night scented stocks

[herbie]

Hi

I want to grow some stocks for pots on my balcony can you buy from garden centres ready to plant my dad says you cant you just scatter from seed and they come up thanks for any help Ann

[andyjevs]

Night scented stock are hardy annuals. They can be sown in pots or trays in grenhouses or window sills and they can also be sown outside where they are to flower....garden centres rarely sell them as "ready to plant" plants

It's still very early for sowing stocks...i'd leave it until mid march and then sow another packet in mid April.....they grow like weeds.

Good luck, they're easy to grow and the scent as you sit on the patio in the evening is devine.

[logman]

Some of the larger garden centers do indeed sell night cented stocks, i have on occaision bought them myself when i did'nt get around to sowing any seed.

If you choose seed from the racks you may find it listed under its botanical name of matthiola.

Propagation-Annuals, early spring under glass 13-18 oc (55-64 f) they should be up in 10-14 days and flowering in 10-12 weeks

Propergation-Biennials, surface sow under glass in mid summer, at 13- 18 oc (55-64 f). provide cloche or cold frame protection over winter. Germination 10-14 days Flowering time about 8 months.

They are a boon for night-flying insects like moths, as well as adding fragrance to our garden soiree's

[Robinia]

Yes I agree they are easy to grow from seed.

If you'd like some variety of scented plants easily grown from seed also look out for .....

nicotiana - check on the packet for size & whether they are fragrant.... I find that some of the smaller varieties aren't.

mignonette (reseda odorata) - not overly impressive flowers but the scent is fabulous!

sweet rocket (hesperis) - taller than the others but long lasting, lovely colours & again, amazing perfume.

[andyjevs]

Don't forget Petunias Robinia.....especially the dark colours such as deep blue....they smell devine !!!

[logman]

over the last couple of years an annual border has become an annual event in my garden (no pun intended) I buy a couple of packets of mixed annuals, which have the name on the pack North American prairie plants, which are full of nice and unusual suprises but the one that always stands out from the rest is one called Clarkia, which i think should be grown more!. When the shows over, i cover the ground with an old rush mat, to keep it free of weeds, then wait for the following spring..

[Robinia]

How right you are andy - I'd forgotten about the 'lonely little petunia' :-)

logman - I'd forgotten about Clarkia too. Along with candytuft (yet another easy one) they were the first seeds I grew in my first garden after getting married.