Temptation is a cruel mistress. There I was this week, minding my own business, when a seed catalogue came plopping onto my doormat. It looked up at me with puppy-dog eyes saying, 'Open me, open me - you know you want to.'
And sure enough I have succumbed and spent happy hours this week thumbing through. They are the only books I ever get where I scribble all over them in the brightest felt-tip pen available as I work out what I'm going to try this year.
Last year I experimented with sowing a dwarf Rudbeckia called 'Toto' to see if it had the same allure for bees as the bigger, older varieties do. It proved a bit of a flop, but I'll keep them going this year to see if they do better in year two and en masse . And if it fails, well, you don't know until you try.
However, the Scorpion Weed Phacelia tanacetifolia was great for bees, and Echium Blue Bedder was top notch for them too. As was the Borage. And I eagerly waiting to see what happens to the Globe Thistle which only grew into a rosette of leaves in year one - I'm hoping it will shoot skywards and get covered in Comma butterflies .
So what for this year's seed-sowing extravaganze (into my peat-free trial composts, of course)? Well, there's just so much to have a bash at!
I'm going to try Echium russicum from seed for the first time (I'm aware of my weak spot for all the Echiums). And I want to do some Honesty to enliven the woodland garden. Plus I'm going to sow some Honeywort (Cerinthe major) which I know is another bee favourite. And I'm itching to give Scabious ochroleuca a try, which I'm hoping will be a beautiful yellow foil for my native pink Field Scabiouses.
Did you try anything new last year? If so, how did it go? And have you got a growing urge you're just going to have to give into this year? Do share!
I'm loving the Echium 'Little Bells' tip. One for the shopping list, methinks :-)
Hi Ratty
Sweet Rocket is also one of those plants said to be used by Orange-tip butterflies, although it appears they are not as successful there as on their Lady's-smock and Garlic Mustard, and no sign of caterpillars yet in my garden, nor much moth activity. But it's a fine looking plant that self-seeds (and then transplants) quite happily so I'm persisting with it in my garden for now.
Hi Kat
New Horizons is my usual band of peat-free, but like you I've had my problems with (I won't name and shame) some peat-frees in the past. I'm trying out a wide range as a bit of an experiment this year (check out my 2 blogs from last week) and will keep you all updated - and look forward to hearing your experiences too.
Hi Adrian,
I'm in exactly the same situation as you! I recieved my catalogue through the door and spent ages picking out what to buy (and what special offers to take!), and that is only the pretty flower part...haven't even started on ordering the veggies for the patio yet! Out of interest what peat-free compost are you using? I'm thinking of trying New Horizons this year, I haven't done well with peat free composts in the past but will give them another go this year!
Kat
I tried Echium Blue Bedder last year, it was a bee magnet but did get quite straggly. I also sowed Echium Little Bells, they were just as attractive to the bees but remained compact. I sowed some annual Scabious during the autumn which are all a good size now, I haven’t tried the annual varieties before, it will be interesting to compare them. The Cornfield annuals are a must again this year.
Seeds sown this month are Foxglove Pam’s split and Antirrhinum Brighton Rock.
I shall be trying more direct sowing this year to save on greenhouse space but I will still have more seeds than I can sow.