Search Results for: zinnia

Higgledy Flower School. #35. Sowing Zinnia Seeds.

First off the bat my dear chums, you should be aware I am sowing super early in an attempt to ensure I have some Zinnia flowering their socks off for the Port Eliot Festival beds at the end of July. Usually I would hold off sowing for another couple of weeks and if I was sowing directly into the ground I would leave it until the end of April.

Zinnias are horti-famous for not liking root disturbance. With this in mind I have sown the little madams into fibre pots. I am using New Horizon Peat free compost for all my sowing this year. This compost has had very mixed reviews in the past but thus far, for me at least, it has been capital.

I am a fan of a square pot as they have fewer places for snails and slugs to hide…a chap knows what’s what when he is employing a square pot method. These beige rascals are made by a company called Kingfisher. They cost £2.99 for 36 pots. I’m sure you can find cheaper ones but I was in my local garden centre where one has to spend a few quid every visit or be haunted by the village elf.

I have found myself in the habit of germinating seeds indoors where I can keep an eye on them and ensure they are behaving according to the strict rules of the Higgledy Garden. As soon as Furface sees the first green growth he alerts me with a predetermined coded whistle and we move the tray into the light and glory that is the coldframe/seedling tunnel. Here they will stay until toward the end of May. Well…that’s the theory.

If you wish to direct sow your Zinnia in the soil, which is often the recommended method, I should wait until towards the end of April. Soil should be rich in organic matter and the bed should get full sun. I sow plants to about a foot apart.

Zinnias are very productive beasties, so keep harvesting the flowers and they will keep coming for yonks.

Kindest regards

Benjamin Higgledy

Link: The Higgledy Garden Seed Shop Of Dreams.

Granny Zeltec-Higgledy was a stunt woman in the early silent movies…she would jump blindfolded between steam trains whilst juggling King Cobras…hang on to the underside of hot air balloon baskets by her little toes as the balloon sailed high across the Thames (which historians amongst you will know was full of piranhas in the 1920’s)….she would be thrown over waterfalls, high on Absinthe, tied to a brace of bewildered sea lions….what a woman….

It was Zeltec-Higgledy who first brought Zinnias over from Mexico…she had fallen in love with them on a visit to that fine country in the summer of 1926. After a particularly perilous stunt involving a Mariachi band, a petrol soaked sombrero and fifteen packets of Swan Vestas…my famous Gran came to rest (a little toasted) in a bank of gloriously coloured Zinnia. The zesty octogenarian knew at once that these wonderful flowers should have a place in the Higgledy cutting gardens back in Blighty….and diligently commenced collecting some seeds to travel back home with.

Zeltec arrived back on the shores of our Sceptred Isle with four varieties of Zinnia. It is these four varieties of Zinnias which we grow to this very day in our mobile ancestral gardens.

Granny Zeltec’s Top Tips For Growing Zinnia From Seed.

*Although it is possible to start Zinnias off in pots it is probably best avoided….they loath root disturbance…however…fibre pots can help to lessen this woe.

*Zinnias are also not fond of frost…not fond one little bit… At Higgledy we sow after the frosts have finished. As it happens we are sowing tomorrow which is a bit of a gamble but down here in Cornwall we have probably seen the last frost…the ten day forecast is in agreement. HOWEVER you will have more success if you leave sowing until the end of May…think more Acapulco…less Wigan.

*Sow seeds leaving a gap of four or five inches between plants…later thin plants to ten inches apart. Let them get on with it.

The Higgledy Zinnias are: ‘Envy’, ‘Mammoth’, ‘Cactus’ and ‘Persian Carpet’…all of these can be found in the Higgledy Garden Seed Shop.

Have fun!

Kindest regards

Benjamin Higgledy

Zinnia ‘Envy’ is often overlooked by folks in their cut flower patches as they tend to prefer the bright mixes like ‘Mammoth’ and ‘Dahlia Flower’. However this little chestnut is a right little cracker. The pale green flower is a gem to use in the vase and tends to calm down arrangements that are too busy with colour. Zinnia ‘Envy’ couldn’t be described as a foliage plant but it can be used the same way. Using single stems in vintage bottles will elevate to you the penthouse of chic.

Five Top Tips For Growing Zinnia ‘Envy’.

*Either sow in paper or fibre pots in the greenhouse from early April (They don’t like their roots disturbed)…or directly in the ground from mid May.

*Keep them watered as they become established but don’t over water when they are grown up.

*Harden off the plants you have started in the greenhouse and don’t plant out until you are double super sure the frosts have naffed off up north.

*Space your Zinnia plants to about a foot, or a little less apart.

*Cut Zinnia below a leaf node and you will get two more flowers in a week or two….yeah baby….BINGO!

I have dropped the price of my Zinnia ‘Envy’ seeds…and sell the little cherubs at £1.50 for 50ish seeds.

