Pinks are ‘divine flowers’ that can be planted in late April / May or October and produce a continuous supply of flowers suitable for cutting or exhibiting. They are perennials that are at their best for 2-3 summers. Scent, colour and uniformity are just 3 reasons for growing Pinks or other varieties of Dianthus.
Cultivation of Pinks
Pinks are completely trouble free if planted in a sunny position, in free draining soil. (asking for trouble there)
Occasionally water like any other garden plant and dead head after flowering.
Pinks bloom from early spring until the first frosts.
Hardy Pinks don’t mind the cold, so no need to lift them over the cold winter months.
Pinks will be a talking point in winter due to their silver/grey leaves .
Each spring tidy up around the plants and work in a fertilizer like Growmore, dried blood or Superphosphate
Tips and Ideas for Good Pinks.
Try growing Pinks in containers or growbags which can be placed in a sheltered sunny spot in your garden. It saves weeding and makes feeding and watering easier.
Grow a range of varieties with long stems and good colour. Pinks flower all summer but have 3-4 flushes of flower so with a mix of varieties there should always be some available for cutting.
Take softwood cuttings in spring or allow plants to self seed.
The perennial double flowering Carnation, Dianthus Caryophyllus needs more care to get button hole quality flowers but there are 100′s of Dianthus species to grow.
No need to mulch or disbud Pinks
Varieties and Colours to Grow
- Doris pink with a red inner
- Gran’s Favourite white with rings of purple.
- Devon Cream yellow. (many good Pinks come from Devon)
- Devon Dove white
- Carmine Letticia Wyatt
- Arctic Fire a dwarf pink 6″ tall for rockeries.
Seeds and plants are available from Thompson Morgan
A further selection is available from Southview Nurseries
Varieties Recommended by The British National Carnation and Pinks Society.
‘Freckles, a Camellia Rose, flecked and spotted scarlet. Double blooms and highly scented. One of the C.H. Fielder’s Imperial Pinks. This Pink is one of the very best to grow. Supplied from Hayward’s Carnations and Pinks on telephone 01243 576700
Widecombe Fair, raised in 1974 a Pinkish/Cream with a hint of Yellow. Double blooms and scented. A flower favoured by florists to use in bridal bouquets as it blends so well with other pastel blooms. A real discussion point. Supplied by Allwoods on telephone 01273 844229
Devon Wizard, raised in, Devon in 1987 a Reddish/Purple bloom on stout stems. Double blooms and clove scented. Another winner from the Whetman stable and a real eye catcher. Supplied by Whetman’s on telephone 01626 863328
Sam Barlow, raised in the 19th century, a White ground with zoned Purple Double blooms. A very pretty flower that has truly stood the test of time. Supplied by Southview Nurseries on telephone 0118 9732206
Laced Hero, raised in 1947, White ground, laced Purple, zoned black. Double blooms. One of the best laced varieties around. Supplied by Kingstone Cottage Nursery on telephone 01989 565267′
Photo credit flickr pizzodisevo
credit ndrwfgg
