Sow some scented bedding

It’s easy to see why Nicotianas are so popular, says Ruth

- Ruth Hayes

I’M not a massive fan of most summer bedding plants, but there are a few I’ll make an exception for – and one of those is nicotiana. They are wonderfully diverse plants, ranging from statuesque N. sylvestris with its scented leaves and long, white, trumpet flowers, to the zinging flowers of N. alata ‘Lime Green’ that cut through the candy colours of most bedding with a refreshing acidity.

This week’s free seeds are for Nicotiana ‘Sensation Mixed’, which produce scented flowers in white and shades of pink.

They grow to 36in (90cm) and favour dappled shade in a sheltered spot of fertile soil, though they will also grow well in containers.

Nicotianas are one of the plant varieties that produce small seeds and it can be fiddly to sow them thinly, increasing the need for thinning.