Sow in October

Floss Flower ‘Blue Mink’ Seeds (Ageratum houstonianum)

The Floss Flower ‘Blue Mink’ is a compact, long-flowering annual that produces unique clusters of soft, fluffy sky-blue flowers from summer to autumn. Known for its neat, bushy habit and striking color, it’s perfect for bedding, borders, edging, and container planting. Its powder-blue shades blend beautifully with pinks, whites, and yellows, making it a versatile addition to any garden.

What Makes It Special

• Distinctive fluffy blue blooms rarely found in annuals

• Compact, uniform growth ideal for low borders

• Long flowering season – continuous display until frost

• Attracts bees and butterflies

Key Features

• Botanical name: Ageratum houstonianum

• Variety: Blue Mink

• Seed count: Approx. seeds per pack

• Height/Spread: 20–30 cm tall, 20–25 cm spread

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

• Flowering period: June–October

Ideal For

• Bedding and edging

• Container and patio displays

• Cottage gardens

• Pollinator-friendly planting

Sowing Instructions

1. When to sow: February–April indoors

2. How to sow:

   • Sow thinly on the surface of moist compost; do not cover, as light aids germination

   • Maintain 18–22°C; germination usually takes 7–14 days

3. Transplanting: Prick out seedlings when large enough, grow on in small pots, then harden off before planting outdoors after the last frost

4. Spacing: Plant 20 cm apart

5. Care: Deadhead to extend the flowering season

Dwarf Stock ‘Brompton Winter’ – Seeds (Matthiola incana)

Dwarf Stock ‘Brompton Winter’ (Matthiola incana) is a charming annual producing fragrant, compact clusters of flowers in shades of pink, white, and lavender. Blooming from late autumn to early spring, it adds color and scent to borders, containers, and cottage gardens during the cooler months. Easy to grow and low-maintenance, this variety attracts pollinators and is perfect for creating a cheerful winter or early spring display.

Why Grow "Brompton Winter"

• Fragrant, compact flower clusters in pink, white, and lavender

• Blooming season from late autumn to early spring

• Low-maintenance, hardy annual

• Pollinator-friendly and ideal for winter color

Key Features

• Type: Annual (Matthiola incana)

• Height: 25–35 cm

• Flowering: Late autumn to early spring

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Uses: Borders, containers, cottage gardens, pollinator-friendly planting

Ideal For

• Adding winter and early spring color to borders and beds

• Container and window box planting

• Pollinator-friendly garden schemes

• Low-maintenance fragrant displays

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: August–October in trays or pots

• Sow outdoors: September–November directly in soil (mild climates)

• Germination: 7–14 days at 15–20°C

• Thin seedlings 20–25 cm apart

• Prefers well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade

• Water moderately until established

Rose Mallow Mix Seeds (Lavatera trimestris)

Rose Mallow Mix is an easy-to-grow annual producing large, showy, hibiscus-like flowers in shades of pink, rose, and white. Its upright, bushy habit makes it perfect for garden beds, borders, and cottage gardens. Loved for its long flowering season and ability to attract pollinators, it adds a splash of color and elegance to any garden.

What Makes It Special

• Large, hibiscus-like blooms in a mix of pink, rose, and white

• Long-flowering, adding color from summer to autumn

• Compact, bushy growth habit suitable for mixed plantings

• Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators

Key Features

• Botanical name: Lavatera trimestris

• Variety: Mix

• Seed count: Approx. seeds per pack

• Height/Spread: 60–100 cm tall, 30–50 cm spread

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

• Flowering period: June–October

Ideal For

• Borders and cottage garden beds

• Containers and patio displays

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

• Cutting gardens for fresh floral arrangements

Sowing Instructions

1. When to sow: March–May indoors; April–June outdoors

2. How to sow:

   • Sow seeds 0.5–1 cm deep in seed trays or pots

   • Germination occurs in 10–14 days at 18–22°C

3. Transplanting: Plant seedlings outdoors 30–50 cm apart after frost risk has passed

4. Care: Water moderately; deadhead regularly to prolong flowering

Morning Glory ‘Flying Saucers’ – Seeds (Ipomoea tricolor)

Morning Glory ‘Flying Saucers’ is a spectacular climbing annual, producing large sky-blue and white striped blooms that resemble swirling galaxies. Vigorous and fast-growing, it’s perfect for covering fences, trellises, and arches, creating a dazzling vertical display throughout summer.

Why Grow ‘Flying Saucers’?

