when to plant seeds

[fairydust]

last year i sepnt a fortune on plants for the garden - so this year i'd like to plant some seeds - but have i left it too late?

If not what can i plant for late may on wards flowering that isn't too tall in height.

not too late at all, fairydust.
Most annuals for the garden shouldn't be sown until March or April (refer to the packets) .Even with window sill or greenhouse plants, I have found no advantage of starting earlier than March.
Marigolds are easy to grow from seed and are not too tall. plus dwarf sunflowers,nausteriums, cornflowers and cant think of any more. Visit the garden centre and choose seeds that don't need heat to get them started - unless you want to invest in a heated propagator.

so if i get some marigold seeds and plant them in march will they flower this year then?

Woolies has buy one get one free seeds on at the moment, they also do big packs with lots of varietys on one pack.

Yes , Fairydust , they will flower this year and die in the autumn.I had a look at the seed stand in Asda yesterday and they sell a type of plant called 12 week Stocks (Stocks being quite a tall flower). Its called 12 week cos it flowers 12 weeks after you plant the seed! If you want something a bit loger lasting ie;- a few years, you'll need a perennial flower seed. Theese sometimes don't flower until their second year but some do. I grew some Jacob's ladder seeds( small plant with a spire of blue flowers) from seed 4 years ago and they are still going strong.

I grew some Cosmos last year and they came out really well.

Literally threw them straight in to the soil, end of March and they came up in great big clumps.

Gorgeous.