Already thinking of how to fix up your garden for next summer adding colour that’s sure to bloom well into August?
The lesser-known Sweet William, a biennial plant, meaning it takes two years to complete its life cycle so you can prep now to see the benefits next summer, won’t disappoint.
It isn’t clear where the plant, also known as Dianthus barbatus, gets its unusual moniker from, with some guessing the ‘William’ in question refers to Shakespeare and others stating the name comes from the French word for eye (ouillet) due to its contrasting colours.
How it got its name won’t matter once you see its pink, white, red and purple blooms dotting your garden with its sweet scent, lifting even the drabbest gardens.
Sweet William can be sown during July straight into the ground where you’d like them to grow in your garden next year.
So, grab some gardening gloves, a trowel and a rake and follow these simple steps to get these flowers blooming for summers to come.
How To Grow Sweet William
- As mentioned, you can plant your Sweet William seeds in the ground where you’d like them to later bloom. But, make sure the space is weed-free and has plenty of sun for the best results.
- Rake the soil to the ideal tilth and make some drill lines about 5mm deep and 30cm apart.
- Be sure to water the soil before sowing and allow the drill lines to drain. Once done, sprinkle the seed thinly and cover up with soil.
- Once they begin to grow, if your plants become crowded, thin them out to 15cm or further apart.
- In the autumn, space them 30cm apart into the flowering position.
- This plant needs to be well watered during dry weather and enjoy the beautiful flowers next summer.
If deadheaded promptly, Sweet William may return the following year but the plant isn’t expected to live beyond two years.