’ Deep Blue produces large, fully double, deep blue flowers that brighten borders and bouquets. Compact and long-flowering, it attracts pollinators and is easy to grow.

Why Grow Aster ‘Pavlova’ Deep Blue?

• Large, double deep blue blooms

• Long-flowering annual

• Attracts bees and butterflies

• Perfect for borders and cut flowers

Key Features

• Type: Annual

• Height: 40–60 cm

• Flowers: Summer to autumn

• Position: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile

Ideal For

• Borders, cottage gardens, and flower beds

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

• Cut flowers and bouquets

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April

• Sow outdoors: April–May

• Germination: 10–20 days at 18–20°C

• Spacing: 25–30 cm

• Care: Moderate watering; deadhead for continuous blooms

Aster Powder Puff Seeds (Callistephus chinensis)

Aster Powder Puff is a stunning annual variety producing large, fluffy, chrysanthemum-like blooms in a wide range of vibrant colors. Its double flowers resemble soft powder puffs, adding texture and richness to summer and autumn borders. Easy to grow and long-lasting as cut flowers, they make an excellent addition to cottage gardens and floral displays.

What Makes It Special

• Large, fully double “powder puff” blooms

• Available in a wide range of bright, cheerful colors

• Excellent as a cut flower with a long vase life

• Strong stems and bushy growth habit

Key Features

• Botanical name: Callistephus chinensis

• Variety: Powder Puff

• Seed count: Approx. seeds per pack

• Height/Spread: 50–70 cm tall, 25–30 cm spread

• Position: Full sun or partial shade; fertile, well-drained soil

• Flowering period: July–October

Ideal For

• Borders and bedding displays

• Cutting for floral arrangements

• Cottage gardens and mixed borders

• Late-summer color in the garden

Sowing Instructions

1. When to sow: February–April indoors, or direct sow outdoors from April–May

2. How to sow:

   • Sow thinly on moist seed compost, cover lightly with soil or vermiculite

   • Germination takes 7–14 days at 18–20°C

3. Transplanting: When seedlings are large enough, transplant 30 cm apart

4. Care: Water regularly, avoid overhead watering to prevent mildew

Marsh Mallow – Seeds (Althaea officinalis)

Marsh Mallow is a hardy perennial herb known for its tall, elegant growth and soft, velvety leaves. Traditionally valued for its medicinal properties, its roots and leaves can be used in herbal remedies, teas, and natural skincare preparations. The plant also produces attractive pale pink flowers that add charm to herb and cottage gardens.

Ideal for garden beds, borders, and natural herbal plots, Marsh Mallow is easy to grow and low-maintenance once established.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: February – April

• Sow outdoors: April – May

• Depth: 0.5–1 cm

• Spacing: 40–50 cm between plants

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Fertile, well-drained, moist

• Watering: Regular watering until established

Key Features

• Hardy perennial herb with medicinal and culinary uses

• Soft, velvety leaves and pale pink flowers

• Ideal for teas, herbal remedies, and natural skincare

• Low-maintenance once established

• Suitable for herb gardens, borders, and cottage gardens

Harvest

• Harvesting period: Summer – Autumn

• Pick leaves and flowers as needed; roots can be harvested in autumn for medicinal use.

Short Tip

For a continuous supply, harvest leaves selectively and leave some to flower for seeds.

Dwarf Nasturtium 'Peach Melba' – Seeds

(Tropaeolum nanum)

Dwarf Nasturtium 'Peach Melba' is a compact, low-growing annual that produces vibrant peach-colored blooms with subtle apricot tones. Its trailing habit makes it perfect for borders, containers, and hanging baskets. Easy to grow and fast-flowering, this variety also attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies, adding colour and life to your garden.

Key Features

• Type: Half-hardy annual

• Height: 15–25 cm

• Spread: 25–35 cm

• Flowering: June–September

• Position: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile

Ideal For

• Containers and hanging baskets

• Borders and edging

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

• Cottage-style planting

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: March–April at 18–22°C

• Sow outdoors: May, after frost risk has passed

• Germination: 7–14 days

• Thin or transplant to 20–25 cm spacing

• Deadhead to encourage continuous flowering

Cut Sunflower Semi Tall Mix – 40 Seeds (Helianthus annuus)

The Cut Sunflower Semi Tall Mix produces cheerful, long-stemmed blooms in a vibrant range of golden, yellow, and orange shades. Compact yet tall enough for cutting, this variety is perfect for borders, beds, and floral arrangements. Easy to grow and quick to flower, it brings a burst of summer color to every garden.

Why Grow This Sunflower Mix?

