Bring timeless beauty and a touch of elegance to your garden with Carnation Flower Seeds (Dianthus caryophyllus). Known for their delightful fragrance and ruffled petals, carnations are a favorite among gardeners and florists alike. These versatile flowers are perfect for garden beds, borders, and cutting gardens, offering long-lasting blooms in a variety of vibrant colors.

Features

1. Premium Quality Seeds: Each pack contains high-quality Carnation Flower seeds, carefully selected to ensure excellent germination rates and robust plant growth.
2. Fragrant Blooms: Carnations are renowned for their sweet, spicy fragrance and ruffled, multi-layered petals.
3. Variety of Colors: Available in a range of colors including red, pink, white, yellow, and bi-colored varieties, carnations add a vibrant touch to any garden.
4. Long-Lasting: Carnations are known for their long-lasting blooms, making them perfect for fresh cut flowers and floral arrangements.
5. Hardy Perennial: Suitable for a range of climates, carnations are hardy perennials that can bloom year after year with proper care.

Benefits

• Aesthetic Appeal: The intricate, ruffled petals and diverse color palette of carnations create a stunning visual display in any garden.
• Fragrant Garden: Enjoy the delightful fragrance of carnations, which can enhance your garden's ambiance and attract pollinators.
• Perfect for Bouquets: With their long-lasting blooms and sturdy stems, carnations are ideal for creating beautiful bouquets and floral arrangements.
• Easy to Grow: Carnations are relatively low-maintenance and suitable for both novice and experienced gardeners.
• Drought Tolerant: Once established, carnations are moderately drought-tolerant, making them a resilient choice for various garden conditions.

Planting Instructions

1. Timing: Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date or sow directly outdoors after the last frost.
2. Soil Preparation: Choose well-draining soil with good organic content. Carnations prefer slightly alkaline soil.
3. Sowing Depth: Plant seeds 1/8 inch deep in seed-starting mix. Keep the soil consistently moist until germination, which typically occurs within 2-3 weeks.
4. Sunlight: Provide full sun to partial shade. Carnations thrive in bright, sunny locations but can tolerate some shade.
5. Spacing: Space plants about 12 inches apart to allow for proper air circulation and growth.

Growing and Care

• Watering: Water regularly, keeping the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Reduce watering once the plants are established.
• Fertilization: Feed with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during the growing season to promote healthy growth and abundant blooms.
• Pruning: Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming and trim back any leggy growth to maintain a bushy appearance.
• Pest and Disease Management: Monitor for common pests such as aphids and spider mites. Use organic pest control methods if necessary. Ensure proper spacing and airflow to reduce the risk of fungal diseases.

Harvesting

• Timing: Harvest flowers when they are half-open for the longest vase life. Cut the stems early in the morning when the flowers are hydrated.
• Method: Use clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears to cut the stems at an angle, just above a set of leaves.