Seeds

Published on by Catherine

The blog has had a long autumn/winter break, but it’s now time to wake it up. The garden is starting to show signs of returning to life and now is the time to think about sowing seeds.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve declared that I was finished with seeds, convinced I wouldn’t be persuaded to sow another single one. Yes, there were challenges in the past with multiple trays of seedlings damping off, or seeds that simply refused to germinate, but here I am – happily about to start sowing seeds once again!

Last week I placed an order for various seeds but forgot two I really couldn’t be without, Ammi visnaga and Verbena bonariensis. Luckily I could add them to a separate plant order and within a few days all the seeds had arrived. Only then did I remember I’d been to a garden centre a few weeks before and had already bought seeds!

What you see in the picture below is just a glimpse of some of the seeds I’ve bought, many of which have now been shared with family and friends since I have several duplicated packets and more than I can use. While none of them are exotic or extraordinary, they are all flowers I particularly like, and I’m hopeful that this year they’ll grow into beautiful plants that will flourish in the garden borders.

Not quite all the seeds and probably more than I’ll sow.

Below are the three I’m most interested in growing. Rudbeckia ‘Marmalade’ – a firm favourite in my garden, especially when there is purple nearby. Papaver somniferum ‘Lauren’s Grape’ was grown from seed last year and I loved it. This year it will be grown from seeds from last year’s flowers and there should be seeds in the ground too. I loved those silky purple-plum petals. Verbena bonariensis was abandoned in favour of the shorter variety Verbena bonariensis ‘Vanity’. I know nothing about Verbena ‘Vanity’, other than through descriptions written by others. I quote RHS Plants: “Requiring no pinching, ‘Vanity’ presents itself as a compact purple delight, ideal for smaller garden spaces. Notably smaller in stature due to its shorter stems compared to other cultivars, this Verbena showcases tightly packed flower clusters exhibiting an intensified purple-blue hue.” Sounds good, doesn’t it!

All that remains is to begin sowing, with fingers crossed and a heart full of hope for successful germination!

Rudbeckia ‘Marmalade’, Papaver somniferum ‘Lauren’s Grape’, Verbena bonariensis ‘Vanity’

I’d love to hear what you are already sowing, or will be sowing soon!

Catherine x

14 thoughts on “Seeds”

  3. I have seeds from last year, Cosmos, Ammi among them, but it’s too cold in my conservatory to begin sowing yet. In fact I might just visit a local nursery later in the year and buy plugs from them. Good to see you back Catherine. 💖

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    1. Thanks Jude, it feels good to be back. I have to start my seeds off in a small heated propagator in the dining room, then they get moved to a warm window ledge. It’s at times like this I wish my greenhouse had power in it. Like your conservatory, it’s too cold right now. I think plug plants are a good way to go and if you have somewhere nearby where you can pick your own for best quality – that does make life easier!

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  4. Glad to see you emerge from your winter hibernation Catherine 😀 Seed sowing is still to start here although like you it’s very much in my mind although I sow less than I used to. I sowed a few hardy annuals including ammi visnaga in September and they have overwintered in the greenhouse. I will start off with sweet peas and salad leaves in March. I sowed papaver ‘Lauren’s Grape’ a good few years ago now and it conveniently self seeds every year 😂 I’ve not heard of verbena ‘Vanity’ so will look that one up.

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    1. I remember the time when the greenhouse was packed top to botton with seeds, Anna. I think I’m more sensible now, and like you I’m sowing less than I used to. I hope your sweet peas and salad leaves germinate well. I wasn’t sure if Lauren’s Grape would self seed on our heavy (and wet) soil, so I’m sowing it again to be sure. Good to hear your’s self seed – that must be a bonus in your garden as it’s such a lovely poppy.

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  5. Welcome back. That sounds and looks like a great selection. You’ve reminded me that I need to order some more Papaver somniferum ‘Lauren’s Grape’ as I think I sowed it too late last year (after watching Chelsea I think) – unless the seeds have been biding their time and will germinate this spring.

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    1. Ahhh, you can’t be without ‘Lauren’s Grape’ – such a lovely poppy. I remember seeing it on Chelsea last year, but must have come across it somewhere else because it was growing well by then.

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  6. Good to see you back Catherine! I have never grown Rudbeckia from seed, and have only been successful with the red oriental poppies for some strange reason. I do like Lauren’s Grape, and hope you are successful with it. The Verbena sounds good too. 😃. I will write about my seeds soon. I need to start thinking about what to sow when as I never have enough space!

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    1. Thanks Cathy – and sorry, I missed your comment! R. Marmalade is very easy to germinate, but I’ve also grown other hirta varieties such as Sahara, Cherry Brandy, Cappuccino, Cherokee Sunset and more. On the other hand I have no success with Papaver rhoeas or Eschscholzia californica. They don’t seem happy with the clay soil. I’ll look forward to reading about all your seeds – and their progress. 😁

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