Sow in July

Soapwort – Seeds (Saponaria ocymoides)

Soapwort (Saponaria ocymoides), also known as Rock Soapwort or Tumbling Ted, is a low-growing perennial that forms a carpet of bright pink, starry flowers from late spring through summer. Perfect for rock gardens, walls, or as ground cover, it’s easy to grow and attracts pollinators. Hardy and reliable, it’s ideal for creating long-lasting splashes of color in sunny spots.

Why Grow "Soapwort"

• Masses of bright pink, star-shaped flowers

• Hardy, low-maintenance perennial

• Spreading habit makes excellent ground cover

• Loved by bees and butterflies

Key Features

• Type: Perennial (Saponaria ocymoides)

• Height: 10–15 cm, spreading habit

• Flowering: May–July

• Position: Full sun

• Uses: Rock gardens, walls, ground cover, borders

Ideal For

• Rockeries and stone walls

• Low-maintenance ground cover

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

• Edging for sunny borders

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: March–May or September–October

• Sow direct in prepared soil, lightly cover

• Germination: 14–21 days

• Thin seedlings to 20–25 cm apart

• Prefers well-drained soil in sunny positions

English Daisy 'Pomponette' Mixed Seeds (Bellis perennis)

The English Daisy ‘Pomponette’ is a charming cottage garden favorite, loved for its dense pompon-like blooms in shades of red, pink, and white. Compact and cheerful, these dainty flowers create vibrant color displays in borders, pots, and spring bedding schemes. Their long flowering period and old-fashioned charm make them a must-have for any traditional garden.

What Makes It Special

• Produces unique pompon-style blooms in bright mixed colors

• Hardy, compact, and reliable for early spring displays

• A classic cottage garden flower with enduring charm

• Excellent for edging, borders, and containers

Key Features

• Botanical name: Bellis perennis

• Variety: Pomponette Mixed

• Height/Spread: 15–20 cm tall, 15–20 cm spread

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

• Flowering period: Early spring to early summer

• Lifespan: Perennial, often grown as a biennial

Ideal For

• Cottage and traditional gardens

• Spring bedding displays with tulips and primroses

• Pots, containers, and window boxes

• Low-growing borders and edging

• Naturalizing in lawns or meadow-style gardens

Sowing Instructions

1. When to sow: Late spring to mid-summer (May–July) for flowering the following spring.

2. How to sow:

   • Sow thinly on the surface of moist seed compost and press lightly.

   • Do not cover, as seeds need light to germinate.

   • Keep moist at 15–20°C. Germination takes 14–28 days.

3. Transplant/Thin: Move seedlings to individual pots or trays when large enough. Plant outdoors 15–20 cm apart.

4. Care: Remove faded blooms to prolong flowering. Protect from harsh frost in the first year.

Statice Blue Seeds (Limonium sinuatum)

Statice Blue is a classic everlasting flower, cherished for its vibrant blue papery blooms that retain their color beautifully both fresh and dried. Known for its durability and striking display, this hardy annual is a favorite for cut flower gardens, dried arrangements, and border plantings. With long stems and vivid color, it adds elegance to bouquets and flower beds alike.

What Makes It Special

• Striking deep blue blooms that hold color when dried

• Excellent for fresh bouquets and everlasting arrangements

• Drought-tolerant and low maintenance

• Long-lasting cut flower with a professional florist’s touch

Key Features

• Botanical name: Limonium sinuatum

• Variety: Blue

• Seed count: Approx. seeds per pack

• Height/Spread: 60–75 cm tall, 25–30 cm spread

• Position: Full sun; well-drained, sandy/light soil

• Flowering period: July–September

Ideal For

• Fresh cut and dried flower arrangements

• Cottage gardens and summer borders

• Drought-tolerant and coastal gardens

• Pollinator-friendly planting schemes

Sowing Instructions

1. When to sow: February–April indoors; or outdoors after frost has passed

2. How to sow:

   • Sow on the surface of moist compost, cover lightly with vermiculite

   • Keep at 18–20°C; germination in 10–20 days

3. Transplanting: Prick out seedlings and grow on; plant 25–30 cm apart once frost-free

4. Care: Prefers light soil and sunny conditions; water sparingly

Foxglove 'Excelsior' Mix Seeds (Digitalis purpurea – Biennial)