• Bright, cheerful flowers in warm shades

• Ideal for cut flower arrangements

• Semi-tall growth suits small and large gardens

• Hardy and easy to grow

Key Features

• Type: Annual

• Height: 120–150 cm

• Spread: 30–40 cm

• Flowering: July–September

• Position: Full sun

• Soil: Fertile, well-drained

Ideal For

• Cut flower gardens

• Borders and beds

• Pollinator-friendly plantings

• Summer bouquets

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: April–May, directly in soil

• Germination: 7–14 days at 15–20°C

• Thin seedlings: 30–40 cm apart

• Water well in dry periods

• Stake if exposed to wind

Tip: Regular cutting encourages more flowers.

🌸 Petunia hybrida Multiflora Nana Blue ‘Picotee’ – Compact Petunia with Elegant Picotee-Edged Flowers

‘Nana Blue Picotee’ is a charming multiflora petunia featuring rich blue flowers edged with a crisp white picotee margin. The plants are compact, low-growing and well-branched, making them ideal for containers, window boxes, borders and bedding displays. Multiflora petunias are known for their excellent weather tolerance, producing masses of blooms even in less-than-perfect summer conditions.

Key Features

● Striking blue flowers with clean white picotee edging

● Compact “nana” habit with tidy, uniform growth

● Multiflora type – very weather-tolerant and free-flowering

● Ideal for containers, baskets and bedding

● Long flowering season throughout summer

How to Sow & Grow Petunia ‘Nana Blue Picotee’ (UK)

Sow indoors: II–III (February–March)

Transplant outdoors: V–VI (May–June) after last frost

Direct outdoors: Not recommended

Flowering: VI–X (June–October)

Life cycle: Annual

Germination temperature: 20–22 °C (68–72 °F)

Average germ time: 7–14 days

Depth: Surface sow – do not cover; gently press into compost (light required)

Light required: Yes

Moisture: Keep soil evenly moist

Environment: Full sun (tolerates light shade)

Soil type: Fertile, well-drained compost or soil

Plant spacing: 20–25 cm (8–10 in)

Height: 20–25 cm (8–10 in)

Sowing & Growing Tips (variety-specific)

● Start early under cover for the longest flowering period.

● Provide good light during early growth to keep plants compact.

● Feed regularly once flowering begins.

● Light deadheading or trimming keeps plants neat and floriferous.

● Excellent choice for exposed positions due to strong weather resistance.

Special Features

● Classic picotee flower pattern

● Compact multiflora petunia with strong garden performance

● Reliable, long-lasting summer colour

Black Hollyhock – Seeds (Althaea rosea nigra)

Black Hollyhock (Althaea rosea nigra) is a striking biennial producing tall spikes of deep, dark purple to almost black double blooms. Its dramatic flowers create a bold focal point in borders, cottage gardens, and pollinator-friendly areas. Easy to grow and long-lasting, this variety attracts bees and butterflies while adding elegance and vertical interest to any garden.

Why Grow "Black Hollyhock"

• Tall spikes of deep purple to nearly black flowers

• Dramatic focal point for borders and cottage gardens

• Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators

• Hardy biennial with long-lasting blooms

Key Features

• Type: Biennial (Althaea rosea nigra)

• Height: 1.8–2.0 m

• Flowering: Second year after sowing

• Position: Full sun

• Uses: Borders, cottage gardens, pollinator planting, cut flowers

Ideal For

• Creating vertical interest and dramatic color in borders

• Cottage and mixed garden designs

• Pollinator-friendly planting

• Gardeners seeking bold, elegant biennial flowers

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: January–March

• Sow outdoors: Directly in soil April–May

• Germination: 14–21 days

• Plant out after last frost, spacing 45–60 cm apart

• Prefers full sun and well-drained soil

Mexican Sunflower Scarlet Red Seeds (Tithonia speciosa)

The Mexican Sunflower ‘Scarlet Red’ (Tithonia speciosa) is a bold, heat-loving annual that produces masses of large, daisy-like blooms in brilliant scarlet-red. A true magnet for butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, this tall and vibrant flower adds fiery color to borders, wildlife gardens, and cutting displays. With its long flowering season and easy care, it thrives in sunny spots and poor soils.

Why Grow Mexican Sunflower ‘Scarlet Red’?

• Striking scarlet-red blooms up to 8 cm across

• Loved by pollinators and beneficial insects

• Tall, branching plants for a dramatic display

• Thrives in heat, sun, and poor soil

Key Features

• Botanical name: Tithonia speciosa

• Type: Half-hardy annual

• Height: 120–150 cm

• Spread: 60–75 cm

• Flowering: July–October

Ideal For

• Cottage and wildlife gardens

• Pollinator-friendly plantings

• Tall borders and backdrops

• Cut flower arrangements

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: March–April, 0.5 cm deep in trays or pots

• Transplant outdoors after frost, spacing 40–50 cm apart

• Sow outdoors: May, directly where they are to grow

• Prefers full sun and well-drained soil