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
Geum Lady Stratheden by Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden Ltd features clusters of yellow semi-double flowers among green foliage—perfect for adding charm to any cottage garden perennial bed.
Perennial

Geum Lady Stratheden

Warm buttery-yellow semi-double saucers on slender wiry stems,…

Sow: Feb–May · Sep
£2.35 View
Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden's Hollyhock Nigra features tall green plants with broad leaves and dramatic, ruffled black flowers. Some buds stay closed, making these gothic garden blooms striking against trees and grass outdoors.
Biennial

Hollyhock Nigra

The near-black hollyhock, and closer to true black than almost any flower gets

Sow: Apr–Jul
£2.20 View
A cluster of delicate Linum Blue Flax flowers with slender green stems blooms outdoors in soft light—a hardy perennial grown from seeds by Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden Ltd.
Perennial

Linum Blue Flax

Slender arching stems carrying hundreds of small clear…

Sow: Mar–May · Aug–Sep
£2.20 View
Linum Bright Eyes by Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden features white five-petaled blooms with a striking purple and pink star center, flourishing in outdoor dark soil amid green leaves, perfect for creating vibrant meadow-style displays.
Annual

Linum Bright Eyes

Large silky white saucers, about three centimetres across,…

Sow: Mar–Jul
£2.20 View
Close-up of Malva Alba by Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden Ltd, featuring delicate white petals with pale pink centers and veined details, blooming amid lush green foliage in bright sunlight.
Perennial

Malva Alba

The white musk mallow, and the most refined of the family

Sow: Feb–May
£2.95 View
A vibrant Malva Zebrina from Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden Ltd blooms with purple and white petals among green stems in a sunlit field—a delightful addition for any cottage garden enthusiast.
Perennial

Malva Zebrina

Soft lilac-pink saucers painted with deep purple veins…

Sow: Feb–May
£3.20 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.