Nigella - African Bride (Love-In-A-Mist)
This is an easy to grow border-filler. Attractive large, snowy-white blooms with the deepest black centres are followed by intriguing and decorative, spidery seed pods. It will make a talking point in the garden and indoors as a cut or dried flower.
Sow seeds March to May. Sow thinly, 3mm deep in drills 30cm apart in well-cultivated soil which has been raked to a fine tilth. Water ground regularly, especially in dry periods. Seeds can also be sown September to October for spring/summer flowering next year. Sow in pots or trays of moist seed compost and cover with a very fine sprinkling of compost or vermiculite. Keep at between 15-20C. After sowing, do not exclude light as this helps germination. Keep the surface of the compost moist but not waterlogged; germination will usually take 14-21 days. For seeds sown March to May - when large enough to handle, thin out seedlings to 15cm apart. For seeds sown September to October, when large enough to handle, transplant seedlings into 7.5cm pots or trays.