Kind regards

Benjamin

PS Try arranging Zinnia with Larkspur which will add some height interest.

Zinnias are bonkers…so bonkers that they tell me they think they’re squirrels. I have grown three varieties of Zinnia from seed this season. ‘Envy’, Mammoth‘ and ‘Cactus’. The last two are very similar and I may throw one out of the shop next year to make way for another.

Most of the annual flowers that I enjoy growing for the cutting patch have a country style feel about them…it’s the Higgledy trade mark…but Zinnias definitely don’t fall into this category. They were the height of chic in the 1950’s…no surprise that such a colourful and vibrant flower would be so popular after the horrors of the war.

Happily it is dawning on me that the majority of my customers, like myself, are fans of the simple flower displays…flowers in jam jars…simplicity being the key. And there is nothing fussy about a simple jam jar full of Zinnias on the kitchen table…what a joy.

How To Grow Zinnia From Seed.

*Find yourself a flower bed that gets lashings of sun…less Swindon more Acapulco.

*Dig in a good amount of organic material.

*I sow my first batch undercover at the beginning of April…I sow in modules

which helps limit root disturbance….Zinnia seedlings LOATH root disturbance.

*I sow my second batch in the middle of May…directly into the soil.

*Only very lightly cover your Zinnia seeds as they like a bit of light to germinate.

*Keep your seed trays or seed beds lightly watered whilst the seeds are germinating and becoming established…ensure they are not waterlogged however.

*I space mine out to about a foot…though this is easier with the ones you are planting from modules…I generally try and leave the ones that have germinated in the ground where they are…’let sleeping Zinnias lie’.

*The ones you have sown indoors at the beginning of April will be ready to go out six weeks later…mid May…when the frosts should have gone away to Edinburgh. If you have sown in modules that are roughly 3 inches sq…then you will have got away without having had to pot them up…I never pot stuff up…time consuming and boring…too much like work…if I’d wanted a proper job I wouldn’t be doing this would I?

Zinnia ‘Envy’ is a right little cracker…a subtle creamy green colour…like natural yoghurt with a small dollop of mushy peas mixed in…tres chic…and sort after by florists up and down the country.

…and Zinnia ‘Dahlia Flower’ is always a great performer…ra ra ra! Good show Sir!

Zinnias are super productive…and the more you cut them…the more flowers they will produce…they are veritable flower factories.

Have fun Zinniaing!

Best wishes

Benjamin Higgledy

PS If you found this post useful perhaps you would like ‘How To Grow Lupin Sunrise From Seed’.

Growing Zinnia from seed is simple enough…if one follows a few steps…and one doesn’t stray from the path…(Insert werewolf howl)

Some say that Zinnias are named after Johann Gottfried Zinn (1727-1759), a German professor of botany…but I’ve been reliably informed by Trevor in my local, that in fact they were named after ‘Dusty Zinn’ a famous 1970’s TV personality. Either way one thing is for sure…they are not native…they are from Central America…Mexico to be precise.

Here are some Higgledy top tips for growing Zinnia from seed.

*Find yourself a flower bed that gets lashings of sun…less Swindon more Acapulco.

*Dig in a good amount of organic material.

*I sow my first batch undercover at the beginning of April…I sow in modules

which helps limit root disturbance….Zinnia seedlings LOATH root disturbance.

*I sow my second batch in the middle of May…directly into the soil.

*Only very lightly cover your Zinnia seeds as they like a bit of light to germinate.

*I sow mine on their edges…but can’t for the life of me remember why…it may have been something Trevor said.

*Keep your seed trays or seed beds lightly watered whilst the seeds are germinating and becoming established…ensure they are not waterlogged however.

*I space mine out to about a foot…though this is easier with the ones you are planting from modules…I generally try and leave the ones that have germinated in the ground where they are…’let sleeping Zinnias lie’ as Trevor says.

*The ones you have sown indoors at the beginning of April will be ready to go out six weeks later…mid May…when the frosts should have gone away to Edinburgh. If you have sown in modules that are roughly 3 inches sq…then you will have got away without having had to pot them up…I never pot stuff up…time consuming and boring…too much like work…if I’d wanted a proper job I wouldn’t be doing this would I?

*Keep picking the flowers…cut above a leaf node and you will get MORE flowers…yeah baby! Zinnias are text book ‘cut and come again’ flowers…you will get bucketfuls from just a small bed of the beauties.

*As always a layer of mulch will keep the naughty weeds in check.

I stock three varieties…Zinnia ‘Envy’…this is a green Zinnia…very ‘a la mode’ and sought after by the top florists of such cities as Paris, Florence and  Western Super Mare. I also stock ‘Mammoth’ (which is…well…mammoth) and ‘Dahlia Flower’ which is a flat faced variety…a bit like Mrs Skinner my old chemistry teacher.

