Guide to growing garden plants - Dianthus (Sweet William)
Dianthus can come in many forms; annuals and perennials include the carnations, whereas the biennials include Sweet William.
Sweet williams and other Dianthus plants tend to have a bushy nature and grow from 30 to 75cm in height.
Flowers may be red, violet white or pink when one coloured; however Dianthus can often have double and triple coloured flowers, that are singular or double petalled; often with serrated edges.
How to grow Sweet William (Dianthus)
If sowing sweet William seeds outdoors then they should be sown at a depth of about 7mm into a sunny part of the garden (from mid spring to July). They should be grown with a spacing of 20 to 25cm apart in a deep and rich slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 6 to 7). Sweet William is a biennial so will flower in the second year. if you prefer to start seedlings of Sweet Williams off indoors then they should be started about 8 weeks before they are transplanted into the garden in autumn (or late spring). Germination at a temperature of about 20 degrees Centigrade takes from one to two weeks.
Caring for Dianthus
If you require more Dianthus plants then cuttings can be took from the root.