Hardy annuals, biennials and veg

Alan Toogood explains how to raise hardy annuals from seed sown in spring or autumn, hardy biennials that take two years to grow to mature, and easily grown vegetables

- Alan Toogood

IT is worth collecting seed of any true species plants in your garden because species come true to type from seed – the offspring will resemble their parents in every respect. It is not usual for gardeners to save seed of highly bred plants – hybrids, varieties and strains – as these do not come true to type from seed. With some plants, the offspring will be very different from their parents in habit or growth, shape of flower and so on, while others may, for instance, simply have differently coloured flowers.

Many hardy and half-hardy annuals and perennials, biennials and vegetables are hybrids or strains with a very complex parentage and will not come true from home-saved seed.

Hardy annuals

Hardy annuals grow from seed to maturity (flower and set seed) within one year and then die. They are a very cheap means of providing riotous colour in the summer garden and are extremely easy to grow – seed is sown outdoors in spring where the plants are to flower.

Seedsmen list a wide range of hardy annuals. Many are mixed hybrids, but true species of hardy annuals are also to be found, such as Nemophila menziesii. If you grow any of these, you will be able to save seed from year to year knowing that they will come true to type. If you save seed of hybrids, the resultant plants may not resemble the originals. However, some gardeners like to save seed of hybrids and very often exciting colours result.

Where to grow annuals

Hardy annuals need a position in full sun, as most originate from warm climates. They are often grown in a border or a bed on their own, where they will give a brilliant display all summer if a good range is grown.