Show them with Gypsophila (to soften them up) and perhaps something spiky like Larkspur to add some (…puts on posh voice)…’upper story architectural interest’.

OR just throw them in a jam jar and wonder at their old school 1950’s charm.

Happy Zinniaing!

Regards

Benjamin

My digital chum Tony Parsons is the head gardener at Fairlight Hall in Hastings. He kindly sent me this picture of a bunch of Zinnia ‘Mammoth’ that he raised from seed. A very cheery bunch they are too.

Here is a link to my guide to ‘growing Zinnias’

Ben

Great Aunt Zelda grew Zinnias in a huge circle around her palatial house in East Swindon. She grew mixed colours and told me the aliens would speak to her through the blooms in late summer. You see Zelda was a world famous medium…she was on Parkinson in the 70’s…he was surprised when she told him her spirit guide was a fairground donkey called Martin.

What Actually Are Zinnias Mr Higgledy Man?

Well my floralesque friends…Zinnias are actually part of the Aster family…and very closely related to the Daisy family (which is nice…). These blowsy blooms are infact native to Mexico and were first introduced to Europe by those marauding and adventurous Spaniard fellows.

You may often see Zinnias described in this way…

Single Flowered – Blossoms have one row of petals and the centre of each flower is exposed.

Semi-Double Flowered – Blossoms have several to many rows of petals, but the centre is exposed and fully visible.

Fully Double Flowered – Blossoms have many rows of petals and the centre of the flower is hidden by the petals.

Cactus Flowered – Blossoms have long petals. The edges of the petals roll under and the entire petal twists to create a unique flower form.

How Does One Go About Growing Such Beautiful Zinnias  Snr. Higgledyshanchex?

First of all you will be delighted to know that growing Zinnias is a piece of cake.

Second of all you will be delighted to know that I sell the two best Zinnias for your cut flower garden. They are ‘Cut & Come Again’. By this I mean if you cut one (always above a leaf node) you will get two back…they will go on and on….(Who’s yer Daddy?)

*Either direct sow in the soil where they are to grow AFTER the frosts have gone…which is mid May for us in East Anglia. Or sow in modules a few weeks before but remember, Zinnias despise root disturbance, so don’t let them get too big before planting out. So I would suggest not sowing before mid April.

*They MUST have full sun. No sun – no party.

*Put them in the earth on their edges and bury them approximately  twice their width deep.

*Plant or thin the seedlings out to 8 inches apart.

*Water regularly but don’t allow the soil to become waterlogged.

*If your plot is exposed I would recommend some support. I use pea netting stretched horizontally across the bed.

*I shall be sowing right up until the end of June.

How Long Do Zinnias Last In The Vase?

*Yonks…about ten days. Some folk suggest they are too old fashioned as a cut flower. I agree they don’t have the relaxed English country feel about them…but they bring something else to the party…bright…raucous…noisy…think Mexican Mariachi band.

They’re fun and reliable…try them.

This year I am stocking Zinnia ‘Mammoth‘ and Zinnia ‘Dahlia Flower‘ both of these are scorchio gorgeous and have strong stems which help make them fab flowers for cutting.

We of course will be growing both of these this season and will let you know how we get on.

Kind regards

Benjamin

Zinnias were super mega popular in the 1950’s. Their wonderful bright colours must have helped cheer people up before the invention of colour TV and Jammy Dodgers. As is true of many flowers that were fashionable in the 50’s they have recently fallen from favour. Personally I think they’re great…yes perhaps a touch vulgar but then many of the things I enjoy are.

Higgledy Factoid: Generally the Zinnias you will find in domestic gardens are Zinnia Elegans and they get their name from a chappie called Johann Gottfried Zinn.

How to grow Zinnias

The first thing you need to know about growing Zinnias is that they are dead easy to grow….and if you can’t grow them….don’t try again…just give up and take up crochet or aligator wrestling.

Grow them in individual cells in mid spring {they don’t like root disturbance….and who can blame them} or direct sow at the begining of May. Don’t over water. When planting out seedlings make sure that you don’t put the young little gems out before the last of the frosts have slunk away….Zinnias hate the frost. In the Higgledy Garden we tend to space them 30cms apart.

Plant in well drained soil in full sun…think Mexico.

Harvest them 12 weeks later. They should last 10 days in the vase…we condition our stems by dunking them in boiling water. Zinnias are ‘cut and come again’…so fill your boots.

Kind regards

Ben

If you liked this post why not explore the world of the Scabiosa…or Echinacea?

The rain feels a bit relentless this autumn, my garden is saturated, its covered in leaves, the lawn is all muddy (again I’m having that yearly battle in my head of why I’m keeping a lawn when I could have more room for flowers!) and its all feeling a bit soggy. So to cheer myself up I’ve been sorting out my photos from last year and celebrating the successes.

