Flower Kit Instructions
Biennial Seeds & July Flower Kit
You'll find the 5 videos you need for all your biennial and June and July Flower Kit seeds here - just watch videos 3, 4 and/or 5 depending on which seeds you have.
Biennials #1: Intro
Biennials #2 - Kit Required!
Biennials #3: Sweet William, Papaver, Sweet Rocket, Honesty, Dianthus, Wallflowers
Biennials #4: Stocks
PLEASE NOTE: When the plants are large enough to prick out, that there are two distinct colours in the seedlings. Light green plants should be kept (they are the doubles), the dark greens are the singles and should be discarded. (I think I might have said it the other way round in the video!)
Biennials #5: Antirrhinum/ Snapdragons
Biennials #6: Pricking out - 10 days after sowing
A Quick Demo of Pricking Out
August & September Flower Kit Video
Please note - the camera blew over and I didn't realise at the end of the video so please see notes below for the rest of what I said. I couldn't re-record as I was finished before I realised!
....I'm going to cover the seeds that need covering in 5mm of compost sprinkled over them. Then water with a fine rose on your watering can. Cover them over with a plastic propagator lid if you have one, and then either place into the greenhouse or onto a windowsill until they germinate (anywhere from 7-21 days normally). If they are inside, as soon as they start to germinate, move them out to the greenhouse/a sheltered spot outside and when they have their first 2 true leaves, prick them out (video above) and leave them to grow on until we plant them out in the garden - before our first frost.
Link to work out your first frost date:
https://thefloralproject.co.uk/blogs/news/the-floral-project-planting-calendar-1
August Flower Kit
I will personally be sowing my August seeds on 29th August. I know it’s hard to wait when you’re excited to get going (!) but if we sow to soon, we risk our plants bolting to try and flower this summer with tiny little flowers instead of putting on some bulky growth, over-wintering then really going for it with super-flower-power next Spring. So, our aim is to sow, ready to plant out into the garden in October before the first frosts come. I’m in Surrey so if you’re in Scotland or a lot further North than me, go for it any time from mid-August.
You can use the sowing video shown above if you start before me, otherwise, I’ll record a ‘live sowing’ video on 29th August – so set aside 30th August if you want to watch the videos then grow alongside me. If you’re going away, a few days either side won’t make a difference and don’t sow just before you’
As well as the video, I’ve also included very simple instructions here and inside your packs so you have a summary of the preferences each seed has for its sowing and growing – and an idea of spacing so you can think about where in the garden then will eventually end up.
All seeds should be sowed mid-late August. I have let you know below if seeds can be sowed directly into the garden or started off under cover. My personal preference is to always sow some indoors as well as out so I have ‘back-ups’ in case weather/slugs/non-germination happens with those direct-sowed into the ground. If grown under cover, prick them out when they have their first two true leaves and then in October, we’ll be planting them out into the ground before the first frosts (except Lupins). If direct sowed, thin them out at this stage to half their final spacing and then to their final spacing in the Spring. Videos to come, but this is a simple handy guide for easy reference. Plant spacing is closer than you’d normally see for cutting rather than landscaping, this is for maximum number of flowers!
With all seeds, sow, then water seed tray from below by adding water to a tray/sink and placing the tray in the water for 20-30 minutes or from above using fine rose on watering can. Keep moist but not soaked.
Ammi Majus
Sprinkle seeds onto soil then gently firm in with hand or back of another seed tray. Light aids germination so do not cover seeds when sowing. Final spacing – 22cm. Height – 1.2m so place at the back of border, will need staking.
Corncockle
Can be directly sowed out into the garden. Sprinkle seeds onto soil. Dark aids germination so cover with roughly 5mm soil then gently firm in with hand or back of another seed tray. Final spacing – 15cm. Height 90cm.
Daucus carota
Can be directly sowed out into the garden or started indoors. Sprinkle seeds onto soil. Cover very lightly with soil then gently firm in with hand or back of another seed tray. Final spacing – 22cm. Height – 90cm so place at the back of border, will need staking.
Will bloom in June/July.
Larkspur
Place seed in the freezer for a week before sowing! Can be directly sowed out into the garden. Sprinkle seeds onto soil. Dark aids germination so cover with roughly 5mm soil then gently firm in with hand or back of another seed tray.
Final spacing – 15cm. Height -1.2m so place at the back of border, will need staking.
Lupins
Sprinkle seeds onto soil. Dark aids germination so cover with roughly 5mm soil then gently firm in with hand or back of another seed tray. Prick out when two true leaves are showing and then grow on in a cool environment (15-20 C is ideal) – ie NOT in your greenhouse during the day! Over-winter under cover eg in greenhouse or coldframe then plant out in early Spring. Please note: poisonous if eaten. Final spacing – 22cm. Height – 1m so place at the back of border, will need staking.
September Flower Kit
Ammi visnaga
Sprinkle seeds onto soil then gently firm in with hand or back of another seed tray. Light aids germination so do not cover seeds when sowing. Final spacing – 22cm. Height – 1.2m so place at the back of border, will need staking.
Cornflowers
You have a mixture of colours in your pack. Can be directly sowed out into the garden or started indoors. Sprinkle seeds onto soil. Cover very lightly with soil then gently firm in with hand or back of another seed tray. Final spacing – 22cm. Height – 90cm.
Euphorbia
Sprinkle seeds onto soil then gently firm in with hand or back of another seed tray. Light aids germination so do not cover seeds when sowing. Sap irritates so use gloves when harvesting. Final spacing – 30cm. Height 60cm.
Nigella
Can be directly sowed out into the garden or started indoors. Sprinkle seeds onto soil. Cover very lightly with soil then gently firm in with hand or back of another seed tray. Final spacing – 15cm. Height – 60cm.
Orlaya
Can be directly sowed out into the garden or started indoors. Sprinkle seeds onto soil. Cover very lightly with soil then gently firm in with hand or back of another seed tray. Final spacing – 22cm. Height – 60cm.
Pricking out Autumn Sown Hardy Annuals
Your seeds should start to germinate in a few days (bear in mind Larkspur can take 3-4 weeks so don't panic!). When they have their first pair of true leaves (ie not the first set you see as they first germinate) - they are ready to be pricked out into their own little pots. Here's what I mean...
Hardening off your seedlings BEFORE they go out into the garden
Please see this Facebook post to learn more about hardening off: https://www.facebook.com/groups/floralproject/permalink/4364002997005575/