"Garden Flower Seeds"
"How does a flower grow?"We are about as close to fathoming that question as we are with the chicken and egg one!! Luckily we don't have to know the answer to enjoy the wondrous beauty of nature at it's best..   HybridsMost seeds we buy are hybrids, unless you are lucky enough to belong to a local seed club or association. It's worth looking into any groups of gardeners near you who may have a 'seed saving' programme. Henry Double Day Foundation is a good source for local seed growers - Flower Seeds at Henry Doubleday. They've recently changed their name to 'Garden Organic'. No Time? Start your flower garden by buying the packets of regular flower seeds this year and save some for next year.No professional gardener will tell you to do this, but it CAN work! You have to start somewhere, and with a little care and attention, over a few growing seasons, your flower seeds will start to revert back to their original natural state. This may mean a slight change in colour, perhaps lower yields for a while but stick with it. The whole idea of growing next year's flowers from this year's flower seeds will delight and amaze - get the kids involved too.  Buying your SeedsThompson and Morgan have an amazing range of seeds and plants available - these are just a few! Grab a cuppa and browse through their illustrated catalogue... Collecting seed from your garden is not only a fascinating hobby, it can also save you pots of cash. Packets of hybrid seeds will have a better germination rate, but nature comes to the rescue in pure numbers! As far as I know, there isn't a common plant that produces only one seed during it's life cycle, - you will definitely collect fertile strong seeds alongside the weaker ones. And plenty of them! Wait until the seeds have developed and fully ripened before removing from the plant. Seeds are full of nutrients enclosed in a hard shell waiting for the right conditions to escape. This makes them ideal food for birds. If birds are a problem, net a few plants and let the birds have the rest. ( Use a wildlife friendly net so birds don't damage their wings ) Try not to cut the flower heads too early.
Once you've cut the seed heads they should be allowed to dry for a few days in a fairly warm, dry and dark atmosphere. Lay them out on a sheet of paper or card. Remove the seeds carefully from the dried head, handling as little as possible. Lay out again on a sheet of brown paper or card and let them dry off for a few more days. Dryng the seeds in a barn or dry shed is perfect BUT look out for mice. If there is ANY possibility of a mouse attack, keep your flower seeds indoors. ( I've been caught out too many times by those darn critters!! ) StoringKeep in a dark room - light can damage the seeds, especially strong sunlight. Keep your seeds: DRY NOT TOO COLD IN A MOUSE-FREE ENVIRONMENT OUT OF DIRECT LIGHT After a few days to a week, depending on the size of the individual seeds, your flower seeds should be ready to store. Keep seeds in airtight containers. Glass jars are perfect but again, seeds need to be kept out of the light so if you can find dark glass jars all the better. If not, either paint the outside of the jar with dark paint or wrap brown paper around it. Write the name of the flower on the outside of the jar or use a sticker or something similar. Make sure it's secure and won't fall off during winter storage. If you don't have any or enough airtight containers, keep the seeds in small brown paper packages and place them all in one jar, or tin. Don't forget to label them and don't let the mice get them! My failure to label garden seeds one year resulted in a spectacular crop - not exactly the crop I had in mind though. See the photo of my inedible "courgettes" here Plant your own flower seeds next year and save pots of cash. Some flower seeds are edible; - the sunflower for example. Health food stores everywhere sell sunflower seeds as part of a healthy diet. Why not grow your own?! NB: Some seeds though are highly poisonous. If in any doubt seeds should never be eaten. Happy Gardening! Grow Your Own Winter Food: A good diet incorporating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is a must if you want to stay fit and healthy and keep the bugs at bay during the cold winter months. Growing your own winter food is just one way of ensuring you get the freshest, tastiest produce packed with goodness straight from the garden to the kitchen table. This easy-to-follow self-sufficiency book shows you how to grow your own fruit and vegetables for winter use and includes facts on each fruit, vegetable or herb as well as nutritional value, recipe ideas and storage suggestions.  Grow Your Own Winter Food is perfect for those with limited gardening experience, with gardens big or small who are looking to become more self-sufficient. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow Your Own Winter Food Grow It, Cook It!: Many crops, including herbs, can be produced in a relatively small space with a little pre-planning and organizing: in containers, on a balcony, and indoors. Herbs are perfect for enhancing the flavour of cooking, treating minor ailments, and preventing colds and flu. Your own back garden will not only produce the best food on the planet for you and your loved ones, it is also economical, environmentally friendly and more fun than shopping. Gardening is more than a hobby; it's a way of life. .  This book provides all the information you need to keep your family and friends healthy, fit and enjoying life to the full. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow It, Cook It! Grow Your Own Pharmacy: If, like me, you want to be able to eat the best food on the planet, grow your own!  • Clear instructions on planning, planting, growing and harvesting the fruits, vegetables and herbs required for a healthy vitamin intake. • Recipes and menus to help incorporate the fruit and vegetables into your daily diet. Grow Your Own Pharmacy Herbs and Spices: Some herbs grow vigorously, some are tender and need special growing conditions, some are annuals, some perennials, some you can grow indoors, all can be grown in pots or directly into the ground. There are also certain spices, such as chillies, that can be grown in temperate climates.  This clear and concise directory of herbs and spices provides all the essential information to help you grow a selection of these flavour-enhancing foods in small or large spaces. Ideas for which herbs and spices go best with which foods also accompany each description, so that you can really enliven your repertoire of recipes. Order it now direct from the publisher... Herbs and Spices Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense is packed full of great ideas and tips. Granny brings traditional home-making up to date with cooking, gardening, needlecrafts and even games to play with the kids...Click on the link below to order your copy.  Cooking doesn’t have to be a chore and preparing nourishing home cooked meals for the family will certainly keep them away from the goodie shelf. Gardening encourages physical exercise and a good healthy dollop of fresh air. And you can get the kids involved too. Before the days of computer games and electronic pets, children used to have fun without rummaging about in the fridge every five minutes. Enjoy a few rainy-day games and crafts of yesteryear with today’s kids. They’ll love it and so will you! Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense Back To Flowers Page Back To Flower and Garden Tips Homepage Click Here To Subscribe to "Creative Gardening" - Your FREE monthly ezine! www.flower-and-garden-tips.com/flowerseeds.html |
'Abutilon Bella'
'Aconitum Carmichaelii'
'Daisy'
'Zinnia'