One of which was the Cornflowers, how can anyone not love that blue, pure blue of Centaurea cyanus. Its quite appropriate to talk about it at this time of year as the Cornflower is the French flower of remembrance equivalent to the poppy here. Its called the Bluet de France and a small blue flower is often worn in France on the 11th of November to commemorate those lost in the war.

It comes in a range of colours from white, to purple to almost black. It has many common names one of which is Batchelors Buttons, because it was worn on the suit buttonhole of young men looking for love. Simpler times hey?!

Its a hardy annual and is so easy from seed (the seeds incidently are so cute, like little shaving brushes) and it can be sown directly into the ground in spring, but I tend to sow undercover into pots and grow them on a bit before planting them out. This give them a bit of protection from slugs which can nibble on the fresh young growth if you are not careful.

I also tend to sow in the autumn and protect them in a cool greenhouse over winter and then they grow into nice stockier plants and flowers nice and early. They are tough cookies and were one of the few plants that survived that horrendous really long cold spell last winter getting to minus 9 degrees in my greenhouse. I planted them out at the end of March and had my first flowers at the end of May. So flowering at a similar time to the biennials like Sweet Rocket and Honesty.

They look fabulous in bouquets and add a wild look, I tend to pick low down picking multiple stems with buds as well as they look almost as lovely as the flower. The flower lasts longer in the vase if its picked once the bud is starting to open and showing perhaps half of its colour.

The Cornflower ‘Black Ball’ is most versatile though and combines well with many schemes, with rich reds or even looks great with more subtle peach and apricot colours. Here is Cornflower ‘Black Ball’ looking fabulous with Cerinthe, Chrysanthemum ‘Rainbow Hippy Lovechild‘, Calendulas Indian Prince and ‘Sherbert Fizz’, Orlaya grandiflora and Omphalodes linifolia ‘Little Snow White’.

Here is a more monochrome mix with Sweet William ‘Nigricans‘ and ‘Alba’, Orlaya grandiflora, Echium ‘White Bedder’, Allium ‘Graceful Beauty’, Physocarpus ‘Diablo’ and Sanguisorba ‘Crimson Queen’.

Here with the rich reds of the Rose ‘Munstead Wood’ and Ranunculus ‘Purple Heart’ with White Honesty and Orlaya grandiflora.

The Cornflower ‘Blue Ball’ is quite a vibrant blue but I think it goes well with colours like yellow, orange and acid green that make the colours pop. Here with Cynoglossum ‘Firmament’, Cosmos ‘Apricotta’ (coming soon to Higgledy Garden!), Cerinthe, double Feverfew and Helianthus ‘Valentine’.

This year I’ve grown a variety called ‘Mauve Ball’ which is a lovely lilac colour, almost matching the colour of Hesperis Purple and its been lovely to mix it up in bouquets.

Here is ‘Black Ball’ and ‘Mauve Ball’ in my favourite bouquet of the year, with Canterbury Bells (Campanula medium -now on sale at Higgledy garden), Alchemilla mollis and Silene vulgaris.

Keep picking or deadheading to keep them flowering for a longer time. But one great thing about them is, if like me you haven’t got a massive cutting patch, that they are efficient for space as they grow tall and slim! They will need some support though, especially if autumn sown as these tend to be taller plants. Mine flowered well until early July and then looked a bit straggly you really have to keep on top of deadheading to keep them flowering but the key for longer flowering is to sow successionly. So sow a second batch in late spring which grow quickly and will extend your picking season. Or you could just dig them up and replace them with late season annuals such as Zinnias or Cosmos and extend your growing season that way. They are also good for drying and last but not least the bees and insects love it. Here with that gardeners friend, the ladybird larvae, voracious eater of aphids!

Will you be growing Cornflowers this year?

Higgledy Anne

(I’m on Instagram anne_hinks and on Twitter Anne Hinks if you fancy a follow)

The cutting garden is starting to wind down a bit now, mostly because I’ve not been completely keeping on top of deadheading all the annuals and the some of the flowers are a bit smaller now and going over a bit quicker.Though that warm spell a week ago did push on the Zinnias a bit and I had a big flush of flowering. Especially lovely has been Zinnia ‘Purple Prince’, here with Zinnia ‘Mammoth’ and ‘Cactus’. The vibrant purply pink is glorious, you need your sunglasses for these.

I don’t think its been a particularly easy summer for Zinnias compared to last year. They like lots of sunshine and warmth and the damp grey August that we had here up north wasn’t particularly conducive to lots of flowering. They are also a bit of a slug magnet! I sow mine in modules and pot them on at least once to get them to a good size before planting out so that they have half a chance. I think I need to find them a slightly sunnier spot so a different location is needed for next year. But they are definitely worth growing for their vibrancy alone, adding a bit of pizazz to bouquets.

