Sow in May

Garden Mignonette – Seeds (Reseda odorata)

The Garden Mignonette is a charming old-fashioned flower grown not for showy blooms but for its sweet, clove-like fragrance that fills the summer garden. Its delicate greenish-cream flowers may be modest in appearance, but they are highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and pollinators. A favorite for cottage gardens and scented corners, Garden Mignonette has been cherished for centuries as a fragrance plant.

What Makes It Special

• Grown primarily for its intensely sweet fragrance

• A heritage cottage-garden favorite

• Long-lasting cut flower for fragrant indoor arrangements

• Pollinator-friendly, attracting bees and butterflies

Key Features

• Botanical name: Reseda odorata

• Common name: Garden Mignonette

• Seed count: Approx. seeds per pack

• Height/Spread: 30–60 cm tall, 20–30 cm spread

• Position: Full sun to light shade; prefers well-drained soil

• Flowering period: Summer (June–September)

Ideal For

• Scented cottage gardens

• Flower borders and edges

• Cut flower arrangements

• Wildlife-friendly planting

Sowing Instructions

1. When to sow: March–May outdoors directly into the soil, or August–September for overwintering

2. How to sow:

   • Sow thinly in drills 0.5 cm deep in prepared soil

   • Thin seedlings to 20 cm apart once established

3. Care:

   • Prefers poor to moderately fertile soil (too rich reduces fragrance)

   • Water moderately and avoid overfeeding

Garden Geranium F1 ‘Appleblossom’ – Seeds (Pelargonium zonale)

Garden Geranium F1 ‘Appleblossom’ (Pelargonium zonale) produces abundant, large, soft pink flowers with subtle appleblossom tones. This compact and robust variety is perfect for borders, containers, and hanging baskets. Easy to grow and long-flowering, it provides vibrant summer color while attracting pollinators.

Why Grow "Appleblossom"

• Large, soft pink blooms with appleblossom highlights

• Compact, strong-growing habit

• Long-flowering from spring to autumn

• Ideal for containers, borders, and hanging baskets

Key Features

• Type: F1 hybrid geranium (Pelargonium zonale)

• Height: 25–35 cm

• Flowering: May–October

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Uses: Containers, borders, hanging baskets, patio displays

Ideal For

• Summer containers and window boxes

• Vibrant garden borders

• Hanging baskets and patio planting

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: January–March in seed trays

• Germination: 14–21 days at 18–22°C

• Transplant seedlings into pots or borders after last frost

• Space 25–30 cm apart

• Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming

Garden Catmint Seeds (Nepeta mussinii)

A hardy perennial, Garden Catmint produces spikes of soft lavender-blue flowers over aromatic gray-green foliage. Long-flowering and drought-tolerant, it’s perfect for borders, cottage gardens, and pollinator-friendly landscapes, attracting bees and butterflies while adding texture and fragrance.

What Makes It Special

• Soft lavender-blue blooms over aromatic foliage

• Hardy, long-flowering, and drought-tolerant

• Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators

Key Features

• Botanical name: Nepeta mussinii

• Hardy perennial

• Height: 30–60 cm (12–24 in)

• Bloom time: Late spring to early autumn

Ideal For

• Borders, cottage gardens, and mixed perennial beds

• Pollinator-friendly landscapes

• Containers and low-maintenance garden designs

Sowing

• Sow indoors Feb–Apr or outdoors Mar–May

• Cover lightly with soil and keep moist

• Germination: 10–21 days at 15–20°C

• Thin seedlings 30–40 cm apart

• Flowers the first or second season after sowing

French Marigold Double 'Brocade Red' – 350 Seeds (Tagetes patula nana)

Bring bold, fiery color to your summer displays with French Marigold Double 'Brocade Red'. This compact dwarf variety produces masses of fully double, richly ruffled blooms in glowing scarlet-red shades. The continuous flowering habit makes it a favorite for bedding, edging, pots, and window boxes. Easy to grow and low maintenance, it also helps deter pests in the garden.

Why Grow 'Brocade Red'

• Double blooms in striking scarlet-red tones

• Compact, bushy growth – perfect for edging and containers

• Long-lasting summer color

• Naturally pest-repelling companion plant

Key Features

• Type: Half-hardy annual (Tagetes patula nana)

• Height: 20–25 cm

• Flowering: June–October

• Position: Full sun

• Uses: Beds, borders, edging, patio pots, containers

Ideal For

• Creating vibrant bedding displays

• Patio pots and balcony containers

• Edging garden paths and borders

• Companion planting with vegetables

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: March–April in trays or pots, lightly covering seed

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

• Germination: 7–14 days at 18–22°C

• Plant spacing: 20 cm apart

• Thrives in sunny, well-drained soil

French Marigold ‘Legion of Honour’ – Seeds (Tagetes patula nana)

The French Marigold ‘Legion of Honour’ is a charming dwarf variety with golden-yellow blooms marked by rich mahogany-red centers. Compact and free-flowering, it provides vibrant color all summer long. Easy to grow, pest-repelling, and perfect for borders, containers, and companion planting.

