Often grown as a biennial
Excellent cut flowers
Culinary note: Use the clove like tasting petals for adding to cakes, either for flavour or decorating, suitable for soups, salads and sauces too. For more details about edible flowers
Sow seed on the surface of a good free draining, damp, seed compost and cover with a light sprinkling of compost or vermiculite. Seal container inside a polythene bag and place at 15-20C (59-68F). Germination usually takes 14-30 days. Do not exclude light, as this helps germination.Alternatively, seeds can also be sown outdoors where they are to flower, 6mm (1/4in) deep, in rows 30cm (12in) apart. Later, thin out seedlings to 30cm (12in) apart.
Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle into 7.5cm (3in) pots. Transplant 30cm (12in) apart into flowering site in the autumn for flowering the following year.