COOL SEASON ANNUALS FOR PLANTING IN AUTUMN AND WINTER

Annual plants grow and flower seasonally before coming to the end of their lifespans. However during their prime they add unrivalled colour and beauty to the garden. Annuals also accentuate the seasonal changes that happen in the garden throughout the year. Gardeners just love planting annuals from seedling trays to lend much needed sizzle and panache to outdoor living areas.

At Blackwood there is always a huge selection of top quality annual seedlings on offer. These are some of the most popular flowers for enhancing the winter and spring garden. Remember they need to be planted in autumn and winter to flower in spring. They all need regular fertilising every 2 to 3 weeks with 3:1:6 water soluble plant food for flowering plants.

Iceland Poppy (Papavernudicaule)

  • Grow in full sun. Prefer well drained alkaline soils. Add lime to soil before planting in areas with acid soils.
  • Space seedlings 30 to 40 cm apart.
  • Flower stems 35 to 40 cm tall.
  • Mixed colours.
  • Outstanding cut flowers.

Pansy and Viola (Viola wittrockiana and Viola tricolor)

PANSYANDVILOA

  • Grow in full sun or light shade. Prefer rich loamy soils.
  • Space seedlings 15 to 20 cm apart.
  • Plants grow 15 to 25 cm high.
  • Available in a huge range of mixed and separate colours.
  • The most rewarding of all the winter and spring flowering annuals. Good in containers. Fragrant.

Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)

POTMARGOLD

  • Grow in full sun. Well drained soil.
  • Space seedlings 30 to 35 cm apart.
  • Plants grow 30 to 35 cm tall.
  • Available in yellow or orange.
  • Aromatic leaves. Edible flowers.

Sweet Alyssum (Lobulariamaritima)

ASULLYM

  • Grow in full sun. Prefer well drained soils.
  • Space seedlings 10 to 15 cm apart.
  • Plants grow 10 to 15 cm tall.
  • Available in mixed shades. Separate colours include white, purple and pink.
  • Excellent for edging borders and beneath rose bushes.

Dianthus (Dianthus chinensis)

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  • Grow in sun or dappled shade. Well drained soils.
  • Space seedlings 20 to 30 cm apart.
  • Plants grow 30 to 40 cm tall.
  • Available in mixed shades and separate colours.
  • Flower for ages.
  • Fragrant.

Petunia (Petunia hybrida)

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  • Plant in full sun. Well drained soils are essential.
  • Space seedlings 25 to 30 cm apart.
  • Plants grow 30 to 40 cm tall.
  • Available in a huge range of mixed and separate colours.
  • Good for bedding, pots and containers including hanging baskets.

Fairy Primrose (Primulamalacoides)

  • Grow in dappled to full shade. Prefer loamy, acid soil conditions.
  • Space seedlings 20 to 25 cm apart.
  • Flower stems 25 to 30 cm tall.
  • Mixed colours. Separate colours white, lavender, pink.
  • Good in containers. Fragrant.

Stocks (Matthiolaincana)

  • Grow in full sun. Prefer loamy alkaline soils.
  • Space seedlings 30 to 40 cm apart.
  • Plants grow 35 to 80 cm tall.
  • Available in mixed shades and separate colours.
  • Highly fragrant.
  • Good cut flowers.

English Daisy (Bellis perennis)

  • Grow in sun or shade. Prefer rich well drained soil.
  • Space seedlings 15 to 20 cm apart.
  • Plants grow 10 to 20 cm tall.
  • Available in mixed shades of white, pink and red.
  • Great for shade. Good in pots and containers.

Lobelia (Lobelia erinus)

  • Grow in sun or shade. Need moisture retentive soils.
  • Space seedlings 10 to 15 cm apart.
  • Plants grow 10 to 15 cm tall.
  • Available in mixed shades. Separate colours are blue and white.
  • Good for low edges pots and hanging baskets.

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

  • Grow in sun or shade. Best in rich well drained loamy soils.
  • Space seedlings 40 to 60 cm apart.
  • Plants grow 60 to 120 cm tall.
  • Available in mixed colours and separate shades.
  • Great background plants. Create an English Country Garden look.

Cineraria (Pericalliscruenta)

  • Plant in semi-shade. Rich moist soils. Protect from frosts.
  • Space seedlings 30 to 35 cm apart.
  • Plants grow 30 to 40 cm tall.
  • Available in mixed colours.
  • Great for winter and spring colour. Amazing array of bright colours.