Packet Content (approx.): 70

Dahlia - 'Unwins Dwarf Hybrids' Semi-double blooms in wide colour range.

Great for bedding. This is the classic seed raise dahlia mixture, bred by Unwins and grown all round the world.

The plants are bushy and free flowering, and the blooms are produced in a wide colour range.

Very reliable and good for cut flowers too.

Sow: February, March, April onto the surface of a free-draining, open, seed sowing compost, which should be thoroughly wetted with a suitable fungicide prior to

sowing (to prevent damping-off diseases), and the trays allowed to drain.

Sow into plug trays to prevent root disturbance, or into seed trays. Cover seeds lightly with

vermiculite, and cover trays with clear or milky polythene to maintain humidity, until the first seedlings are visible. Germination takes around 7 days at 18-20o C ? higher temperatures may reduce germination.

Keep the germinating seedlings moist at all times.

Once seedlings are growing well, drop the temperature to around 10 oC.
 

Flowers: July - October
 

Often expensive when shop bought, so grow your own - it's easy from seed and more satisfying!
Be prepared to water well and supplement feed with high-potash feed during season. Regular feeding is recommended.

Packet Content (approx.): 12

Dianthus, F1 Diamond Mixed is a Chinensis x Barbatus type. Hardy in most situations, this interspecific cross has a double flowering season The plant has a compact neat habit and is slow to stretch, therefore reducing the use of growth regulators. Leaf colour varies from mid to dark green depending upon the flower colour. 25-30cm.

Growing Annual Flower Seeds
Annuals, or Bedding Plants, are ideal for bringing a bright splash of colour to the garden in pots , hanging baskets and borders .

The flowers last for one season, so they're ideal if you prefer a different planting scheme every year. Superb garden performance, flowers richly and continuously. Very uniform plant habit and tight flower window. Early simultaneously blooming on main and lateral stems.

Sow: January-March for sales April-June. For Summer flowering pot plants sow in March. For Autumn flowering sales, sow in April. Allow around 12-14 weeks sowing to flowering.

Propagation and Growing-on

• Sow the seeds January-March for spring or  April-June. for Summer flowering onto the surface of a free-draining, open, seed sowing compost, which should be thoroughly wetted with a suitable fungicide prior to
• sowing (to prevent damping-off diseases), and the trays allowed to drain.

Sow into plug trays to prevent root disturbance, or into seed trays. Cover seeds lightly with
vermiculite, and cover trays with clear or milky polythene to maintain humidity, until the first seedlings are visible. Germination takes around 7 days at 18-20o C – higher temperatures may reduce germination.

• Keep the germinating seedlings moist at all times.

• Once seedlings are growing well, drop the temperature to around 10 oC.
   
• Allow around 12-14 weeks from sowing to flowering.

Suitable for the garden, allotments and containers.

Be prepared to water well and supplement feed with high-potash feed during season. Regular feeding is recommended.

Dianthus Baby Doll Mixed is a fine mixture in shades of crimson, pink, rose and white. Annual Dianthus has a range of uses. As a summer bedding plant throughout the summer to autumn.

• Plant Classification: Annual
• Height (approx.): 15cm/6in
• Habit: Bushy, Dwarf, Ground Cover.
• Reliable and long flowering
• Fragrant
• Good for cut flowers

Programming the Crop:

Sow January-March for sales April-June. For summer flowering pot plants sow in March. For autumn flowering, sow in April. Allow around 12-14 weeks sowing to flowering.

Propagation and Growing-on:

Sow the seeds onto the surface of a free-draining, open, seed sowing compost, which should be thoroughly wetted and the trays allowed to drain prior to sowing (to prevent damping-off diseases). Sow into plug trays to prevent root disturbance, or into seed trays. Cover seeds lightly with vermiculite, and cover trays with clear or milky polythene to maintain humidity, until the first seedlings are visible. Germination takes around 7 days at 18-20oC – Higher temperatures may reduce germination. Keep the germinating seedlings moist at all times. Once seedlings are growing well, drop the temperature to around 10oC.

Gradually accustom young plants to outside conditions (avoid frosts), before planting out, 15cm (6") apart, into well-drained soil, when frosts are over.

Hints & Tips:

• Trim back plants after the first flush of blooms fade, to encourage further flowering.
• Apply a thin layer of compost each spring, followed by a 2-inch layer of mulch to retain moisture and control weeds.
• Water plants during the summer if rainfall is less than 1 inch per week.
• Stake tall varieties to keep them upright.
• Remove spent blooms on tall varieties, or shear back mounding plants after bloom to encourage rebloom.
• After the first killing frost, cut stems back to an inch or two above soil line.
• Divide plants every 3 to 4 years as new growth begins in the spring, lifting plants and dividing them into clumps.

Suitable for the garden, allotments and containers.

Be prepared to water well and supplement feed with high-potash feed during season. Regular feeding is recommended.

Packet Content (approx.): 40

Dahlia Redskin Mixed (Dahlia variabilis) Flower Seeds

Dwarf plants producing double flowers in a fine colour range and many combinations. Stunning flowers with green or bronze foliage. Easy to raise from seed a particularly good combination with marigolds.

