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Love in the mist identifying are they perennial?

#1 · 24th February 2023, 8:32 pm

Can anyone help with what these flowers are please? Had them last year and pulled them out by mistake.

thank you

Uploaded files:

#2 · 27th February 2023, 4:51 pm

Quote from Lee Garden Ninja on 27th February 2023, 4:51 pm
Hi @lynnem1

The plant you've uploaded is the lovely Nigella damascena, also known as 'Love in a mist' given its frothy foliage and beautiful star shaped flowers and ornamental seed pots (the big bits in the middle of the flower).

Don't worry about pulling them out. These plants are actually annuals, so will only live for 1 year at most. This means they need to be sown each year for repeat flowering. The good news is they're super easy to grow either by sowing under protection ie cold frame in Autumn or sowing directly in spring once the frosts have passed.

https://youtu.be/Z_QqwySxpTc

So don't worry, you would have had to replace them anyway. Once you've bought some seeds, I'll give an overview of how to plant them below for you.

How to sow Nigella or Love in a mist seeds:

Nigella is an annual plant but can be sown in autumn under cover to ensure larger, more floriferous blooms the next spring and summer. This helps you get a head start on the growing season. You can also sow them in pots in spring or directly into the garden when the frosts have passed ie May. Growing in pots is usually easier in a greenhouse and helps you get stronger plants than directly sowing in the ground.

Sow seeds into pots thinly and cover lightly with sieved seed compost or perlite. Usually, these seeds germinate within 2 weeks. Once they have two sets of leaves you can prick them out - more on that in this article.

https://youtu.be/DICGT44SMSs

You want to thin them out or plant them with 15cm distance between each plant. Any closer and they will out compete each other and jostle for space which you don't want.

Want soil type does Nigella like?

Nigella damascena likes free draining soil and full sun. The only exception is when growing in pots. Make sure they never fully dry out until you're ready to plant them out. This is when the plants are at their weakest so if they go bone dry they may give us the ghost. I prefer to water them on a try so they can take up the water they need. Be mindful not to flood them, either. Ever so slightly damp is the perfect happy medium for these seeds!

Collecting your own seeds from love in a mist

Love in a mist can be left to 'go to seed' where the ornamental pods dry up. You can then harvest these in September to have free seed ready for next year! Super thrifty and easy for the economical gardener!

Simply cut off the dried seed pods and then shake out onto a paper bag, ready to sow the next year. Simple!

So I hope that helps you carry on with these gorgeous blooms!

Happy gardening.

Lee

Hi @lynnem1

The plant you've uploaded is the lovely Nigella damascena, also known as 'Love in a mist' given its frothy foliage and beautiful star shaped flowers and ornamental seed pots (the big bits in the middle of the flower).

Don't worry about pulling them out. These plants are actually annuals, so will only live for 1 year at most. This means they need to be sown each year for repeat flowering. The good news is they're super easy to grow either by sowing under protection ie cold frame in Autumn or sowing directly in spring once the frosts have passed.

So don't worry, you would have had to replace them anyway. Once you've bought some seeds, I'll give an overview of how to plant them below for you.

How to sow Nigella or Love in a mist seeds:

Nigella is an annual plant but can be sown in autumn under cover to ensure larger, more floriferous blooms the next spring and summer. This helps you get a head start on the growing season. You can also sow them in pots in spring or directly into the garden when the frosts have passed ie May. Growing in pots is usually easier in a greenhouse and helps you get stronger plants than directly sowing in the ground.

Sow seeds into pots thinly and cover lightly with sieved seed compost or perlite. Usually, these seeds germinate within 2 weeks. Once they have two sets of leaves you can prick them out - more on that in this article.

You want to thin them out or plant them with 15cm distance between each plant. Any closer and they will out compete each other and jostle for space which you don't want.

Want soil type does Nigella like?

Nigella damascena likes free draining soil and full sun. The only exception is when growing in pots. Make sure they never fully dry out until you're ready to plant them out. This is when the plants are at their weakest so if they go bone dry they may give us the ghost. I prefer to water them on a try so they can take up the water they need. Be mindful not to flood them, either. Ever so slightly damp is the perfect happy medium for these seeds!

Collecting your own seeds from love in a mist

Love in a mist can be left to 'go to seed' where the ornamental pods dry up. You can then harvest these in September to have free seed ready for next year! Super thrifty and easy for the economical gardener!

Simply cut off the dried seed pods and then shake out onto a paper bag, ready to sow the next year. Simple!

So I hope that helps you carry on with these gorgeous blooms!

Happy gardening.

Lee

Lynnem1 has reacted to this post.

#3 · 27th February 2023, 4:54 pm

Thank you so much Lee you are amazing