• Striking blue and white striped blooms

• Large flowers, up to 12 cm across

• Vigorous, quick-growing climber

• Attracts pollinators

Key Features

• Type: Hardy annual climber

• Height: 250–300 cm

• Flowering: July–October

• Position: Full sun, well-drained soil

• Uses: Trellises, fences, arches, pergolas

Ideal For

• Vertical garden displays

• Fast summer screening

• Adding dramatic color to outdoor spaces

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: 4–6 weeks before last frost

• Sow outdoors: After frost, direct in soil

• Nick or soak seeds before sowing

• Germination: 7–14 days at 18–20°C

• Provide climbing support

Garden Cosmos ‘Picotee’ – Seeds (Cosmos bipinnatus)

Garden Cosmos ‘Picotee’ (Cosmos bipinnatus) is an elegant annual producing daisy-like flowers with delicate contrasting edges in shades of white, pink, and magenta. Its tall, airy stems create a graceful, meadow-like effect, making it perfect for borders, cottage gardens, and cutting gardens. Easy to grow and long-flowering, it also attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Why Grow "Picotee"

• Striking flowers with contrasting colored edges

• Tall, airy stems for a graceful, meadow-like display

• Long flowering season from summer to autumn

• Attracts pollinators

Key Features

• Type: Annual (Cosmos bipinnatus)

• Height: 80–120 cm

• Flowering: July–October

• Position: Full sun

• Uses: Borders, cottage gardens, cutting gardens, pollinator-friendly planting

Ideal For

• Cottage and wildflower-style gardens

• Tall border displays

• Cutting gardens for bouquets

• Pollinator-friendly garden spaces

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: April–June directly in prepared soil

• Germination: 7–14 days at 18–22°C

• Thin seedlings to 30–40 cm apart

• Prefers full sun and well-drained soil

• Deadhead to prolong flowering

Dahlia 'Mignon Coltness' – Seeds

(Dahlia variabilis)

Dahlia 'Mignon Coltness' is a compact, free-flowering variety that produces masses of single blooms in warm shades of scarlet, orange, and yellow with golden centers. Easy to grow from seed, these bushy plants create a bold splash of summer color and are perfect for borders, edging, and containers. Loved by pollinators, they’ll keep your garden lively all season long.

Key Features

• Type: Half-hardy annual (grown from seed)

• Height: 40–50 cm

• Spread: 30–40 cm

• Flowering: July–October

• Position: Full sun

• Soil: Fertile, well-drained

Ideal For

• Bedding and borders

• Containers and pots

• Edging paths and garden beds

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

Sowing & Growing

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

• Germination: 7–14 days

• Transplant after frost, spacing 25–30 cm

• Deadhead regularly for continuous flowering

Classic Zinnia – Seeds

(Zinnia linearis angustifolia) – Annual

The Classic Zinnia (Zinnia linearis angustifolia) is a compact and easy-to-grow annual, loved for its masses of daisy-like blooms in bright shades of yellow, orange, and white. Unlike tall zinnia varieties, this type has a bushy, spreading habit and flowers abundantly all summer long, making it perfect for edging, borders, and pots. It is drought-tolerant, long-flowering, and pollinator-friendly, ensuring a cheerful display with minimal effort.

Key Features

• Type: Annual

• Height: 20–40 cm

• Spread: 25–35 cm

• Blooming period: June–October

• Position: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile

Ideal For

• Bedding and borders

• Containers and pots

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

• Low-maintenance summer color

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: March–April (in trays or pots at 18–22°C)

• Sow outdoors: May (after frost has passed)

• Sowing depth: 0.5 cm, cover lightly with soil

• Spacing: 25–30 cm apart

• Care: Prefers sunny spots; deadhead to extend flowering season

Morning Glory ‘Chocolate’ – Seeds

(Ipomoea nil)

The Morning Glory ‘Chocolate’ is a rare and eye-catching climber with warm, cocoa-brown blossoms unlike any other variety. Its unique colouring ranges from rich chocolate tones to bronze and deep mauves, often accented by lighter throats. A vigorous annual climber, it quickly covers fences, trellises, or arches with dense green foliage and its striking blooms, which open in the morning and close by evening.

Key Features

• Type: Annual climber

• Height: 2–3 m

• Spread: 30–40 cm

• Flowering: July–October

• Position: Full sun / partial shade

• Soil: Fertile, well-drained

Ideal For

• Adding an exotic, unusual colour to vertical displays

• Covering trellises, fences, arches, and pergolas

• Containers with climbing supports

• Collectors of rare ornamental flowers

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: March–April in pots or trays

• Sow outdoors: May–June after the last frost

• Pre-treatment: Nick or soak seeds for 12–24 hours before sowing to speed germination

• Germination: 7–14 days

• Plant spacing: 30–40 cm

• Provide strong support for climbing

• Thrives best in full sun with shelter from strong winds

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