Favourite Flower 2017 – Didiscus
The growing season is at an end and after long consideration I have chosen my favourite flower from the new seeds that I have never grown before. I have gone for Didiscus for its beautiful form and colour. It is still in flower now at the end of October. This plant is aptly named as it is indeed disc shaped and both flower and foliage are lacy. The seeds I bought are mixed colours but the only one to perform for me was the beautiful blue. This years flowers are still blooming and although I scattered a few seeds in the pot I think the chickens have already taken them. I have brought the pot indoors and sown a few more seeds. After a long chicken less interval I have introduced five chickens into the garden and so must now learn to think differently about seedlings.
I can’t wait to see these flowers in bloom this year. They are an annual plant that self seeds so hopefully will stay in the garden for years. I have sown twenty seeds in a seven inch pot of good compost, enclosed the pot in a polythene bag to retain moisture and I shall keep it in the warm until germination. This could be up to three weeks. Didiscus is a member of the parsley family and is related to Dill and Fennel. 29th April – I have lost these seedlings to frost so have sowed another pot today.