• Half - Hardy Annual
• Germination 5 - 20 Days
• Height: 31 40 cm (12" - 15").
• Sow: February - April under glass.
• Flowers: July - October.
• Position: Full Sun.

Sow in a propagator on a windowsill or in a greenhouse at approx. 15-20°C (60-68°F) using a good quality compost and keep moist (Germination 5-20 days). Transplant seedlings into trays or singly into 75mm (3") pots and grow on.

Acclimatise plants before planting out when all danger of frost has passed, 35cm (14") apart. Choose a sunny open position.

Suitable for the garden, allotments and containers.

Be prepared to water well and supplement feed with high-potash feed during season. Regular feeding is recommended.

Seed Count: 70    

AAS Winner 2003 - Festive pom-poms explode all summer. Bring on the heat!
Cheery ruffled globes in mahogany-red and gold cover the plants all summer and into fall. The carefree South-western natives thrive in full sun are unfazed by the heat. An unusual and handsome choice for containers as well as hanging baskets.
 

Life Cycle: Annual
Uses: Beds, Container, Thriller
Sun: Full Sun
Height: 10-14 inches
Spread: 10-12 inches
Bloom Duration: 10 weeks
 

Sundance Bi-colour Blanket Flower plants are easily grown in sun and well-drained soil, but they also tolerate poor soils, heat and drought. They propagate and establish easily from flower seed. Deadhead to encourage a neater appearance and more flowering; however, a few flower heads left in the stand to mature will attract seed-loving birds and re-seed for next season. Annual Blanket Flower is a great addition to summer displays, good for ground cover, in mass plantings, along beach boardwalks, attracting butterflies to the garden and for cutting. It is a win, win for the flower garden!
 

If sowing Gaillardia seeds indoors, start 6 - 8 weeks before the last frost, use sterile starting soil and starter trays. Press the flower seeds into the soil and barely cover. Keeps seeds moist until germination. Cut back the Blanket Flower seedlings at transplanting to help it become more compact. If sowing Blanket Flower seeds outdoors, wait until danger of frost has passed. Sow flower seeds into prepared soil, cover lightly with fine garden or potting soil. Or, broadcast spread them over an area, and lightly rake the Gaillardia seed into the soil. Keep moist until germination.

Suitable for the vegetable garden, allotments and containers.
Be prepared to water well and supplement feed with high-potash feed during season. Regular feeding is recommended.

Seed Count: 60    

Large vibrant flowers on bushy plants. Adds vibrant contrasting colours in borders, pots, or containers. Flowers late in the first year from sowing

Gaillardia Dwarf Goblin Blanket Flowers are one of the longest-blooming perennials, well suited to hot sunny sites. This selection forms a low mound of olive-green leaves, bearing large flame red daisies, each petal tipped with golden yellow. Removing faded flowers will greatly extend the blooming season. Outstanding for edging, borders, rock gardens or containers. Plants should be divided in early spring every 2 to 3 years. These will not tolerate wet, heavy clay soil, particularly in the winter. Flowers are attractive to butterflies, and also excellent for cutting.

Sow indoors, February-April, to flower the same year, 0.5cm (¼") deep, in a tray of compost. Water well and place on a warm windowsill. A temperature of 15-20°C (60-68°F) is ideal. Keep moist. Seedlings usually appear in 14-28 days. Transplant them, 5cm (2") apart, to other trays when large enough to handle. Gradually accustom young plants to outside conditions (avoid frosts), before planting out into well-drained soil, May-September, 25cm (10") apart, when frosts are over. Or, sow outdoors to flower the following year, May-July, in a seed bed, 0.5cm (¼") deep, into finely-prepared, well-drained soil, which has already been watered. Thin seedlings to 10cm (4") apart, before planting out to flowering position in autumn, spacing 25cm (10") apart. Flowers: June-September.

Suitable for the vegetable garden, allotments and containers.

Be prepared to water well and supplement feed with high-potash feed during season. Regular feeding is recommended.

Geranium Shikokianum is a very rare Japanese beauty. Compact clumps of attractively marbled foliage beneath white-eyed, purple-netted, rose pink, flared funnel-shaped flowers. Included is a new form in which each petal is twice cut, producing a frilly fifteen-petalled effect.

KEY FACTS

Large numbers of blood red veined pink funnel-shaped flowers, from spring and throughout summer, adorn this low spreader, which stifles weeds whilst hybridising busily with other geraniums producing fascinating offspring.

KEY FACTS

Geranium Macrorrhizum Czakor a very fragrant, rounded, slightly hairy leaves (the source of oil-of-geranium) make a solid, creeping, evergreen groundcover foil for the magenta purple blooms on this easily grown, totally hardy plant.

KEY FACTS

This truly flamboyant species grows a stout "trunk", which radiates brittle looking stalks, much resembling a small palm tree, the lower ones bending to the ground to provide support beneath the massive trusses of deep pink flowers in early summer. It prefers shelter, or even a big pot, but is worth any trouble to grow for the incredible finale.

KEY FACTS

SOWING ADVICE

Cover with compost or grit 2mm deep in a cool spot if possible, or a cool bright position outside. Please note: this seed is a cold/cool germinator and after sowing will usually not germinate if kept above 14 degrees C. Grow on individual seedlings in 3” pots. Plant out in a well-drained open and sheltered position or in a large pot in a conservatory.