Seeds to plant now/soon

[BurningTheToast]

We've moved and now have a half-acre garden to enjoy. It's been planted with shrubs and there are a lot of old apple and nut trees which are gorgeous, but I want to start adding some herbaceous perennials and the like.

Buying them at the garden centre or nursery costs a fortune and planting in threes is too small a clump - needs to be fives to make any sort of impression.

The proper greenhouse won't be built until next spring and I wondered what seeds I might get going over the winter in a small plastic greenhouse now attached (firmly!) to the wall by the garage.

I'm planning on sweet peas and I need about sixty lavender plants to make a hedge along one of the long borders so I'm going to buy some plug plants to grow on over the winter.

Any suggestions for other seeds or suppliers of small plugs to pot on and cosset ready for spring planting?

Thanks.

One of my favourite tips is from Carol Klein. Browse carefully and you'll fairly often find potted perennials contain more than one plant - up to 3 or 4 for the price of one.

Cultivate (ha!) gardening friends and family. It's the right time to divide perennials and they may well have stuff that they'll be glad to pass on to spread the love - and, of course, as your garden develops, you can pass the favour on.

Freecycle?? I've not used it myself but IIRC, some MN gardeners have.

And congratulations on your lovely new garden!

Thanks Concrete. I'll definitely do that - might even be worth the 300 mile trip down to my parents so that I can raid my dad's garden!

Any thoughts on seeds to get going over the winter?

Sounds absolutely lovely. Presumably you've already thought about bulbs, this being the start of the planting time? fritillaries, bluebells, camassia etc . Have you already seen the garden at spring time, to know what's there?

For seeds to get started, how about:
Foxgloves
Acanthus mollis
astrantias
heleniums

Annuals such as nigella, godetia, cerinthe, aquilegias, poppies for quick colour next year - all of these will self-sow for future years.

I really like Chiltern Seeds

Hmm - not really the time for sowing most stuff? Sweet peas are an exception, of course but it's spring for most things. Not sure about plugs, either.

I see what you're trying to do, but I think you need to wait for the new season. Don't forget spring bulbs, though As it's a new garden, there may be some already but if you have a likely spot, a bit of careful digging should show if there's any there already.

Oops - cross post. Much better advice ^^

Thanks.

I got a bit giddy and ordered 200 fritillaries which I'm going to plant up 5 to a pot and then plant out early spring in those clumps of five - I have a bank they'll look nice on and several nut trees that I thought I'd put them around the bottom of. No point putting them out now as we have so many squirrels.

I have seen it in spring but there's not a lot there. Mostly shrubs apart from the apple trees, the nut trees and a Kiftsgate rose that will need the most massive pruning soon - welding gloves and face masks at the ready for that!

Do you know a white foxglove that remains white when it self seeds and doesn't go a muddy mauve?

Many thanks x

alas my foxgloves always revert, I can't get a second year out of any white ones. I just embrace the mauve now.

That's probably what I need to do too, MrsAird. Or stop them setting seed and resign myself to having to raise new ones every year. That feels a bit high maintenance though. Thanks

People will be cutting back things like lavender at the moment so a great time to start cuttings. Hardy annuals such as marigolds can be planted just now. Read about what to sow now on the Gardeners World website.