Another late summer annual that are still romping away are the Rudbeckias, here we have Rudbeckia ‘Marmalade’ a brilliant warm yellow with a dark brown button centre. Gorgeous.

Put them together and you have a vibrant colour clash! With Salvia viridis (yes still flowering away), Calendula ‘Ice Maiden’, Cosmos ‘Fizzy Rose’ and Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’

Much excitement in my garden this month with the first flowering of Cobaea scandens. They are one of the first things I sow in the new year (this year on 10th February) and one of the last to flower but look at that flower! They get potted on and kept in a cool greenhouse until I planted them out in May. I have planted them round my old chicken run and they have romped away and are now starting to escape into next doors garden.

I’ve got lots of buds all over so hoping for lots more flowers but it all depends on how warm it stays as to how long it keeps flowering.

Still flowering nicely are Cosmos and Phlox, they are just so productive, to create a cooler more relaxing combination I have been picking the lovely perennial Aster ‘Little Carlow’ (also know as the tonge-twister of Symphyotrichum ‘Little Carlow if you want to be proper). It creates a lovely haze of lilac blue daisies which combines beautifully with Cosmos ‘Purity’ and ‘Apricotta’, Phlox ‘Creme Brulee’ and ‘Sugar Stars’, also includes Astrantia ‘Buckland’ having a reflower and the pretty white stars of garlic chive flowers, also spot some of the Cobaea.

I’ve been busy in my potting shed sowing some hardy annuals for next spring. Key for me are the Cornflowers they are so reliable and if you sow now they make lovely big plants and flower so much earlier. They have been such a big part of my bouquets this year. If you follow me on Instagram you will know that I lost a few of my autumn sown annuals last year after that really cold spell but not the Cornflowers! So tough. I’ve also sown Cerinthe, Calendula, Corncockle (I’m also trying the white form this year), Echium, Cynoglossum, Daucus carota and Orlaya grandiflora. Have you sown yours yet? There is still time but time is getting on now, last chance to get the discounted bundle of seed for sowing now.

Having a break now and will come back and sow my sweet peas in October, get ready for the Higgledy garden sweet pea promotion soon. We have some new varieties on the way!

Higgledy Anne

(I’m on Instagram anne_hinks and on Twitter Anne Hinks if you fancy a follow)

Well what a difference a year makes, this time last year was scorching, we had 40 degree temperatures and we had a drought. This year in July we have had a LOT of rain. The garden has been a bit battered by all the heavy downpours and we’ve had quite a bit of wind. This weather is a test of whether your plants support structures work! I’ve had a bit of flopping with some of the perennials in the garden but on the whole my annuals have all been fine. Even my sunflowers some of which have grown a lot taller than I expected! The rain has rejuvenated my sweet peas and lots of things have flowered for longer. July has seen the start of the Dahlias, Cosmos, Sunflowers and the Zinnias. But one of my favourites this month has been Larkspur ‘Imperials’ many of which were a gorgeous vibrant blue or purple.

This posy also includes the Cosmos ‘Purity’, Salvia viridis, Zinnia ‘Mammoth’, the lovely sky blue Cynoglossum amabile ‘Firmament’, Borage, Achillea ‘The Pearl’ and supporting foliage from white Origanum.

Its been a busy couple of weeks in my other job at Bluebell Cottage nursery, end of July is Tatton week and we have a stand in the floral marquee, we have had a mad few weeks ahead of the show. Prepping show plants and plants to sell at the show and then a busy time at the show. Its a full on week but I love it and feel very lucky to be involved. We got a Gold medal for the Bluebell Cottage nursery display, my boss Sue Beesley created such a beautiful display and we had such a lovely selection of plants, many of which we sold out of! More on my Instagram page if you want to have a look.

So my garden has been a bit neglected but I’ve still managed to get picking most weeks as new flowers and colours are coming out. The sweet peas have not been quite as good this year I think largely due to that hot dry spell in late spring but after some rain and keeping them well fed with seaweed feed they have revived somewhat and I’ve been getting some nice long stems, especially from ‘Jilly’, ‘Nimbus’ and I’ve especially loved the vibrant dark red of ‘Winston Churchill’.

Some of the autumn flowering annuals like Cornflowers, Orlaya, Corncockle are going over now and really I need to get them out and get the space ready for some of the biennials which I sowed in June. I’ve pricked and potted on into 9cm pots. The wallflowers especially don’t like sitting around for too long in pots and prefer a space in the ground.

The tiny stars of my cutting garden in July have got to be the annual Phlox which I never seem to grow enough of. They just flower and flower from now until October and are just such great flowers to support the more vibrant Zinnias and Cosmos. Here in close up is the delicious Phlox ‘Creme Brulee’ with Amberboa muricata and a second picking of Canterbury bells. Cosmos ‘Apricotta’ (another variety I’m trying to persuade Ben to stock!) is the other star in this posy.

