Mr Fothergill's Helichrysum Strawflower Mix Seeds, First choice flowers for dried displays. To dry, cut before flowers are fully open and hang upside down in an airy place.

Sow indoors, a warm kitchen windowsill is all you need for starting these seeds. Sow 0.5cm deep, in trays of compost. Water well and place in a warm position. A temperature of 15-20°C. is ideal. Keep moist. Seedlings usually appear in 14-21 days. Transplant seedlings 5cm apart to other trays when large enough to handle. (Always handle by a leaf, never by the stem.) Grow on in cooler, but not cold conditions. Gradually accustom young plants to outside conditions (avoid frosts), before planting out 25cm apart, when frosts are over.

• A half hardy annual, flowers the same year as sown
• Easy to grow 'everlasting' flowers for bright displays
• Tall stems and a wide range of colours, ideal for cutting

Sow time: Feb-Apr
Flowering/Harvesting time: Jun-Sep