Seeds

Dwarf Pink Alyssum grows into a carpet of little pink, fragrant flowers. Plants grow and bloom quickly after sowing. They are excellent edging/border plants as they grow no more than 10cm (2-4″) tall. Its spreading habit makes it a useful ground cover. Alyssum is a great pollinator plant and will attract bees and butterflies. This makes it a fantastic companion for any flowering/fruiting vegetable.
Drought tolerant and suitable for containers or hanging baskets.

Love-Lies-Bleeding looks as pretty in the garden as it does in cut and dried bouquets. Long, vibrant burgundy tassels hang from tall, lush green plants. Its easy to grow these vigorous 90-150cm (36-60”) plants. Pair with Hot Biscuits and Green Tails for maximum impact.

Timing: Direct sow in late spring, once night time temperatures are steadily above 10°C (50°F). Optimal soil temperature for germination: 18-24°C (65-75°F).

Starting: Sow 5mm (1⁄4”) deep in well drained soil in full sun. Thin to 25-35cm (10-14”) apart. Seeds germinate in 4-10 days, depending on conditions.

Growing: Ideal pH: 6.0-7.5. Keep moist until germinated, and then simply keep the area weeded.

Harvest: Pick baby or mature greens as needed. Simply cut them with scissors as one would with mescluns. The leaves have an appealing, nutty flavour. If growing for seed, choose A.hypochondriacus and provide ample spacing. Seed will ripen in late summer or early fall. Rub the flower heads between your hands over a bucket or tray. Doing this into paper yard waste bags works well. If the seeds do not fall easily, leave the plants for one more week and try again.

Approx. 380 seeds

Gypsophila elegans. Grow this annual for cut flowers to fill out a bouquet or to dry on their own. Or mix some Gypsophila seeds in where grass is allowed to grow tall for a stunning ethereal effect all summer. Baby’s Breath grows to 45cm (18″) tall. Direct sow outdoors from early spring to July for continuous blooms. Cut back after flowering for a second bloom. Plants from Baby’s Breath Gypsophila seeds are drought tolerant, so suitable for xeriscaping.

Note that the Baby’s Breath one associates with bridal bouquets is grown in very controlled settings, and harvested with precision just as the flower buds begin to open, and immediately refrigerated. This is the same flowering plant, but it is difficult to predict exactly when the plants will be bouquet-ready. To grow for summer weddings, direct sow large amounts at regular three week intervals starting in early spring when there is still a risk of frost. That would be mid-March here on the coast. Keep plants relatively crowded. This is the only way to ensure that at least some of your Baby’s Breath will be at its peak for your special event. Annual.

Taraxacum pseudoroseum. Pink Dandelion is similar to the common dandelion in almost all regards except for its elegant pale pink petals that surround a familiar lemon coloured centre. The leaves are not as bitter as the common dandelion, but are produced in a similar rosette above a well-formed taproot, beneath flower stems that grow to 30cm (12″) tall in fertile soil. This striking cousin of the well-known wildflower is thought to be native to the Caucasus region of central Europe. This perennial is hardy in Zones 3 to 8, and is useful as a low-maintenance bedding plant. Care should be taken to deadhead spent flowers to reduce its spread. These appear from mid-spring to autumn. Perennial.

Timing: Direct sow from early March to early September. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 10-25°C (50-75°F). Seeds take 14-21 days to germinate. The flowering process begins 56 to 105 from sowing, and continues for the life of the plant.

Starting: Sow short rows every two weeks for a constant supply. Be careful not to plant more than you can use, as the flowers need to be controlled. Press seeds lightly into the soil’s surface and keep the seeded area moist until germination. Do not bury the seeds, as light helps to break dormancy. Thin seedlings to 15cm (6″) apart for full sized crowns. If you intend to harvest as baby greens, they can be planted 5cm (3″) apart.

These bright pink “paper daisies” make cheerful fresh and dried bouquets. Pierrot Red’s petite 2.5-5cm (1-2”), slightly cupped blooms, have black or yellow centers. Compact 45-60cm (18-24”) plants grow an abundance of flowers on slender stems that are easy to cut.

Approx. 50 seeds

A single grandiflora type, Dreams petunias have a well branched, upright habit, growing 25-38cm (10-15”) tall. Large, pale pink flowers, up to 7.5-10cm (3-4”) across, bloom spring through summer. Resistant to Botrytis.

Timing: Start seeds indoors 8 weeks before planting out. Direct seeding is not recommended.

Starting: Press seeds lightly into the soil surface as light is needed to germinate. Seeds should germinate in 14-21 days at 21-27ºC (70-80ºF).

Growing: Space plants 20-30cm (8-12”) apart in full sun in soil with a pH range of 6.0-7.0. Seed Specs: Usual seed life: 1 year.

Approx. 25 seeds

A single grandiflora type, Dreams petunias have a well branched, upright habit, growing 25-38cm (10-15”) tall. A mix of large flowers, up to 7.5-10cm (3-4”) across, of midnight, sky blue, and white, blooming spring through summer. Resistant to Botrytis.

Timing: Start seeds indoors 8 weeks before planting out. Direct seeding is not recommended.

Starting: Press seeds lightly into the soil surface as light is needed to germinate. Seeds should germinate in 14-21 days at 21-27ºC (70-80ºF).

Growing: Space plants 20-30cm (8-12”) apart in full sun in soil with a pH range of 6.0-7.0. Seed Specs: Usual seed life: 1 year.

Approx. 25 seeds

Unique azalea type snapdragon with ruffled, double-petaled blooms. Madame Butterfly’s tall ivory white flowers create a full display with an antique look. Harvest when the lower 1/3 of flowers on the stem are open. 66-89cm (26-35”) plants can be grown in a greenhouse or in the open field and garden.

Sonja is a quintessential sunflower with its 10cm (4”) blooms of bright yellow/orange petals with dark centres. 96-106cm (38-42″) tall branching plants produce 8 or more flowers on long, strong stems. A day-length neutral variety that produces pollen loved by bees.

Plant Solar Power sunflower seeds in mass plantings if you have the room because the flowers are so striking. They look great on their own as well, or mixed in with other medium-tall varieties. Striking bi-coloured petals are mahogany with bright yellow tips around a dark brown centre for amazing contrast on 1.7m (5.5′) tall plants. Solar Power has thick, strong stems, but it is surprisingly nice as a cut flower, dominating any bouquet with its large size and flashy colour. All sunflowers are attractive to honeybees and other wild pollinators, and they can act as a kind of beacon to draw pollinators towards crops that require pollination like squash and pumpkins. Hardy Annual (HA).

Large bicolour blooms the colour of a desert sun in reds, golds, and yellows. Large 12.5-18cm (5-7”) pollenless blooms have strong, straight stems, creating sturdy, dramatic bouquets. Desert Sun’s vigorous, branching plants are 175-200cm (5.5-6.5’) tall.

Helianthus annuus. Rich copper red petals are highlighted with golden yellow around a nearly black central disc. Plant Velvet Queen sunflower seeds for 1.5m (5′) tall plants with simply gorgeous blooms around 13cm (5″) wide. This variety looks its best when contrasted with some bright yellow sunflowers in a border or raised bed. Be sure the soil is warm at planting time, and freely draining throughout the season. Velvet Queen is an early flowering type, so try planting at two to three week intervals instead of all at once. The bloom period will be longer this way, and the flowers are just right for cutting and bringing indoors. Annual.