Scent to set you in a spin!

Perfect summer bedding for beds and tubs, says Ruth

SEVERAL years ago we grew a bed of Nicotiana plants next to the patio of our old house. What a success! The plants flowered profusely, their glorious scent perfuming the evening air all summer.

We have since moved and no longer have a sunny border right next to the patio, but this week’s free seeds are for a Nicotiana ideal for containers.

‘Roulette Mixed’ is a dwarf variety that produces lots of flowers in mixed shades over a prolonged period of time. It is bushy and will row to around 12in (30cm), ideal for the front of borders as well as containers. They like partial shade and fertile, free-draining soil.

Nicotianas are half-hardy annuals so need starting undercover in a frost-free greenhouse or warm, well-lit room.

Their seeds are tiny, so carefully tap them onto the compost from a dampened fingertip or mix seeds with a little horticultural sand to make them easier to sprinkle.