Its glorious May, my favourite time of year by far and for once the weather is being kind, we have had plenty of sunshine, all be it a couple of crazily warm days but it has been good growing weather. Though I’m a bit concerned about the lack of any rain in the forecast for a few weeks. The May blossom is out in the hedgerows and the cow parsley is just starting to open here, the British countryside looks fabulous at this time of year. The birds are singing lustily in the mornings and getting outside is just a joy. The thermals are finally off for working at the nursery!
Loving the pale blues and yellows in my cutting patch at the moment. Here I have the yellow wallflowers, Wallflower ‘Ivory White’ and Wallflower ‘Cloth of Gold’, Ranunculus ‘Creme’, Anemone ‘Mr Fokker’, forget-me-nots and bluebells with the lovely little grass Melica altissima ‘Alba’.
I think I’ve got to the end of my seed sowing for summer annuals but I’m still busy pricking seedlings out and potting on if needed. There is a lot of greenhouse juggling and moving things around, lots came out with this current hot spell but I’m also ready to do some planting just preparing a new plot for them to go in. Lots to plant, including Calendula, Larkspur, Godetia, Cynoglossum and Cerinthe. Time for a little break from seed sowing until I sow my biennials in June. But the biennials sown last year are in their stride now, the wallflowers have been good, and I’ve used them a lot in my posies so far. The Honesty is looking good, though I’ve not picked much as I’m saving some for the seed heads. This was taken in mid-April. Its setting small seed heads now. As always I have loads of self-sown forget-me-nots which I like to pick too. 
Now its Sweet Rocket time so looking forward to those. I’ve got both colours, Hesperis ‘Purple’ and Hesperis ‘White‘.
There will be more information coming up in the next few weeks about sowing biennials!
The autumn sown annuals are almost there, there are buds on the Cornflowers and the Orlaya are just starting to open. Also have Corncockle on its way with Echium ‘Blue Bedder’ and Iceland poppies.
The Ranunculus in my little home made polytunnel have been brilliant and I’m picking lots from those at the moment. I’m especially loving the oranges and reds with richer wallflowers like Wallflower ‘Vulcan’. 
Seedlings are doing well, only a couple casualties to slugs so far. Sunflowers, Phlox and Cosmos on their way. 
Zinnias and Rudbeckias coming on too, but they will replace the autumn sown annuals when they are finished so plenty of time for them to get growing. I’m keeping an eye on my sweet peas, they are taking off now, but need to be kept tied in or encouraged to grow up your support. But maybe another few weeks for those. Keep them well watered in this dry spell as they like plenty of water and nutrients, I will start feeding them now too to keep them healthy and growing well.
However its not too later if you haven’t sown your seeds yet, there is still time, you can sow in trays and pot and grow them on or sow direct if you prefer. The soil is warm now so seeds will germinate fast and soon catch up with earlier sown plants. Lots of information on sowing in the Higgledy seed sowing guide.
Ben has launched a last minute bundle for you with 25% off the seeds, it contains a mix of hardy and half hardy annuals and all can be sown now for flowering this summer. Link to the bundle here.
Enjoy this spring sunshine.
Higgledy Anne
(I’m on Instagram anne_hinks if you fancy a follow, I’ve also joined Bluesky Anne Hinks)