My chosen seeds for 2024

Vintage planting

Hello my flower loving friends, I’m flipping excited at the idea of spring, so shown above is my list of seeds that I’ll be sowing this year, minus the ones I already harvested last year and my veggies. I’ve whittled it right down, it actually took me three months to get to this selection. It started out quite long but over the past weeks I’ve been deleting and refining, till all that was left are the ones that make my heart sing!

A mixture of annuals and perennials, some of which I know I need to play the long game! The echinacea pallida that I’ve grown from seed before, takes forever to get going but is absolutely worth it! If you only grow one echinacea make it this one! Its romantic petals swirling loosely reminiscent of a ballerinas tutu.

Sweet peas I used to think were more work than they should be but as I’ve got older their nostalgic charm has won me over. I’ve grown piggy sue and Juliet in the past but I’m having a go with Cathy this year.

Something new to me is talinum paniculatum verde. I fell in love with this plant at Wisley last year. I haven’t a clue what it likes so it’s my wild card for the year. Also new to me is a variety of honesty lunaria rediviva, the flowers are swoon worthy! The seed heads will be used in dried arrangements but it’s actually the flowers I’m most interested in.

I left behind my scabious Fata Morgana at my last garden, an oversight of many. It’s my favourite scabious and is really quite hardy if you can get it established! Creamy peach hues it’s the perfect button flower. I always grow the summer fruit mix too as it reminds me of being in a sweet shop, you never know what you’re gonna get but they’re all gorgeous!

The calendula I’ve picked for companion planting and I’ve chosen this variety as I don’t like to see orange in my garden. It’s new to me and I’m intrigued to see if it still works as a companion plant.

And finally I just can’t resist a vintage looking bloom. Verbascum southern charm is the prettiest of them all and keeps flowering well if you cut them.

It’s all rather a vintage inspired mix. Faded looking pastel tones and delicate fraying blooms. It looks like it will be quite the Miss Haversham of gardens. I’m rather looking forward to it.

This year my seed order was from chiltern seeds. I do vary where I order from. And of course I’ve saved my ammi, cosmos and cornflower from last years crop.

I hope that’s got you inspired! When they arrive I’ll share with you my tips for sowing and successful germination.

Emma x