Bishy Barnabee’s Cottage Garden

Direct Sown Seeds

Seeds you sow straight into the soil — no greenhouse needed

Quick picks
Sow this monthSpring favouritesCut flowersFor the vasePollinatorsBees and butterfliesHardy annualsAutumn-sow readyEasy to growFirst-time friendlyUnder £2.50Stock up favourites
112 products
Close-up of vibrant red and carmine-pink Cornflower Red Boy blooms from Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden Ltd, growing among green stems and buds in a field, with foreground flowers in sharp focus and a softly blurred background.
Annual

Cornflower Red Boy

The name oversells it, and the flower is better for it

Sow: Mar–May · Sep
£2.30 View
The Cosmos Purity by Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden features a single white bloom with a yellow center, standing out against green foliage—ideal for moon gardens or adding stunning white flowers to your cutting garden.
Annual

Cosmos Purity

Broad silky white petals around a small gold…

Sow: Mar–Jun
£2.40 View
Close-up of Daucus Carota Dara by Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden—tall stems with pink and white clusters, blooming densely in sunlight. Ideal as a cut flower with blurred foliage and blue sky in the background.
Biennial

Daucus Carota Dara

The coloured wild carrot, and currently one of…

Sow: Mar–May · Sep–Oct
£2.40 View
A mezzaluna knife rests on a wooden board with chopped herbs—great for pickling—and fresh dill sprigs, perfect for planting Dill Bouquet seeds from Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden, beside a beige cloth.
Herb Seeds

Dill Bouquet

The dill the cutting garden grows

Sow: Mar–Jul
£2.15 View
Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden’s Forget-me-not White features dense clusters of small white star-shaped flowers with yellow centers, nestled among green leaves and grass—a lovely addition to any spring garden or meadow.
Biennial

Forget-me-not White

The white form, and the one to reach for when a corner is too dark for colour

Sow: May–Jul
£2.20 View
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Direct sowing flowers — your questions answered

What does direct sowing mean?

Direct sowing is the simplest possible way to grow flowers — you scatter or place the seeds straight into the soil where you want them to flower, water them in, and let nature do the rest. No pots, no greenhouse, no transplanting. Many of the prettiest cottage garden flowers actively prefer this approach because their roots dislike being disturbed.

When is the soil ready for direct sowing?

The simplest test: can you crumble a handful of soil between your fingers without it sticking together in a wet lump? If yes, it is workable. For hardy annuals, March and April are ideal in most of the UK. Half-hardy varieties want to wait until after the last frost — typically mid-May. If unsure, watch your local weeds; if they are growing actively, your flower seeds will too.

Do I need to do anything special to the soil first?

Not much. Rake the surface smooth, remove any large stones or weeds, and break up obvious clods so the soil has a fine, crumbly texture on top. A light scattering of compost helps but is not essential on most soils. Avoid digging deeply unless your soil is very compacted — disturbing it brings buried weed seeds to the surface.

What can go wrong with direct sowing?

The two biggest problems are dry soil (water gently after sowing and during dry spells until seedlings establish) and slugs (a tougher problem, but copper rings, beer traps, or wool pellets help). Sow a little more thickly than the packet suggests and thin out the strongest seedlings later — nature accounts for some losses. Birds may also have a go at exposed seeds; a light covering of soil and a temporary net helps.