Why Grow ‘Legion of Honour’?

• Striking bicolor flowers of yellow and red

• Long-lasting summer blooms

• Dwarf, compact growth habit

• Attracts pollinators and deters pests

Key Features

• Type: Half-hardy annual

• Height: 20–25 cm

• Flowering: June–October

• Position: Full sun

• Uses: Borders, pots, edging, companion planting

Ideal For

• Bedding and low borders

• Patio containers

• Natural pest control in vegetable gardens

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: March–April, 6–8 weeks before last frost

• Sow outdoors: May, after frost risk has passed

• Germination: 7–14 days at 18–22°C

• Space plants 20–25 cm apart

• Remove spent flowers to prolong blooming

French Marigold ‘Dandy Stripe’ – Seeds (Tagetes patula nana)

French Marigold ‘Dandy Stripe’ (Tagetes patula nana) is a charming dwarf annual featuring vibrant, striped blooms in shades of gold, orange, and red. Its compact, bushy habit makes it ideal for borders, containers, and bedding schemes, producing a cheerful display from early summer until the first frost. Easy to grow and low-maintenance, this variety also attracts pollinators and can help repel garden pests naturally.

Why Grow "Dandy Stripe"

• Bright, striped blooms in gold, orange, and red

• Long flowering season from early summer to autumn

• Compact, bushy, and low-maintenance

• Attracts pollinators and repels certain pests

Key Features

• Type: Annual (Tagetes patula nana)

• Height: 20–30 cm

• Flowering: Early summer to autumn

• Position: Full sun

• Uses: Borders, containers, bedding, pollinator-friendly gardens

Ideal For

• Adding cheerful color to small spaces and borders

• Container and window box planting

• Natural pest control in vegetable or flower gardens

• Pollinator-friendly garden designs

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April in trays or pots

• Sow outdoors: April–May after frost danger has passed

• Germination: 7–14 days at 20°C

• Thin/space seedlings: 20–25 cm apart

• Prefers well-drained soil in full sun

French Marigold 'Dainty Marietta' – 500 Seeds (Tagetes patula nana)

Cheerful and easy to grow, French Marigold 'Dainty Marietta' produces golden-yellow single blooms with a bold maroon blotch at the center. Compact and free-flowering, this dwarf variety is perfect for edging, borders, and pots, while also being valued for pest-deterring companion planting.

Why Grow 'Dainty Marietta'

• Bright yellow flowers with maroon centers

• Long flowering season from summer to frost

• Dwarf, bushy, and easy to grow

• Attracts pollinators and deters pests

Key Features

• Type: Half-hardy annual (Tagetes patula nana)

• Height: 20–25 cm (dwarf)

• Flowering: June–October

• Position: Full sun

• Uses: Borders, edging, containers, companion planting

Ideal For

• Bright summer bedding

• Patio pots and window boxes

• Edging pathways and borders

• Vegetable gardens as a natural pest deterrent

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: March–April in trays or pots

• Sow outdoors: May–June after frost

• Germination: 7–14 days at 18–22°C

• Transplant or thin seedlings to 20 cm apart

• Prefers well-drained soil in full sun

Fragrant Flowers Mix – 1g

The Fragrant Flowers Mix is a carefully selected blend of annuals and perennials chosen for their delightful scents and beautiful blooms. From sweet peas and stocks to aromatic herbs and cottage garden favorites, this mix fills your garden with fragrance from early summer to autumn. Perfect for borders, beds, and containers, it also provides excellent cut flowers to enjoy indoors. Easy to grow and pollinator-friendly, this mix combines beauty, scent, and biodiversity in one packet.

Why Grow "Fragrant Flowers Mix"

• A blend of scented annuals and perennials

• Long season of blooms with sweet fragrance

• Great for cut flowers and bouquets

• Attracts bees, butterflies, and pollinators

Key Features

• Type: Annuals & perennials mix

• Packet: 1 g (sufficient for a generous area)

• Flowering: Summer to autumn

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Uses: Borders, containers, cut flowers, pollinator gardens

Ideal For

• Adding fragrance to garden paths and seating areas

• Cottage and wildflower-style planting

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

• Cut flower arrangements

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: March–May directly in soil

• Germination: 14–28 days depending on species

• Thin seedlings as required for strong growth

• Prefers well-drained soil in a sunny position

• Water regularly until established

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.