At Home
One of the main questions we are being asked on our Q&As with our Head Gardener is what the easiest flowers to grow at home are. Well, have no fear our Head Gardener is here.
When growing flowers the best advice is to keep it simple. Don’t buy multiple packets, pick one and start with that as you will find a little bit of seeds grow a long way. To get planting, sow the seeds directly into the soil (following the instructions on the packet) in a seed tray and keep them on a windowsill for the start.
If you’ve bought really small seeds, sprinkle them evenly across the surface of the soil, then pop a layer of compost on top to cover the seeds and finish with watering.
For a large seed or bean (like a squash or pumpkin seed), plant on the thin side, not the flat to help avoid the seed rotting.
Now, what to plant?
Coming in a variety of colours, you can never go wrong with a Pansy as they are good growers.
Top Tip: Always snip the dead heads to keep the blooms coming through.
Loves: All the usual; sunshine, drainage and attention but the great thing about Pansies is they can cope in less favourable conditions.
Hates: Our slimy pals like to have a little munch so watch out.
ENGLISH MARIGOLD
One of the easiest flowers to maintain, you simply need to sow and watch her bloom.
Top Tip: Another great cut flower that can be sown directly into the garden.
Loves: Lots of sunshine.
Hates: Not keen on deep shade, if kept in the dark it won’t flourish.
SWEET PEAS
A flower of a true fabulous nature. Sweet Peas look and smell great all the while being super easy to take care of.
Top Tip: Always have a free vase as Sweet Peas are perfect for a small cut flower arrangement at a moment’s notice, also snipping the heads will encourage repeat flowering.
Loves: They are a real sun-lover and want something to climb.
Hates: Early shoots are prone to pests so start indoors and plant outside when bigger.
More commonly known as the gardeners weed, she blooms like a beauty but will drop her seed everywhere. At least she is pretty.
Top Tip: Sow 2 to 4 seeds a few weeks apart to spread out the flowering season and maximise the bloom.
Loves: The sunshine and space to roam.
Hates: Being ignored.
NASTURTIUM
This edible delight will brighten up any garden, is super easy to grow and it will grow fast! They can be cut and added to a salad, giving you the perfect plate for the ‘gram.
Top Tip: There are climbing varieties of these plants who like to have canes and a wall to go up. You can get short varieties for pots.
Loves: Whilst it likes some sun, it doesn’t mind the shade and will tolerate poor soil.
Hates: Can be vulnerable to snails and slugs when young so keep an eye out in the beginning.
FRENCH MARIGOLD
You may recognise this plant from your favourite households such as your grandmother’s garden. This firm 70s favourite comes in all sizes nowadays and even more shades.
Top Tip: Plant with tomatoes and beans to help keep the black flies away.
Loves: Well-drained soil in a sunny spot.
Hates: Having dead heads so it needs a good snip to encourage new flowers.
Well, it is the cheeriest flower of them all. These colourful flowers bring beauty but also many uses with their seeds.
Top Tip: For your big sunflowers, use bamboo cane to help stabilise them whilst they grow to avoid snapping.
Loves: The sunshine, the hint is in the name.
Hates: Slugs and snails! You will need to plant outside once the Sunflower has grown to about a foot tall but best pop something in the garden to stop them getting snacked on.
COSMOS
A personal favourite of mine as she has it all; great foliage, beautiful colours and makes anyone smile. You’ll already know this flower as it is best described as a giant colourful daisy.
Top Tip: Feed Cosmos through the summer and remove dead heads regularly.
Loves: She loves the sun.
Hates: Shade, if you pop her in the shade then she won't flower.
MORNING GLORIES
This annual climber comes in an array of colours with a lot of flowers but watch out as it only flowers for a short period of time.
Top Tip: Plant against a trellis so she can climb.
Loves: For maximum flowering she needs a lot of sunshine.
Hates: Cold weather, so she is best enjoyed through the summer months.
CORNFLOWERS
Another favourite of mine as there is something about my childhood and this plant. Cornflowers are also great for bees.
Top Tip: Sow in succession and divide the seed packet into three allowing a few weeks between each sowing to extend the flowering season.
Loves: Some sunshine, not too much, not too little.
Hates: Being ignored.
Thank you to Wikipedia for all the plant pictures.
