Nigella Miss Jekyll ‘Love in a Mist’

Botanical Name: Nigella damascena Lifecycle: Annual Heritage: England, 1900 ‘Love in a Mist’ Nigella Miss Jekyll produce beautiful star-shaped flowers in a mix of colours and has fine delicate foliage. It is an old fashioned cottage garden favourite. Their gorgeous fresh blooms add texture to garden beds and floral arrangements, while the seed pods can be dried for long-lasting arrangements. A hardy and long lasting cut flower. Harvest blooms when about 3/4 open for cut flowers. Attracts beneficial insects and is excellent for pollinator plantings. It was bred and introduced by the influential English garden designer and plantswoman Gertrude Jekyll at her Munstead Wood home in Surrey, England about 1900. SOWING: Spring - Early Autumn Direct Nigella seeds are best sown in spring to early autumn. Seeds should be sown directly in place approx. 20cm – 25cm apart when soil temperatures are between 15°c – 25°c. If sowing indoors and transplanting, stratify the seeds before sowing to break seed dormancy and encourage germination by chilling the seeds in the fridge for 2-3 weeks before sowing. Ensure the seed packet is unopened or the seed is in an airtight container as some fruits and vegetables can emit ethylene and impact germination. 15°c - 25°c 7 - 14 days Transplant seedlings, or thin directly sown seeds to a final spacing of approx. 25cm apart once plants have some true leaves. 20cm - 25cm 65 - 90 days Half-Hardy TIPS: Nigella develops a long taproot and resents being moved, meaning indoor seed-starting can damage or shock the fragile seedlings during transplant, and doing so requires extra care. Plant in well-drained soil with lots of sun (ideally 6 hours or more each day). Minimal intervention is required throughout the flowering period. Remove dead flowers to prolong flowering. APPROX SEEDS PER PACKET: HOME GARDEN 500 seeds