Seeds to grow for winter colour

[DocMarteens]

After a shaky start with seeds this year, I'm now getting some growing successes (albeit a bit late in the year now).

I wanted to ask what winter plants I can now start growing from seed? I'm half enjoying the challenge but also liking saving money.

I have an enormous south facing embankment that could do with some winter foliage and interest. Happy to give anything a go because I'm finding out what can/cannot cope on such an exposed terrain.

Hellebores can be sown July/August and are the obvious winter choice I guess.

PM'd you

Pansies.

What about a cotoneaster? They are as tough as old boots. Flowers in summer and berries in autumn/winter until the birds get them. Coral beauty would be a good variety. You can get a small one for about £3 or £4 and then take a load of cuttings. They root easily.

Cotoneaster horizontalis also comes in a variegated form which is nice.

In an exposed site you might struggle but with regular deadheading, I've got marigolds to last through to January. Pansies will cope well with winter conditions, and bellis.

Also now is the time to sow biennials - so wallflowers, honesty, sweet William, forget me not, foxglove etc to flower next year. In autumn, plant out bulbs and the biennial plants on top. They will flower next spring

Placemarking to steal ideas; thanks all 😊

I have Helleborus Argutifolius - it has cream flowers but the plant itself has 8 inch lime green leaves and seems to be fine all winter. It does get some browny bits could be too much rain but it is quite a big interesting plant. It is advertised with pics of its flowers but the leaves are more impressive.