Mr Fothergill's Statice Special Mix Seeds, A favourite for cutting and drying. To dry, cut when fully open, tie in small bunches and hang upside down in a dry, 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 14-28 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 20cm apart, when frosts are over. To dry, cut when fully open, tie in small bunches and hang upside down in a dry, airy place.

• A half hardy annual, flowers the same year as sown
• Fascinating flowers in bright colours, feel ‘dry’ to touch
• Excellent for cutting as a fresh or dried flower

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