Anyone been growing Nicotiana? What a plant, teeny tiny seeds, bit fiddly to pot on and you think gosh these will take ages to grow but then they just take off and grow super fast and in no time you are planting them in your garden. They are really good flowers. I have grown two varieties from Higgledy, Nicotiana ‘Sensation’ which has quite big flowers and lovely scent so thats a winner, they come in a mix of colours from whites to pale pink to dark purple. Good scent especially in the evening as often pollinated by moths. But I think for arrangements I prefer the more delicate flowers of N. ‘Starlight Dancer’ (new for Higgledy this year) they looks fab dangling little heads through the bouquet to give a bit of movement. Lovely creamy flowers with a lime coloured back. Also grown a nice browny purple one called ‘Bronze Queen’.

Zinnias are now flowering well and there is a lot of wiggling going on to check if they are ready to pick. I only learnt this last year but if when you wiggle they are floppy then they are not ready for picking. If they are sturdy and steady then get out the snips.

Here is the glorious Zinnia ‘Purple Prince’, another new one for Higgledy this year.

Also in this posy is Cosmos ‘Purity‘ and ‘Fizzy Rose’, Nicotiana ‘Starlight Dancer’, Daucus carota ‘Dara, Origanum vulgare and Origanum ‘Rosenkuppel’ and Lysimachia barystachys.

So plenty to be picking but also starting to think ahead for what to grow next year. Ben will be doing a promo in August for seeds to sow in the autumn to get good sturdy early flowers next spring. So keep your eyes peeled.

Higgledy Anne

(I’m on Instagram anne_hinks and on Twitter Anne Hinks if you fancy a follow)

Abundance is the word, June is when things really start kicking in, the autumn sown annuals have been flowering their socks off and the spring sown annuals are really starting to get going. The biennials are still producing too and what a show they have been. Its just glorious. It was a very dry start to the month even here in the North-west (it doesn’t always rain in Manchester!!) and very hot but thankfully we are back to sunshine and showers here again and things are back on track.

Talking of biennials I’ve just been so happy with them this year I’ve had the first wallflowers in mid-April, honesty, sweet rocket in May and June has been all about Sweet William and Canterbury bells. This has by far been my favourite bouquet of the year.

My first time growing Canterbury bells and they have been fabulous, bigger than I expected so they really needed plenty of support and maybe needed pinching out better but I’ve picked lots of stems and since then have had lots of side shoots which are much shorter but still look great. They are also very long lasting in a vase. Here I’ve mixed them with Alchemilla mollis, Cornflowers ‘Black Ball’ and ‘Mauve Ball’ and Silene vulgaris. I think we are hoping to stock Canterbury Bells at Higgledy next year. Well I’ll keep pushing for it anyway!

The Sweet william cutting bed has been fabulous too. I’ve got all of the Higgledy varieties in here.

Sweet William ‘Higgledy Mix’ includes this lovely pale pink which is so beautiful up close.

Sweet William ‘Auricula eyed’ which is in all sorts of shades of pink including this beauty.

But you can’t beat a big bunch of all varieties, here mixed with added zing with the fabulously frothy Alchemilla mollis again and Echium ‘White Bedder’.

But I think the ones I’ve used most have been Sweet William ‘Alba’ and Sweet William ‘Nigricans’ which both combine so well with other flowers and colours.

The Cornflowers have been amazing filler flowers in lots of bouquets in June, they have been fabulous. These were sown in the autumn and were one of the plants that survived the heavy freeze and have been really robust. I will definitely sow them at that time again. Here’s a monochrome posy, the dark side provided by Cornflower ‘Black ball’ looking great with Sweet William ‘Nigricans’, Sanguisorba and Physocarpus foliage. The light provided by Sweet William ‘Alba’, Orlaya, Allium ‘Graceful beauty’ and Echium ‘White Bedder’,

Cornflower ‘Black Ball’ also contrasts well with orange Calendulas, including Calendula ‘Sherbert Fizz’, ‘Snow Princess’ and ‘Indian Prince’. Here with Cerinthe and Orlaya.

A cooler combination of blues, purples and white also highlights Cornflower ‘Blue Ball’ here with the first of the vibrant blue of Larkspur ‘ Imperials’ (my first time having success with these), Cynoglossum, Nigella, Ammi majus and the still productive Hesperis White!

I’ve had lots of fun in June playing with lots of different combinations and things are only just starting, Cosmos are just starting to flower, I’ve got Phlox, Rudbeckias, sunflowers and Zinnias to come. Sweet peas are flowering madly you have to just keep picking them. Happy summer days.

There is still time to sow biennials for next year. Ben has a sale on for most biennials and also the wonderful Biennial Bundle, which is such good value.

