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Flowers to sow now and question about giant scabious

RBMancRBManc Posts: 59
edited October 2022 in Plants
Hello

I am looking for some advice as to what flower seeds I can sow now to give me a head start for next year. I have a cold frame I can start things in and have lots of room for seed trays outside in general for anything that may need a period of cold. 

I prefer growing perennials and the style of my garden is cottage-ish so anything fitting this would be good.

Also, I got some giant scabious seeds and I want to grow three plants. Are they hard to grow from seed? Could I start them outside or in the cold frame now for a head start or could I sow them inside? Finally, will they flower in their first year from an early sowing?

Thank you for your help. 

Posts

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    I would sow the giant scabious now, and overwinter in the cold frame. You might get the odd flower in the first year but probably not a big display. I have recently started some Dianthus carthusianorum, Achillea and Wild Carrot seeds and they have already come up.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    I’ve just sown some verbascum seeds in a seed tray to overwinter in an unheated poly and also reserved some for spring in case of failure, so you could always similarly hedge your bets with whatever you sow!
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    Aquilegia will take a cold start and many others of that family, (Ranunculaceae). Astrantias as well, and their relatives. Hardy plants from colder areas are used to setting seed at the end of summer. Some germinate quickly, others wait til spring. I sow anything as soon as I get the seed


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • RBMancRBManc Posts: 59
    @loxley Thank you - do I start them indoors and then put them in the cold frame? I love achillea so might give them a go too.

    @Nollie I might end up just going for it and trying a load of seeds, if they don't work it's not too much of a problem - I'll just try again in spring :)

    @nutcutlet Am I right in thinking that delphiniums are in that family? I'm sure I read that somewhere but could be completely wrong! Think I'll try and pinch some seed from my astrantias and give them a go. 
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    edited October 2022
    RBManc said:
    @loxley Thank you - do I start them indoors and then put them in the cold frame? I love achillea so might give them a go too.

    No, start them outdoors. The last thing you want is to have to harden off seedlings at this time of year. The nice thing about sowing in autumn is things will come up in their own time and you don't need to worry about them much. Some seeds require a spell of winter cold before they come up and they will get that naturally outdoors in a cold frame. 
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445


    @nutcutlet Am I right in thinking that delphiniums are in that family? I'm sure I read that somewhere but could be completely wrong! Think I'll try and pinch some seed from my astrantias and give them a go. 
    Yes. Delphiniums are Ranunculaeae and benefit from a cold start. also Hellebores which are best sown fresh


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    Eryngiums and echinops are nice perennials that ime germinate far better with a winter freeze.
  • RBMancRBManc Posts: 59
    @loxley Thank you :) I'm always in trouble for clogging up the windowsills with my seedlings, so that might save me a bit of bother too.

    @nutcutlet Excellent, I've only ever had one successful Delphinium grown from seed but never started them outdoors before, so I might get a bit more joy. Unfortunately I didn't save any hellebore seeds but will bear them in mind for when they next flower, thank you.

    @thevictorian Echinops would be ideal as I've just bought a pack of seed so I'll get them going too! Thank you. I've got an eryngium in the garden which has just been throwing its seeds everywhere, so I'll be interested to see if they germinate. 
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Some Eryngium species do not produce fertile seed, they need to be propagated by root cuttings.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
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