Cottage garden border favourite, Ipswich Pinks, creates a riot of colour from late spring through until the end of the summer - from pink to red, bicolours and white. Pretty fragrant flowers sit on tight-knit evergreen foliage, ideal ground cover, smothering weeds as they grow. Lovely as cut flowers to.

Sowing Info

Sow indoors on the surface of lightly firmed, moist seed compost in pots or trays and cover with a fine sprinkling of compost or vermiculite. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a polythene bag. Keep the surface of the compost moist, but not waterlogged.

Growing Info

When seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant into 7.5cm (3in) pots and grow on in cooler conditions. Gradually acclimatise pinks to cooler conditions for a few weeks before planting out after all risk of frost has gone. Plant out at a distance of 23cm (9in) apart on any fertile, well-drained soil in full sun.

Aftercare Info

Most pinks have a pleasant spicy, floral clove-like taste. Ideal for decorating or adding into cakes, or as a colourful garnish to soups salads and the punch bowl. Remove white heel at petal base as this tastes bitter. Write to us for a free leaflet with recipes for a wide range of edible flowers