Higgledy Anne

(I’m on Instagram anne_hinks and on Twitter Anne Hinks if you fancy a follow)

May has burst onto the scene in a bit frothy mass of Cow parsley and May blossom. I absolutely adore this time of year and the fact that its feels like we have had a prolonged cold spring the green beauty is all the more welcome.

There is something glorious about that fresh spring green at this time of year, here in the north we have plenty of rain, which at times has been a bit of a pain but the garden is definitely better for it and everything is looking healthy and ready to put on a show.

Its such a busy time of year too with the peak of seed sowing, pricking out, starting to harden off and plant. Lots of juggling in the greenhouse, keeping an eye on overnight temperatures in case of late frosts. Realising that you have way too much of one thing and not enough of another. I think it has definitely been a year to hold back and sow things later, working with the seasonal conditions. Some of my early sowings failed or had poorer germination, for example with the annual Phlox ‘Creme Brulee’ and ‘Sugar Stars’ later sowing was much more successful. But then I remember I was later with this last year and I was still cutting it way into October. So there is still plenty of time for sowing.

I planted my sweet peas in 2 spots this year. My usual spot by the greenhouse they went in first, had a little bit of a sulk about the cold soil but are now growing away strongly. Though will definitely be flowering a bit later this year. Then this year I’m also planting up the old chicken run which still has all the chicken wire around so planting round the edge of that with more sweet peas and have planted my Cobeaea scandens in there and they are romping away already. The sweet peas had got a bit pot bound but seem to be settling in now. This soil will be very rich I think because of all the chicken poo! This will suit the sweet peas but may not for all the other annuals but its a bit of an experiment this year to give me more growing space and also while we decide longterm what to do with this bit of the garden.

Also planted in here are my Larkspur, Ammi visnaga, Chrysanthemum ‘Rainbow Hippy Love child’, Statice Blue. Some Scabiosa, Cynoglossum and Matthiola. The good thing about this bed is that I can stop Jed my cat from getting in there as the door is still on!! Having a bit of an issue as lots of my beds for annuals and cutflowers are raised beds and Jed keeps digging up plants that I put in there!! He’s driving me mad, I’ve got bamboo sticking up everywhere to try and stop him. He’s OK once they are established as he doesn’t seem to get in there then but its a bit of an ongoing battle at the moment.

My autumn sown annuals are coming good now, already picked some Orlaya but Cornflowers look about to pop and the Corncockle, Calendula and Ammi majus are not far off. Also planted out Scabiosa ‘Ping Pong’, Echium and my favourite for foliage, Cerinthe.

Juggling round the greenhouse are Cosmos, lots of Zinnia, Phlox and Sunflowers! Fighting for positions with tomato plants, cucumbers, squash and aubergines, plus potted up Dahlias and Aeonium cuttings to replace all the ones I lost in the frosts.

Its also a time to cherish your biennials that should be flowering with abundance now, well I’ve been picking wallflowers, forget-me-nots, Honesty and sweet rocket anyway. Here is a small posy with Wallflower ‘Ivory White’ (yes its not white at all but I love it, starts off with pale yellow buds fading to a rich cream colour and a lovely delicate scent). Arriving soon at Higgledy Garden! Also in the mix are forget-me-nots which self seed all over my garden, white Honesty and blue and white Spanish Bluebells which I’ve decided as I can’t seem to remove them completely from my garden enjoy them while they are here are pick them to stop them spreading even more seed around!

My sweet william are covered in buds but not quite ready yet and the foxgloves are sending up tall spires ready to flower soon. I’m also trying Canterbury bells for the first time this year so excited to see how they do. Once your biennials start flowering you need to know that this is also an alert to start thinking about sowing for next years flowers. Keep an eye on the Higgledy garden website for new biennials and special offers coming soon.

Enjoy the sunshine!

Higgledy Anne

(I’m on instagram anne_hinks and on Twitter Anne Hinks if you fancy a follow)

Green, a colour that exudes freshness, vitality and a sense of renewal. In this blog post, I’ll be sharing my experience growing three green flower varieties that I’m really excited about, Nicotiana Lime Green, Dill Mammoth, and Zinnia Envy.

First up is Nicotiana Lime Green. I’m love with its delicate, lime green blooms that seem to glow in the sunlight. This plant has a wonderful evening fragrance, so I can’t wait to see (and smell) it in full bloom. To grow Nicotiana Lime Green, I’ll be using the same sowing method that has worked for me in the past – sprinkling the seeds onto pre-watered compost, covering lightly with more compost, and then crossing my fingers for some plant god blessings!

Next up is Dill Mammoth, a herb that not only has culinary uses but also produces beautiful green flowers that add a unique touch to any bouquet. I love how the delicate, lacey flowers of dill contrast with other bolder blooms, making it an excellent filler. And of course, it’s always great to have fresh herbs on hand for cooking too! I’ll be both sowing the dill seeds directly into the ground in a sunny spot, as well as in containers on the windowsill, and hoping for a bumper crop of scented blooms!

