Setup, Compatibility & Care Instructions
Sowing Indoors:
- Moisten kitchen roll and place seeds on it within an airtight container.
- Keep in a warm room until seeds swell or sprout.
- Alternatively, soak seeds overnight and sow immediately.
- Sow seeds singly in rootrainers or 8cm pots, 1cm deep.
- Water lightly after sowing and keep at around 15°C until germination.
Growing On / Planting Out:
- Once seedlings are 7-10cm tall, pinch out the tips to encourage bushier growth.
- Keep seedlings in a cool, bright position.
- Autumn-sown seedlings should be overwintered in a cold frame, greenhouse, or under a cloche.
- Plant out from late March onwards, spacing 20cm apart, in a sunny location.
- Avoid disturbing the roots during transplanting.
Sowing Outdoors:
- Sow seeds in pre-watered, compost-enriched soil, 2cm deep and about 7cm apart.
- This is best done once the soil begins to warm in spring.
- Keep the soil moist until seedlings emerge.
- Thin seedlings to approximately 20cm apart once they are more developed.
Aftercare:
- Support: Provide support such as canes, netting, or trellis to a height of about 1.8m. Tie stems to the support as they grow.
- Watering: Water regularly, especially during dry periods.
- Feeding: Feed plants regularly with a suitable liquid fertilizer.
- Deadheading: Pick flowers often to encourage continuous blooming.
Compatibility:
These are hardy annuals and are compatible with most garden soils when properly enriched. They grow well alongside other summer-flowering annuals and perennials in mixed borders or containers. Ensure good air circulation to help prevent fungal diseases.