Something that will grow rampantly from seed in a large raised bed

[MaybeDoctor]

I normally plant some pansy seeds etc indoors and grow them on to plant out. But we have had building going on this year and it has not happened!

I am planning to buy plugs for some smaller containers, using Thomson and Morgan, but I have two huge wooden raised planters that I would like to fill with bedding plants. I have tried veg in there but it has never been too successful, apart from carrots and some salad leaves. So I am going to do less veg and more of a floral display. I would like something that I can just scatter and sow. Any thoughts? I think buying plugs would be too expensive.

The beds are well drained, in a semi-shady spot.

Annuals! Then you can decide what you want to do with the bed when you're less busy. Nasturtiums, candytuft, nigella, californian poppies, limnanthes, calendulas can just be plonked into prepared soil and will grow provided they get some sun (the more the better for those guys). I'd leave it another month or so, though.

Alternatively, you could buy a wild flower mix for partial shade, and watch the bees loving it!

What would you buy from here?

www.suttons.co.uk/Gardening/Flower+Seeds/Featured+Flower+Seed+Ranges/Fastflowers/list.htm#?psc=0_WebsiteHierarchySortOrder

I like the look of candytuft. Would that grow well with white Alyssum from that link?

The beds get sun first thing in the morning, then in the late afternoon early evening as the sun moves round. Main part of the day they are in shade.

The packs say 500 seeds and 1400 seeds - that sounds like a heck of a lot! The beds are about 8 feet by 2ft altogether. Would that be enough?

Too late for this year but how about grape hyancinths? Stick in a few tiny bulbs and they'll seed year on year.

Also look out for cheap bedding plants in Aldi and Homebase. The trays of non stop begonias are good value, they fill spaces well and sometimes set seed.

Thanks.

So do people think alyssum and candytuft will be ok in this spot?

Sounds fine to me. You might find that alyssum survives the winter and the candytuft self seeds.

Nigella is very tough, and so pretty. I chucked some seed around last year, and it was great. Now there are loads of seedlings of it sprouting all over.

Nasturtiums are great for colour and run for miles.