Last but not least, we have Zinnia Envy, a stunning lime green zinnia with a unique shape and texture. I’m particularly excited to see how this variety pairs with other bold colours in my garden, as I imagine it would make a great zingy addition to late summer bouquets. Like the other two varieties, I’ll be sowing Zinnia Envy onto pre-watered compost, covering with a little more compost, and waiting patiently for the seedlings to emerge.

Green flowers may not be as common as other colours, but their unique beauty and freshness make them well worth growing. And they are especially useful to bring a zingy freshness to bouquets! I can’t wait to see how these three varieties perform in my garden, and I hope you’re inspired to give them a try too. Happy sowing!

Gemma (Colour Wheel Garden)

Ahoy there! Let us have a quick delve into the world of the half-hardy annual flower.

What is a half-hardy flower?

Half-hardy annuals such as Cosmos, Rudbeckia, Zinna and Nicotiana will die if exposed to the cold, so they can’t go into the garden until after the last frost. Generally, these flowers will be native to somewhere more toasty than the UK where they can lounge about at their leisure setting seed more or less when they like due to the lack of seasons and the lack of cell-damaging frost. Here in the UK, we are big into seasons and any visiting plants have to tow the party line. This means we have to do one of two things. Either, sow them in pots under glass, or sow them directly into the soil after the frosts have wobbled off. The lines can be blurred as to which plants are hardy and half-hardy, it’s not an exact science. The Higgledy portfolio of seeds leans more towards hardy flowers but we have plenty of half-hardy ones too.

Here is a link to the 28 half-hardy flowers we have in stock this season.

How do we grow half-hardy flowers from seed?

Sowing directly into the soil:

Many flower farmers I know sow their half-hardy seeds straight into the soil. Most wait until May before doing this, when the soil has warmed up and frosts are unlikely…at least they are unlikely to happen after the seedlings emerge. We had a fierce frost on May 17th a few years back that wiped out a few dozen Comsos that I had started under glass in April and planted out on May 1st. I was most miffed.

Half-hardy flower seeds tend to be very fine or slight….don’t sow them very deep….better still, just cover them with a light cover of compost. Sowing in straight drills will make it easy to see what is a seedling and what is a ‘weedling’.

Limited edition bundle: 10 packets of half-hardy seeds with 25% off and free shipping.

Sowing in pots:

Sowing in pots is the preferred Higgledy method. To the uninitiated, it may sound like more work but it is often considerably much less so. ‘How so?!’, I hear you cry. Well….once you have sown your seed directly into the soil, the native weed seeds will also join in the fun. Native weeds are more adapted to our soils and climate and will outcompete our chums the half-hardy seedlings. A chap can find himself spending hours weeding around tiny seedlings and once again feeling most miffed. If you have sown in pots…from say early April, your seedlings will be biggish and strong and ready for adventures in the outside world by mid-May. At this time you can gently hoe off any weeds on your flower bed and this will massively slow down any further weed growth. Simply plant your seedlings about a foot apart and mulch around them with some compost if you have some spare…this will annoy the weeds further.

I wouldn’t start sowing before the spring equinox, which is around the 22nd March. Most of my half-hardy annuals get sown in early April.

I use 3-inch square pots…15 sit nicely in a standard seed tray and the pesky slugs find it difficult to hide anywhere between the pots. Use good quality compost. I use Melcourt compost. 15 seedlings will fill a meter and a half….so a large tray holding 4 seed trays will cover 6 square meters. It’s important to be aware of this. Lots of folk tend to grow several times more seedlings than they need in very small pots….this usually results in weak and leggy plants…do not make this mistake….you will look foolish and it will be your turn to feel most miffed.

Which half-hardy flowers will be grown in the Higgledy Garden this year?

I will have to ask Higgledy Anne and Higgledy Gemma what they are growing in their cutting patches…and I’ll ask them to let us all know. As for Flash and me…we will certainly be growing our ‘fav five’, Rudbeckia ‘Irish Eyes’, Zinnia ‘Cactus’, Nicotiana ‘Lime Green’, and Cosmos ‘Purity’. We’ll also certainly grow climbing Rudbeckia ‘Flash Mix’. …and I think Anne might have started me a few Cobaea, because she is lovely like that.

All of these can of course be found in the Higgledy Garden Seed Shop.

Your Half Hardy Annuals should flower from July, right through until the November frosts.

I hope this has been useful and has set you on a path to cut flower patch stardom. ;)

If you have any questions you can find me on Facebook, Twitter and you will see heaps of photos of flowers, the boat garden and Flash on Instagram.

Kind regards

Higgers and Flash

In unrelated news….it’s snowing in Boatland!