Renee's Garden - These beloved cottage garden flowers are easy to grow, drought tolerant and a real favorite of hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. The free blooming, delicately fluted blossoms seem to float above slender foliage and sway in every breeze. We’ve combined lavender-rose “Purple Queen” and shell-pink “Pink Contessa” for a lavish garden display of shimmering, satiny flowers and long-stemmed, graceful bouquets to cut and enjoy indoors. (Agrostemma githago)
Characteristics:
Heirloom Selective
Hummingbirds, Pollinators & Beneficials
Summer/Fall bloom
Frost hardy
Hardy Annual
Instructions - To start early indoors, start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost date. Sow seeds 1 inch apart in a container of seed starting mix and cover very lightly. Keep moist but not soggy and provide a strong light source. When seedlings are about 2 to 3 inches tall, and night temperatures are above 50°F, acclimate to outdoor conditions and plant 8 inches apart.
To start outdoors, sow in well-worked beds or in containers in full sun only after night temperatures reach 50°F. Plant seeds 4 inches apart and covers very lightly. Keep soil evenly moist. Thin seedlings to 8 inches apart so plants have room to mature. To plant in a container, plant 4 seedlings in a 20-inch pot; 3 in a 16-inch pot, and 1 seedling in an 8-inch pot.
Plants grow quickly to 12-18 inches tall and bloom all summer long Honey Bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and many other pollinators constantly visit these nectar-rich flowers.
- Plant in: May-June for cold winters; April-May for mild winters
- Full sun
- Sow seeds 1" apart; barley cover
- Days to germinate: 10-15 days
- Days to harvest: 12-18"
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability.
