Seasonal Splendor

Autumn has arrived! Online store owner and cut-flower enthusiast, Bec Shelley shares her favourite blooms to sow now.

As summer fades, it brings about a wonderful opportunity. The cooler season is a chance to plant a mix of stunning flowers that will flourish in your garden, and can be cut to been joyed indoors too. Not only will your landscape be a source of beauty and enjoyment, but it will also provide habitat and food for beneficial insects, birds, and other wildlife.

 

Sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus)

Beautiful and perfumed, sweet peas deserve a spot in your garden. They are available in various single and bi-coloured combinations. Most grow up to 2 metres tall and require staking, but compact forms are available. Sweet peas are my personal favourite to grow in the garden.



Before sowing, soak the seeds in water overnight. This breaks down the hard outer coating, helping speed up germination. Sweet peas have a deep root system; therefore, despise being transferred. They are best sown direct, or if growing in punnets, use deep individual pots.



Once they start flowering, keep picking! The more you pick, the more flowers they will produce. 



Below: Sweet pea

Nigella (Nigella damascene)

Nigella, also known as 'love in the mist', is a whimsical flower. I love the bright blues and pinks and the wonderfully delicate 'ferny' foliage.



Nigella is easy to grow from seed and looks amazing when mass planted. Beautiful seed pods form once flowers have finished; preserve by hanging them upside down in a cool, dry place.



If left to its own devices, nigella will readily self-seed and become a regular bloomer in your garden.



Below: Nigella

Poppies (Papaver nudicaule)

Poppies are a much-loved addition to any cut flower garden, and absolutely adored by bees! Their crepe papery blooms and wiry stems look beautiful in vases.



Sowing poppy seeds can be a little tricky as they are so tiny. I start mine off in punnets filled with seed-raising mix. Seeds are gently pressed into the top of the mix and misted or bottom watered to avoid dislodging the seeds.



Poppies hate having their roots disturbed, so take care when transplanting. To prolong vase life, plunge the stems into boiling water as soon as you cut them



Below: Poppies

Statice (Limonium sinuatum)

Statice is another easy bloom to grow from seed. It germinates readily and is low maintenance once in the ground. Ensure the soil is well-drained and enriched with plenty of compost and organic matter. Alternatively, if the soil is poor, grow in containers filled with quality potting mix.



Once established, statice don’t require a lot of water. Cut regularly for indoor displays or hang flowering stems upside to dry. Statice keep their colour for a long time and are perfect in dried floral arrangements.



TIP: The seedlings look a lot like weeds, so label where you have planted them and don’t pull them out!



Below: Statice

Chocolate Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota‘Purple Kisses’)

Chocolate Queen Anne's lace is a lovely cut flower. It may look familiar as it’s part of the same family as the domesticated carrot. While it doesn’t produce an edible root, its flowers are a worthwhile addition to the garden. Lacy umbels of pinks, vanilla and delicious chocolates make for beautiful bouquets. Plant en masse for astunning display; it’ll attract lots of beneficial pollinators too.



Before sowing seeds, chill in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. Best sown direct and lightly covered with soil. Chocolate lace may need staking if planted in a windy area. Harvest when 80 per cent of the flowers on the umbel are open.



To purchase these seeds and more, visit veggiegardenseeds.com.au



Below: Chocolate Queen Anne's lace