‘Easy grow’ flowers from seed.

Easy to grow - annual flowers

If you are an ‘newbie’ gardener and would like to generate as much colour as possible, there here are a few helpful tips to get the most out of your garden this summer.

Flower growing tips for the newbie

• Firstly, don’t be too ambitious! Some plants require special care and attention. I’d recommend you approach your seed/plant stockist and ask for ‘easy grow‘ varieties. Most ‘Hardy Annuals’ can be sown directly into the ground where you intend them to flower. They mostly require very little attention – a little water, weeding and feeding may be. Annuals will only live for one year, which may sound to some as a downside, but because their lives are so short they truly make the most of it by giving us a profuse and long flowering display.
• If you are considering growing from seed, then make sure that you read and follow the instructions on the packet. Cutting corners may lead to disaster! Make sure you plant at the right time. Too early, the frosts may kill your seedlings, too late and you might not get to see them flower at all before the frosts in late Autumn.
• If you are planting into trays, pots or hanging baskets, use fresh, organic compost from your garden centre. Old compost may contain diseases and will lack the nutrients required for healthy growth. Also, clean any plant containers with soapy hot water to prevent the transmission of disease to your plants.
• Good preparation is essential. If you are preparing a patch in which to plant your flowers, make sure you dig it well, remove weeds and roots and add a little organic fertilizer to enrich your soil. It is also a good idea to ‘Mulch‘ your soil with a generous layer of compost. This will keep in moisture and minimise the weed growth. Weeds are an inevitable part of gardening, some weed seeds can stay in the soil for decades just waiting for the right conditions to sprout.
• On the subject of ground preparation; don’t worry too much about the stones and pebbles in your soil. A moderate amount is a good thing. As they erode over the years, they will slowly release minerals into your soil and feed your plants! I have seen people trying to eradicate stones from their gardens resulting in much frustration. You can spend hours trying to clear even a small patch only to find the next day after the rain you find thousands more! There’s never an end to that game. They are also good for drainage and preventing your flower garden from becoming a swamp garden!

Recommended seed packs to grow

As you may have gathered, I really love growing from seed. It is the cheapest method for putting colour into your garden and yields the most satisfaction. There is a pinch of divinity in ‘hovering over the surface’ of bed of young seedlings. You can’t beat the feeling! It does mean that you will have to work a little harder though, but you will save money, produce a lot of colour and (in my experience) relieve stress in the process. Here is a small selection of ‘easy to grow‘ packs to try:

• Mixed Annuals
• Sweetpeas
• Antirrhinums (Snap Dragons)
• Nasturtiums
• Calendula (English Marigold)
• Clarkia
• Viola (Pansy)
• Wild Flower Mixes
• Alyssum (sweet smelling!)
• Californian Poppy
• Cornflowers
• Limnanthes – Poached Eggs
• Sunflowers