Seeds included in 'Flowers | Cool Climate | Summer 2023' Seed Subscription:
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Aster- Hulk (Callistephus chinensis)Bushy annual, 60cm high with unique cream to yellow flowers resembling 'fried eggs'. Ideal for commercial cut flower growers, blooming from late spring to autumn. Suitable for beds, borders, and containers. Easy to grow. Also known as 'China Aster'. |
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Zinnia- Mazurkia (Zinnia elegans)Annual grows to 30cm, with large, cream-tipped scarlet flowers up to 8cm wide. Mostly double/semi-double flowers. Ideal for beds, borders, mass plantings. Easy to grow in large containers. Fleuroselect award winner. |
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Sunflower- Double Delight F1 (Helianthus annuus)An annual growing to 75cm with multiple stems and flowers per plant. The bright yellow pollen-free flowers are semi-double, giving them a fluffy appearance. Fast and easy to grow. This medium-height variety is suited to growing in large pots, garden beds. |
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Alyssum- Carpet of Snow (Lobularia maritima)Annual growing to 12cm. Low growing plant that produces masses of small fragrant pure white flowers. Ideal for carpeting. Good for beds, rockeries, paths and edging. Also known as "Sweet Alice". |
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Forget Me Not- Rose Pink (Myosotis sylvatica)Biennial plant growing to 30cm with green leaves, small rose pink flowers. Ideal for borders, meadows, woodlands, containers, and as cut flowers. Tolerates most soils and positions. Self-sows freely, attracting bees and butterflies. |
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Californian Poppy- Ivory Castle (Eschscholzia californica)Annual plant growing to 40cm with grey/green fern-like foliage. Produces creamy white blooms with yellow centre's. Good as a cut flower, in beds, borders or rock gardens. Ideal for cottage gardens or meadow planting. Grows in poor soil. Drought tolerant. |
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Wallflower- Fire King (Erysimum cheiri)Evergreen perennial normally grown as a biennial. Grows to 45cm. Dark green foliage with bright orange/red flowers. Sweet fragrance. Good for rock gardens, beds, borders and along walls and fences. Makes an eye-catching cut flower. |
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Snapdragon- Lucky Lips (Antirrhinum majus)Perennial (often grown as annual) up to 60cm. Tall variety with long flower spikes, large bicoloured flowers, deep green lance-shaped leaves. Flowers are white with berry-coloured throat and buds. Ideal for borders, bedding, containers, cut flowers. |
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Ageratum- Market Growers Blue (Ageratum houstonianum)Annual plant growing to 50cm with dark green leaves and small blue-purple flowers. Ideal for cutting, suitable for beds, borders, pathways, rockeries, and containers. Easy to grow from seed, long flowering period. Attracts butterflies. |
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Sweet William- Summertime Mix (Dianthus barbatus)Biennial but often grown as an annual. Plant grows to 70cm with light green leaves producing sweet scented tall single flowers in a mix of colours. Good for garden beds, borders and as a cut flower. Best variety for cut flowers. |
Summer Gardening
Tips for gardening in summer:
- Watering: Learn when to water by using your index finger to check soil moisture. Scratch back a little of the surface soil and use your finger to see if soil is moist about 5cm below the surface; if it’s on the dry side, it’s time to water. Learn more here.
- Pinch for More Flowers: Pinch the main stems of flowering plants to encourage strong growth, a bushier habit and more flowers. Once plants are 20-40cm tall and have several sets of leaves, use sharp, clean snips or secateurs to cut off the top 10cm or so of the main stem of the plant, making the cut just above a set of leaves. Flowers including aster, zinnia, chrysanthemum, calendula, marigold and dahlia will all benefit from pinching. Learn more here.
Pests and diseases to look out for in summer:
- Aphids: Small, sap-sucking insects that congregate on the new shoots or the underside of leaves. They can cause leaves to wilt or become discoloured, and also excrete honeydew which can attract ants and other insect pests. To manage aphids, remove them by spraying with a garden hose, apply a soap or alcohol spray, or encourage predatory insects to your garden. Learn more.
- Whitefly: A sap-sucking insect related to aphids, whitefly are found in large numbers on the underside of leaves, and will swarm in clouds when disturbed. Plants may have yellowing leaves or may wilt, and growth will be slowed. Whitefly can be removed with a Graden hose or strayed with soap spray. Badly affected plants should be destroyed. Learn more.
- Fungal diseases: The combination of warm temperatures and summer humidity can form the perfect conditions for fungal diseases to spread. Water plants in the morning at ground level, avoiding wetting foliage wherever possible. Prune off affected foliage, space plants to allow more airflow, and treat fungal outbreaks with homemade or purchased sprays.