2007 Purchases
Nick's Seeds from Suttons in 2007
Campanula - Pixie Blue
Position: Sun Height: 10cm Sow: Jan-Jul Flowers: Apr-Sep
Sow in a propagator, on a windowsill or in pots or trays in a greenhouse at approx 18-21 C using good quality finely sieved, moist compost. Do not exclude light or allow to dry out. Transplant seedlings spaced out 5cm apart in tray and grow on. Plant out, carefully acclimatising to outside conditions, 30cm apart where the plant are to flower.
Antirrhinum - F1 Kim Mix
Position: Sun Height: 25cm Sow: Jan-May Flowers: Jun-Sep
Sow in a propagator on windowsill or in a greenhouse at approx 18-21 C using a good quality, moist compost, pressing the seed slightly into the surface. Do not exclude light (germination 10-21 days). Transplant seedlings spacing them 5cm apart in seeds trays and grow on. Gradually acclimatise the plants to outside conditions before planting out 30cm apart in a sunny position. May also be sown July-September in a cold frame, planting out the following spring for early summer flowering.
Nick's Seeds from B&Q in 2007
Giant Yellow Sunflower
Position: Sun Height: 180-270 cm Sow: Mar-May Flowers: July-Sept
Choose a sunny position and sow the seed in clumps 30-45cm apart into moist, finely raked soil 13mm deep and cover. Thin the resulting seedlings retaining the strongest in each position and grow on, supporting the plants as they grow. Feed well with liquid fertilizer to achieve tall plants.
The petals and seeds of this variety make interesting additions to salads and cakes.
Earthwalker Sunflower
Position: Sun Height: 180-250 cm Sow: Mar-May Flowers: July-Sept
Choose a sunny position and sow the seed in clumps 30-45cm apart into moist, finely raked soil 13mm deep and cover. Germination usually takes 14-21 days. Thin the resulting seedlings retaining the strongest in each position and grow on, supporting the plants as they grow. Feed well with liquid fertilizer to achieve tall plants.
The petals and seeds of this variety make interesting additions to salads and cakes.
Nick's Seeds from Suttons in 2008
Hollyhock - Chater's Mix
Position: Sun Height: 180cm Sow: Apr-Jun Flowers: Jun-Aug
Sow in a propagtor on a windowsill or in greenhouse at approx 15-21 C using good quality, moist compost. Cover the seeds only slightly with sieved compost as light assists germination (10-12 days). Transplant seedlings, spaced out, into trays and grow on. Acclimatise plants gradually before planting out 38-45cm apart. Choose a sunny position. Alternatively sow directly outside May/June. NB. Some single flowered types may occur.
Rudbeckia - Cherokee Sunset
Position: Sun Height: 60cm Sow: Feb-Apr Flowers: Jul-Sep
Sow in a propagator on a windowsill or in a greenhouse at approx 15-20 C using a good quality, moist compost. Cover the seeds lightly with seived compost as light assists germination (7-21 days). Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle spacing them 5cm apart in trays and grow on. Gradually acclimatise before planting out after the danger of frost has passed 45cm apart.
Michaelmas Daisey - Fizz Bomb Mix
Position: Sun Height: 80cm Sow: May-Jul Flowers: Jun-Oct
Choose a sunny site for a seed bed and sow thinly into finely raked soil, covering lightly. Germination 10-20 days. Thin the resulting seedlings be degrees to 15cm apart and finally plant out 30-40cm apart in a sunny flowering position in autumn. Alternatively, sow in pots or trays in a greenhouse, frame or indoors, March to July. Transplant seedlings 6cm apart in trays and plant them outdoors when they have filled the trays.
Polyanthus - F1 Primabella Masquerade
Position: Sun/Partial shade Height: 20cm Sow: Mar-July Flowers: ?
Sow from March ro July in pots or trays using a good quality, moist seed compost, pressing the seed gently into the surface. Do not cover with compost. Place in a plastic bag, seal and position in the bottom of a refrigerator for 3-4 weeks to pre-chill, after which remove from the bag and re-site on a windowsill or in a greenhouse. Grow on at approx 16-18 C. Transplant resulting seedlings into trays and grow on in good light. Plant out in autumn about 30cm apart in a sunny or partially shaded position.
Cupid's Dart - Catanache Caerulea
Position: sun Height: 75cm Sow: Jan-May Flowers: Aug-Oct/May-Jun
Sow in trays on a windowsill or in a greenhouse 3mm deep in a good moist seed compoast at about 13-18 C. Germination 20-25 days. Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle 5cm apart in trays and grow on. Plant out after acclimatising to outside conditions, about 30cm apart. Alternatively, sow in a coldframe April to June 6mm deep and plant out as above. Early sowing will flower the same year, later sowings, the following.
Gaillardia - Goblin
Position: Sun Height: 38cm Sow: May-Jul Flowers: Jul-Sep
Sow thinly in seed trays of a good quality, moist seed compost covering only lightly as light assistss germination. Place in a coldframe. Alternatively sow direct into a well prepared seedbed (germination 15-20 days). Translplant seedlings when large enough to handle into a sheltered position outdoors and grow on before planting out apporx 23-30cm apart in the autumn. Plants will flower the following year.
Eryngium - Blue Hobbit
Position: Sun Height: 30cm Sow: Early Spring Flowers: ?
For best results sow in trays of a good seed compost during early spring at about 18 C or late spring/summer in a cold greenhouse/coldframe. Cover with a fine layer of soil or vermiculite and keep moist but not too wet. Germination can be slow and erratic. When seedlings are large enough to handle, transfer to further trays or nursey beds before finally planting out 50cm apart in August/September.
Gazania - Daybreaks Tiger Stripe Mixed
Position: Sun Height: 25cm Sow: Feb-Apr Flowers: ?
Sow in a propagator on a windowsill or in a greenhouse during February - mid April, at approximately 18-24 C using a good quality, moist compost. Cover the seeds with 6mm seived compost. Transplant resulting seedlings spacing them out 5cm apart in trays and grow on in good light. Acclimatise to outside conditions before planting out about 25cm apart mid May - mid June.
Mum's Seeds from Suttons in 2008
Impatiens - F1 Carousel Mixed
Position: Sun Height: 25-30cm Sow: Feb-Apr Flowers: ?
Sow from February - April in a propagator on a windowsill or in a greenhouse at approximately 15-18 C pressing the seed lightly onto a good quality, finely sieved, moist compost. Do not exclude light or allow to dry out.
Antirrhinum - F1 Kim Mix
Position: Sun Height: 25cm Sow: Jan-May Flowers: Jun-Sep
Sow in a propagator on windowsill or in a greenhouse at approx 18-21 C using a good quality, moist compost, pressing the seed slightly into the surface. Do not exclude light (germination 10-21 days). Transplant seedlings spacing them 5cm apart in seeds trays and grow on. Gradually acclimatise the plants to outside conditions before planting out 30cm apart in a sunny position. May also be sown July-September in a cold frame, planting out the following spring for early summer flowering.
Basil
Sow: Mar-Jun Harvest: Jul-Oct
Sow in a propagator or on a windowsill or thinly in pots or trays in a greenhouse at approx 10-15 C using a goo quality compost. Cover seeds with 6mm sieved compost. Germination 14-21 days. Grow on, planting out when frost rist has passed. Can also be sown ddirect outside or winowsill gorw in 10cm posts. Thin to leave 15cm between plants. Grows best in well drained soil in a sunny position.
Pinch shoot tips to encourage bushy plants.