MASTERCLASS
TV and radio broadcaster Martin is an RHS judge and former head gardener
These vibrant flowers are budget friendly to grow and are a delight for pollinators
Hardy annuals are a great way to get extra colour into your garden over the summer. They’re easy to grow and, as their name suggests, are fairly tough and don’t mind a bit of cool weather! You’ve only got to browse through seed catalogues or see what’s available in your local garden centre to discover the range of bright and interesting plants that will flower from June until the first frost of autumn.
Not only do they make an amazing display, but hardy annuals are also great for attracting bees and pollinators. They’re inexpensive to grow and just a few packets of seed can yield hundreds of plants.
Firm favourites include calendula, clarkia, nigella, delphiniums, clary, cleome, ammi, eschscholzia, godetia, scabiosa and amaranthus; these are good in borders and great as cut flowers for the house. Seeds can be sown from mid-March to the end of April; exact times depend on where you live and how you intend to start seeds off.
If sowing outside directly into the soil, I usually wait until early April, when the soil is warming up. If you live in a very mild area, you can sow earlier, or wait a week or two in colder regions. Sow in shallow drills in groups or drifts along the border where you want them to flower in summer.
Alternatively, start seeds off in cell trays or small pots in a cold greenhouse or cold frame. This way you can grow exactly the number you need to provide you with strong plants for planting out into the garden in late April or early May.
STEP BY STEP
1 Fill cell trays with multi-pur
