Hardy Annual

• Flowers in : Summer to autumn
• Germination : Easy
• Aftercare : Easy
• Ideal for : Borders, Children, Containers
• Special Features : Edible Flowers
• Height : 10 inches

Description

A stunning dwarf selection of the ever popular Empress of India. Compact bushy plants have attractive small dark foliage and a mass of deep red flowers that sit neatly above the bronze foliage.

Easy to grow, and will create a free-flowering summer display in borders or containers.

Height: 20-25cm (8-10in).

Sowing Instructions

Sow outdoors where they are to flower. Prepare the ground well and rake to a fine tilth before sowing. Sow 20mm (¾in) deep, in rows 30cm (12in) apart.

For earlier flowering: Sow seed, 1cm (½in) deep, 3 seeds per 7.5cm (3in) pot, in free-draining, damp seed compost. Place at 20-29C (68-86F) until after germination. Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions before planting out after risk of frost. Before planting into containers, ensure plants are well rooted in their pots.

Aftercare

They flower most freely in full sun and poor dryish soils. Before planting in containers make sure they are well rooted in their pots.

Kitchen Notes

The leaves taste like watercress, the flowers add a spicy touch to salads and the green seeds can be chopped and used with parsley as a garnish or made into a substitute for capers.