DIANTHUS CHIBA AURICULA MIXED

Excellent garden performance from spring until autumn blooming consistently under hot, rainy and cool conditions. Perfect for bedding, pots and containers in a cheerful mix of cherry, crimson, lilac, purple and strawberry bicolours. 10”. HHA.

Dianthus, Carnations, Garden Pinks or Sweet Williams, are old fashioned looking cottage garden favourites with characteristically fringed petals and a pleasing fragrance.

Annual Dianthus are a popular summer bedding plant, some types have been specifically produced for autumn flowering. Perennial types make excellent alpine and low border plants generally flowering early in the season.

Sow Dianthus seeds from January to April. Sow the seeds onto the surface of a moist, free-draining, seed compost ideally using plug trays to prevent root disturbance. Cover the seeds lightly with vermiculite, and cover the trays with polythene to maintain humidity without omitting light until the first seedlings are visible. Germination normally takes around 7 days at 18-20oC – higher temperatures may reduce germination.

Once the seedlings are growing well, drop the temperature down to around 10C

After 5 or 6 weeks the young plants should be ready to transplant into individual 3 inch pots and grow on until they are nicely established.