Blog: Waste not, want not approach to leftover seeds
If you’re new to gardening, I’ve chosen some of the best half-hardy annuals for beginners to have a go at growing from seed. They’re not difficult and are widely available – why not have a go?
I hate wasting seeds and plants, so I’m using up last season’s leftovers. Most seeds will keep quite happily from one season to the next. I’m using this excuse for the complete lack of colour scheme. There are a lot of similar Cosmos in there!
The best half-hardy annuals – For pots in a sunny position
All need a sunny position to perform well – most of these will be going in pots:
Marigold Strawberry Blonde: It’s taken me this long to get round to the idea of growing marigolds at all (my father was an advocate of straight lines of them with alyssum and lobelia). Good weather tolerance, pink and russet tones, 25cm, www.thompson-morgan.com. Read about more top plants from T&M.
Cosmos Sweet Sixteen: White with pink picotee edging, 90cm, part of the Sophie Conran Wildflower Garden Seed Set, www.burgonandball.com.
Pink and white Cosmos
Cosmos Gazebo Mix: Deep and mid-pink and white mix, 60cm, early flowering, marshallsgarden.com.
Cosmos Cupcakes White: Petals fused into one single cup, some single, some semi-double, 1.2m, www.thompson-morgan.com.
Verbena Scentsation: Classed on the packet as a hardy annual, but I’ve included it as it was sown in the propagator at the same time as the other half-hardy annuals. Highly scented and compact, 20cm, www.mr-fothergills.co.uk.
The best half-hardy annuals – Dahlias, Antirrhinums and Erigeron
Erigeron Profusion: Natural trailing habit, ideal for hanging baskets and tumbling over walls. Masses of white daisy-like flowers, suffused with pink, 15cm, www.mr-fothergills.co.uk.
Antirrhinum Royal Bride: tall, stately white-flowered variety, 90cm, part of the Sophie Conran Wildflower Garden Seed Set, £10.99, www.burgonandball.com.
Dahlia Bishops Children: Single flowers in deep red, gold and orange with bronze foliage, 90cm, £2.69, www.mr-fothergills.co.uk.