The Foxglove 'Excelsior' Mix is one of the most admired cottage garden classics, producing tall, elegant spires of tubular flowers in shades of rose, lavender, purple, cream, and white, often marked with speckled throats. Unlike traditional foxgloves, the Excelsior strain displays its flowers all around the stem, creating a fuller and more impressive floral column. As a biennial, it flowers in the second year after sowing and readily self-seeds for future displays.

What Makes It Special

• Traditional cottage garden favorite with tall, majestic flower spikes

• Excelsior strain bears blooms on all sides of the stem for maximum impact

• Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds

• Excellent cut flower and stunning for borders or woodland plantings

Key Features

• Botanical name: Digitalis purpurea

• Variety: 'Excelsior' Mix

• Height/Spread: 120–150 cm tall, 40–60 cm spread

• Position: Partial shade to sun; prefers rich, moist, well-drained soil

• Flowering period: Late spring to mid-summer (second year)

• Lifespan: Biennial, often self-seeds for naturalized displays

Ideal For

• Cottage and woodland-style gardens

• Back borders for height and structure

• Naturalizing in shaded areas

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

Sowing Instructions

1. When to sow: Late spring to summer (May–July) for flowering the following year.

2. How to sow:

   • Sow seeds on the surface of moist compost (do not cover – light aids germination).

   • Keep at 18–22°C until germination (14–30 days).

   • Transplant seedlings 45 cm apart in borders or beds.

3. Care: Water regularly, especially in dry spells. Remove spent flower spikes to extend blooming, or allow some to seed for natural regeneration.

Aster "Color Carpet Mix" – Seeds

(Callistephus chinensis)

Aster "Color Carpet Mix" is a charming dwarf variety that produces a vivid carpet of colorful blooms in late summer and autumn. With compact, bushy growth and daisy-like flowers in shades of pink, purple, red, blue, and white, this mix is perfect for brightening borders, rockeries, and container displays. Long-lasting blooms make them excellent for cutting, bringing cheer indoors as well.

Why Grow Aster "Color Carpet Mix"?

• Compact, bushy habit with masses of blooms

• Vibrant mix of summer and autumn colors

• Long flowering season

• Great for edging, containers & small gardens

Key Features

• Type: Half-hardy annual

• Height: 20–25 cm

• Blooms: July–October

• Position: Full sun or partial shade

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil

Ideal For

• Bedding & edging

• Rock gardens and low borders

• Patio containers

• Cut flower arrangements

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April, in trays or pots, lightly covering seeds

• Transplant seedlings outdoors after frost, spacing 20 cm apart

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

• Germination: 10–14 days at 18–21°C

• Remove faded blooms to extend flowering season

Hollyhock ‘Chaters Double Triumph Mix’ Seeds (Althaea rosea)

A true cottage garden classic, the Hollyhock ‘Chaters Double Triumph Mix’ produces tall, stately flower spikes adorned with large, fully double blooms in a rich blend of colors – from soft pastels to vibrant shades. These majestic perennials (often grown as biennials) create a dramatic vertical accent at the back of borders, alongside walls, or in wildflower-style gardens.

