Sow biennials sweet Williams and wallflowers in June for cottage-garden scent and colour next spring
'I have found that the traditional method of raising wallflowers in a specially prepared seed bed, sowing in June and transplanting the seedlings 15cm (6in) apart, produced the strongest and healthiest plants.'
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| Sweet Williams (Dianthus barbatus)
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Biennials are worthy
plants – they are
sown one year to
flower the next.
Although they are longer-term
plants than annuals, they give a much-needed burst of
colour during spring and summer. There are two distinct
types: ones that are sown manually each year; and others
that will seed themselves around the border. We raise
them in specially prepared seed beds in the ground or in
modules, depending on type.
Wallflowers and sweet Williams
I love to have wallflowers (
Erysimum) and sweet Williams (
Dianthus barbatus) in our
cottage-garden areas for colour and fragrance in spring. I
have found that the traditional method of raising wallflowers
in a specially prepared seedbed, sowing in June and
transplanting the seedlings 15cm (6in) apart, produced
the strongest and healthiest plants. I have a corner of the
garden that is put aside to germinating and growing on my
wallflowers, situated in a sunny position behind a low box
hedge, so that when the ground is bare, it cannot be seen.
Benefits of modules
The advent of modules has made sowing any type of
bedding plant much easier, as they can be sown directly
into the tray and then planted out once the weather is
suitable, without the need for potting on. This is how I
raise my sweet Williams, winter- and spring-flowering pansies,
Campanula medium 'Bells of Holland',
spring-flowering primulas,
Lunaria
and foxgloves. The last two varieties
will seed themselves around after
flowering to germinate the following
spring. Any seedlings that appear
in the wrong place can be hoed off.Once flowering is over, sweet Williams
and wallflowers can be pulled up
and put on the compost heap.
Prepare the ground
At this time of year, water is at a
premium, so ensure the ground is
prepared with plenty of organic
matter prior to planting or sowing in
a seed bed. I use a leaky pipe run off
a water butt around the plants. Being a cottage gardener
at heart, biennials are an irreplaceable essential for me.
Look further
Barnsdale Gardens in Rutland, Leicestershire, are the creation of the late Geoff Hamilton who was much loved by the public as a gardener and TV presenter during his lifetime. Today, Barnsdale Gardens continues to thrive and win awards in the hands of Geoff's son Nick, together with Nick's wife Sue. The gardens, shop and nursery are open to the public every day except 22 and 25 December, and sell a selection of Barnsdale-themed and other garden products online.
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