More varieties to grow from seed

Gardening never loses its thrill. And part of the thrill comes from raising new plants from seed. One of the most exciting aspects of sowing seed is waiting for the resultant seedlings to flower. It has even been said that the day to day interest of watching plants develop can lead to a long life.

Its time to save garden seed and/or send off for the latest editions of catalogues - many of which come out about this time. Several have dropped through my door lately. They are always enjoyable to look through. It is fun thinking of all the exciting new plants to grow next year.

For pots on the paving

Petunia ‘Pink Lady’ is new for 2001. Nicotiana ‘Breakthrough Mixed’, a fragrant flowering tobacco will suit a larger container, while N.’Fragrant Cloud’, from Thompson & Morgan, remains a favourite for its evening scent. And the Fleuroselect winner Nicotiana x sanderae ‘Avalon Bright Pink’ will be available as seed from Unwins and Fothergill’s for sowing next spring.

Bright patch of colour

The cheerful Nasturtium ‘Ladybird’ has golden yellow blooms marked with a red spot. Liked by children and the young at heart, it is easy to grow and flower.

Climbing plant

Clematis tangutica ‘Radar Love’ flowers in twelve weeks from sowing. That’s not bad for a yellow bell-shaped, perennial climber that will cover unsightly wire fences and give pleasure for years. Don’t forget to try growing the other species clematis from seed, mentioned in my Small gardens article -September issue (archives).

Trees from seed

A group of Acer ‘Autumn Coloured Hybrids Mixed’ seeds would produce a fascinating collection of 10ft trees that will grow in a semi-shady patch of garden. A variety of leaf shapes in golds, reds, purples would be interesting seedlings to watch developing. And the trees remain small enough to grow in large containers for several years, if necessary.

More herbs for health

Health concerns could lead to increased sales of herb seeds. Many kinds can be grown easily from seed and raised in pouches and flower towers as well as in vegetable gardens. And some herbs can be sown at any time of year indoors. We are currently potting on Parsley ‘Bravour’ seedlings ready for serving in sandwiches and on baked potatoes throughout winter.

In Thomson & Morgan’s new catalogue, a collection of herbs - containing one pack of each of basil, chives, oregano, parsley, savoury and thymus - sounds like good value. And for adventurous cooks: Marshalls’ ‘Spices Seed Collection contains 5 packets -‘Caraway, Seed Coriander, Cumin, Dill and Fennel Flower’.

January sowing for the earlybirds - but protect seeds from the feathered kind!

Experts start early with some seeds: January for geranium (Pelargonium) lobelia, salvia, snapdragon (Antirrhinum) sweet pea, and others. Pansy ‘Vogue’ sown at New Year should bloom in May.

Early sowings for some veg too...

Broccoli (calabrese) ‘Tiara’ F1 can be sown in February. This short, vivid green broccoli is fast growing and makes a good choice for a plot where there is likely to be wind damage in the garden.

Try also ‘Tenderstem Green Inspiration FI’ from Mr Fothergill’s. This broccoli variety, a popular veg item at Marks and Spencer, is now also available as seed. Broccoli sprouts are said to help stimulate the body’s natural defences.

Many gardeners like to sow their onions indoors in January to obtain larger sizes for competitions - but better, perhaps, to settle for smaller onions and wait until February when the weather warms up, if you are fairly new to gardening.

Organic vegetables from your garden

Getting the vegetables sorted out is usually a priority. Feeding the family fresh veg is important - and even more so, now that the organic era has arrived.

The same salad vegetables and fruits tend to reappear annually on my seed list. This is probably because, over the years, I have found that some crops produce quantities of edible food which makes it worth growing them in the home garden. Only the varieties change. So it’s tomatoes as usual then: ‘Moneymaker’ is a reliable one and the tiny, oval ‘Santa’ has also done well here. ‘Balcony Red’ - a new variety - has been recommended for baskets, but I haven’t tried it yet.

Here’s a hot tip!

Cucumbers and capsicums (salad peppers and chilli peppers) all produce numerous fruits during summer and early autumn. For winter, chillis are threaded through their stems, with a needle and cotton, and hung up like strings of green beads to ripen. Day by day another one turns red.

This year cucumber ‘Tasty King’ kept the salad bowl full - with some extras to give away. Sweeetcorn ‘Supersweet’ was the sweetest I’ve tasted. Tomato ‘Histon Cropper’ did splendidly.

More new Flowers

A lily for 2001 called ‘Child of Magic’ could be fun to grow from seed. Apparently this dwarf form of Lilium Regale can be grown from seed to flower in its second year. Its scented flowers grow to a height of 20-24 ins. Companulas, hostas and hardy geraniums are recommended as planting partners by Johnson’s Seeds.

Larkspur ‘Moody Blues’ might inspire jazz musicians. Plants come in an artistic range of colours that make good cut flowers: lilacs, blues, grey and white.

More salad collections

T & M’s ‘Tasty Tomatoes’ and ‘Perfect Peppers’ are mixtures of varieties - five packets per collection.

And from Marshalls Kitchen Gardener’s Catalogue 2001 come several new collections: ‘Chilli Pepper Collection’, ‘Courgette Collection’ (easy to grow from seed), and the ‘Chitted Seed Collection’ containing started cucumber and melon seeds. (‘Tyria’ and ‘Sweetheart’)

Order seed early and be ready to sow some plants in January, so that they germinate in February when the light begins to strengthen - geraniums, for example. Others seeds can be left until March when warmer, sunnier days will be a help.