What Makes It Special

• Stunning double blooms in a wide range of colors

• Impressive tall spires up to 1.8–2.5 m high

• Attracts bees, butterflies, and pollinators

• A long-standing favorite in cottage and traditional gardens

Key Features

• Botanical name: Althaea rosea

• Common name: Hollyhock Chaters Double Triumph Mix

• Seed count: Approx. per pack (customizable)

• Height/Spread: 180–250 cm tall, 50–60 cm spread

• Position: Full sun; well-drained fertile soil

• Flowering period: July – September (second year from sowing)

• Lifespan: Hardy biennial/perennial

Ideal For

• Cottage and traditional garden borders

• Planting against walls and fences

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

• Creating dramatic vertical height in displays

Sowing Instructions

1. When to sow: Indoors March–May or directly outdoors May–June.

2. How to sow:

   • Sow seeds thinly in trays or pots of moist seed compost, cover lightly.

   • Keep at 15–20°C for germination (14–21 days).

   • Transplant seedlings when large enough, spacing 45–60 cm apart.

3. Care: Provide support in exposed areas. Deadhead faded flowers to encourage further blooming.

🌸 Viola wittrockiana ‘Tempo’ – Hardy, Compact Pansy for Autumn & Early Spring Colour

‘Tempo’ is a reliable bedding pansy series known for its compact growth, mid-sized flowers, and excellent winter hardiness. Ideal for early spring and autumn planting, it produces a vibrant display of blooms in a wide range of colours. Many shades feature charming small “eyes”, adding classic pansy character. The sturdy plants maintain a neat shape and continue flowering through cold, wet, and changeable weather — perfect for borders, pots, window boxes, and mass bedding schemes.

Key Features

● Compact bedding pansy with mid-sized flowers

● Colour range includes types with small patterned “eyes”

● Exceptionally winter-hardy — ideal for autumn and early spring

● Reliable flowering in cold, wet conditions

● Perfect for pots, borders, containers, and bedding

How to Sow & Grow Viola wittrockiana ‘Tempo’ (UK)

Sow indoors: VI–VIII (June–August) in trays or pots

Transplant outdoors: VIII–IX (August–September) once seedlings are large enough to handle

Direct outdoors: VI–VIII (June–August)

Flowering: III–VI (March–June) from autumn sowings; VI–X (June–October) from spring sowings

Germination temperature: 15–20 °C (59–68 °F)

Average germ time: 10–21 days

Depth: Surface sow or cover very lightly (0.2 cm / 1⁄16 in)

Light required: Low light for germination

Moisture: Keep evenly moist

Environment: Full sun to partial shade

Soil type: Moist, fertile, well-drained soil

Plant spacing: 20–25 cm (8–10 in)

Height: 15–20 cm (6–8 in)

Sowing & Growing Tips (variety-specific)

● Keep seeds in low light to improve germination.

● Pinch young plants for bushier, more compact growth.

● Plant in autumn for strong winter establishment.

● Deadhead regularly for extended flowering.

● Excellent for cold, wet climates — extremely hardy.

Pansy ‘Clear Crystals Black’ – Seeds (Viola wittrockiana)

Pansy ‘Clear Crystals Black’ (Viola wittrockiana) is a dramatic and elegant variety with large, velvety, jet-black blooms. Compact and easy to grow, it flowers from early spring through summer, and again in autumn with lasting displays. Perfect for borders, bedding, window boxes, and containers, these striking flowers also make excellent companions in mixed plantings. Hardy and reliable, pansies add bold contrast to the garden while attracting pollinators.

Why Grow "Clear Crystals Black"

• Striking velvety black blooms for dramatic displays

• Long flowering season from spring to autumn

• Compact, hardy, and easy to grow

• Great for borders, containers, and window boxes

Key Features

• Type: Hardy annual/biennial (Viola wittrockiana)

• Height: 15–20 cm

• Flowering: Spring to autumn

• Position: Full sun or partial shade

• Uses: Bedding, borders, containers, window boxes, pollinator gardens

Ideal For

• Adding dramatic color contrast to displays

• Early spring and autumn garden interest

• Compact planting in pots and containers

• Pollinator-friendly planting schemes

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April or July–September

• Germination: 10–20 days at 15–20°C

• Transplant seedlings 15–20 cm apart

• Prefers rich, moist but well-drained soil

• Deadhead regularly to prolong blooming

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