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seed to flower time

Julie151Julie151 Posts: 3
in Problem solving
I have been tasked with growing some flowers for my sons wedding. The wedding is at the end of August. Can anyone point me in the direction of a resource that provides the times from planting seed to flowering of annuals eg cosmos, sunflowers etc

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Hi @Julie151 - how long seed takes largely depends on what your climate and conditions are like, and what facilities you have to 'help' them. 
    Both those two will flower by August, in most parts of the UK, but in colder areas, they will be slower to germinate and grow to full size. The variety [of sunflowers anyway] will also be a factor.  :)
    It might be worth taking a look at some of the seed suppliers who will give an indication of timings. Chilterns is very good, and they supply online too. 
    Also - if there are other flowers you'd like to grow, you could list them and see if anyone here can advise on times. People may also suggest others which would suit if you have any colours etc that you'd like. Sweet peas are always a good bet  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    You can also search on Chiltern seeds site for flowers for a certain month, which may help  :)
    https://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/flowers#season-aug&start-0
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    Where you are is important. Fairygirl’s sweet peas in Scotland might still be looking good in late August but, by then, mine are usually a mildewed embarrassment.
    Rutland, England
  • rachelQrtJHBjbrachelQrtJHBjb Posts: 819
    You might find Sarah Raven's book 'Grow your own cut flowers' very useful. It features many varieties that are classed as cut and come again, ensuring a plentiful supply throughout the growing season and, crucially, advising what you can expect to be looking good later in the year. 

    It's important to also grow some foliage plants to bulk out the bunches or arrangements and provide a foil for the flowers. You might like perilla, Panicum capillare, Euphorbia oblongata, amaranthus, dill, etc.

    Dahlias could be a good option, like-wise penstemons such as 'Garnet', Rudbeckia 'Herbstsonne', knautia and gaura. If you have Alchemilla mollis in the garden and cut it back straight after its first flowering you should have a second flush coming through mid-August.

    Sarah Raven's images often feature cerinthe but I find them a something and nothing plant and the stems quite short for picking. 

    If you want to move away from the classic soft colours this article on the gardens at Aston Pottery is inspiring. https://astonpottery.co.uk/gardens-illustrated-article/  The gardens' creator deliberately omits anything white/cream which would detract from the intensity of colour. I managed a visit to Aston Pottery last September (on the back of this piece) and the planting was magnificent. I believe it's going to feature in a new book by Clive Nichols on Britain's best gardens.


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