A good selection of Hardy Annuals for Summer Colour

Most seed catalogues will have a good selection of hardy annuals that can simply be sown into their flowering positions in the garden.

It is probably easier to see the list in a catalogue - rather than having to look through the seed racks in a garden centre, which tend to be just a mass of colour - arranged alphabetically - no help!

Our list below should help you pick a good range. remember that popular varieties can sell out early! many re-seed themselves.

• Alyssum - sweet smelling white flowers - low for front edge
• Anchusa - bright blue flowers on medium size plant
• Pot marigold (Calendula officinalis). The old fashioned English Marigold - re-seeds as well
• Candytuft (Iberis) - A range of mainly pink and blue shades. Not to confuse with the perennial white rock plant.
• Clarkia - Tall spikes (2ft - 600mm) of delicate pink shades - easy
• Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) - Blues and pinks - a good carpeting plant
• Godetia - has to be one of my favourites - with masses of pink flowers -good carpeting
• Gypsophila - Gyp - a great white for mid or back border
• Larkspur (Delphinium annual) - masses of blues and pink spikes
• Mallow (Lavatera trimestris) - a real show off!
• Poached-egg flower (Limnanthes douglasii), plenty of flowers - name describes well
• Love-lies-bleeding (Amaranth us caudatus) - An unusual drooping pink - try it.
• Night¬scented stock (Matthiola bicornis), dainty - and VERY scented
• Mignonette (Reseda odorata). Not the showiest - but the scent - whaw!
• Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus), Every garden should have them
• Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena) Haunting powder blue
• Poppies (Papaver) - spolit for choice. the Shirly poppies are good - as are the opium poppies - Icelandic or Papaver somniferum
• Annual scabious (Scabiosa atropurpurea), Pastel blues and pinks - good carpeting
• Sunflower (Helianthus annuus), Not just yellow these days - lemon through to almost black!
• Sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus). No need to describe - go for it! Let them cover a fence or compost bin.

There are others to try - but these hardy annuals will get you off to a good start, and they are so easy. Just scatter these hardy annuals where you want them to flower!

Most hardy annuals can be sown in April - or earlier if it is not too cold.