[Sweetpea C]

I gave my friend some sweetpeas for a large tub in her garden. She didn't pick any so they have all gone to seed. I popped by yesterday to find they were starting to drop so I saved them, brought them home and popped the ones that were sprouting (I'm sure there is a proper word but I know what I mean) into loo rolls. So that is all jolly exciting! Next years cut flowers have started  . Wallflowers are planted out too - look a bit straggly but I'm sure they will be fine. Oh how I love this growing lark!

Anyone else started yet? Higgledy garden has a good piece on what seeds to sow in Autumn. Very exciting indeed.

http://higgledygarden.com/

[sunshineband]

I have seeds of poppies, antirrhinums, mallow and sweetpeas ready to go, plus some bright blue phacelia which I got as a gift, plus calendula and godetia I just remembered 

This is the week they'll be in the ground 

I agree, it is exciting isn't it?? 

[Sweetpea C]

I have seeds of poppies, antirrhinums, mallow and sweetpeas ready to go, plus some bright blue phacelia which I got as a gift, plus calendula and godetia I just remembered 

This is the week they'll be in the ground 

I agree, it is exciting isn't it?? 

Oooh, I'm sorting my seeds this week for a mad sowing session next weekend - caledula and godetia are new for me this year

[sunshineband]

Make sure you don't choose dwarf calendula -- I had some and it was only 6ins tall and looked a bit silly in comparison to the glorious billowing full height plants that have kept me supplied with vases full of flowers for months   

[pigguns]

oooh. This is helpful- I don't do flowers at all, (well only Holyhocks coz I love them) but I happen to have some poppies and antirrhinum seeds given to me.  You module them in greenhouse or just scatter outside?

[Kristen]

Does this apply to any hardy annual?

Hardy Perennial seed even?

I'd quite like to start some things off this Autumn, so that they are a good size (i.e. better than sown next Spring) next year ... but I was wondering if some species will object to low light during the winter.  They'll be in the greenhouse, so either not abominably cold or they can be in the frost-free bit

[Sweetpea C]

There is a lot of guidance on here, as well as a collection of seeds to sow now. I've ordered from this company, very good personal service :-)

http://higgledygarden.com/products-page/seeds/seeds-to-sow-in-autumn/

[Kristen]

Thanks, I had read that post, but it just refers to a dozen specific hardy annuals and I wasn't sure of that could be scaled up to "any hardy annual" or "all hardy annuals that fit Type-A".

I'm happy to just have a go, but some of the seed packets I have only have a few seeds in them and don't want to risk them as experiments

[wighty]

I grew antirruhum(sp) from seed last year really spindly things that did nothing, forgot to pull them up but this year they have flowered  all summer and have given us a really good show. Neighbours have commented on our front garden.

[Madame Cholet]

I've discovered alovely calendula called flash back a mix of beautiful colours self set for the 3rd year.

[Sweetpea C]

Thanks, I had read that post, but it just refers to a dozen specific hardy annuals and I wasn't sure of that could be scaled up to "any hardy annual" or "all hardy annuals that fit Type-A".

I'm happy to just have a go, but some of the seed packets I have only have a few seeds in them and don't want to risk them as experiments

Have you managed to harvest any seeds from your annuals? I've ordered new flowers from BH but I have loads of cerinthe, malope vulcan, nicotiana & of course sweet peas that I have harvested this year. PM me with your address and I'll happily share with you!!!

[Kristen]

Have you managed to harvest any seeds from your annuals? I've ordered new flowers from BH but I have loads of cerinthe, malope vulcan, nicotiana & of course sweet peas that I have harvested this year. PM me with your address and I'll happily share with you!!!

That's very kind, thanks!  I have harvested seed of the ones I grow & love, but I'm also after some rather unusual things for next year.  Well ... to be more correct I've got fully carried away, as per usual!, ordering a ridiculous number of packets of things that will no doubt be trouble, require more seed trays and pots than I own, and way more growing space than I have! I'm keen to try giving some of them a kick start by autumn sowing.

I've got a plant of Nicotiana sylvestris (which I love ) that is a good 7' tall ... if the seed of that comes true I will be very happy indeed 

[Sweetpea C]

That's very find, thanks!  I have harvested seed of the ones I grow & love, but I'm also after some rather unusual things for next year.  Well ... to be more correct I've got fully carried away, as per usual!, ordering a ridiculous number of packets of things that will no doubt be trouble, require more seed trays and pots than I own, and way more growing space than I have! I'm keen to try giving some of them a kick start by autumn sowing.

I've got a plant of Nicotiana sylvestris (which I love ) that is a good 7' tall ... if the seed of that comes true I will be very happy indeed 

Lol, pleased its not just me that's ordered enough for a floristry business see then! ..... Now there's a thought!

edited to fix quote

[Sweetpea C]

Sunshineband - do you have a dedicated cutting patch? Any tips? I have 2 borders that I have cleared and this is the first year for an actual 'cutting garden'. I'm also using some space at the allotment too because I have a lot that I haven't cleared yet. Oh the joy of planning. I'm just working out where to put the tulips (all 150 of them... )!

[Kristen]

do you have a dedicated cutting patch? Any tips? I have 2 borders that I have cleared and this is the first year for an actual 'cutting garden'.

I have a few bays at the edge of the veg patch. Sweetpeas and Gladioli mainly.  All the Tulips from the tubs, in front of the house, go in there too after a couple of years flowering duties, and they then get cut for the house.

I have thought of growing Dahlias for cut flower too. I don't have any annuals for cutting though.