Grow your own
The experts at The Flower Cartel say it’s not at all difficult to grow flowers from seeds. Follow their advice: Where and what
Start by looking at what’s already in your garden. Most flowers need 6–8 hours of sun a day. If your garden gets lots of shade, plant flowers in pots on a sunny stoep. Perennials generally require less work than annuals, but annuals produce more flowers over a shorter period of time. Annuals such as cosmos and sweet peas flower prolifically – opt for them if you have less time to spend in the garden but still want lots of blooms.
Seed trays or
Sow seeds that germinate slowly and are more difficult to grow such as snapdragons, foxgloves, delphiniums and Iceland poppies in a controlled environment such as a seed tray. Other seedlings such as larkspur don’t like their roots to be disturbed – sow them directly in the bed where you’d like them to grow (in situ). Keep the germinating seeds moist, but not too wet. Thin out seedlings that come up too close together; this will prevent mature plants from crowding each other out. The correct spacing also ensures better ventilation around the plants, which reduces disease.
When to sow in situ
Flowers that bloom in spring should preferably be sown before winter so that the seedlings have sufficient time to develop strong root systems. When spring arrives, the plant can then focus on leaf growth and flower development. This means you will have a stronger plant that bears more and bigger blooms. Choose hardy annuals (see box) if you live in a frost zone. If your garden gets lots of frost and you have a greenhouse, you can sow a greater variety of flowers in seed trays before winter. Transplant them into larger containers about 6–8 weeks after germination. As long as the containers are sheltered from the cold, the seedlings will survive winter. Plant out in the garden as soon as it gets warmer, but only after the last frost. Annuals such as zinnias and cockscombs must be sown in spring for summer flowering. They prefer warmer temperatures for germination and to form flowers.
Harvest seeds
At the end of the flowering season, when the flower heads have dried out and the seeds are fully developed, it is time to collect the seeds. Wait for a dry day, cut off the flower heads and store them in a paper bag until the next sowing season.