Crop Rotation Group
Miscellaneous
|
|
Soil
Average garden soil with excellent drainage.
|
Position
Full sun.
|
Frost tolerant
Annual dianthus tolerates light frost with ease, but can be damaged by hard freezes. Where winters are mild, dianthus can be grown as a winter annual.
|
Feeding
Encourage fast growth by mixing a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil before planting.
|
Companions
Dianthus combines well with other cold-tolerant annuals including pansies, dusty miller, and ornamental cabbage and kale.
|
Spacing
Single Plants: 11" (30cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 11" (30cm) with 11" (30cm) row gap (minimum)
|
Sow and Plant
Set out stocky seedlings in early spring, or in fall where winters are mild.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
|
Notes
Dianthus blooms earlier than other annuals, and well-sited plants may persist for two years in climates with mild winters. Colors include pink, red, lavender, white and many bicolors.
|
Harvesting
Some varieties have stems long enough for cutting. As flowers fade, snip them off with scissors to keep the plants looking neat.
|
Troubleshooting
Both rabbits and deer like to nibble dianthus foliage. In summer, spider mites cause occasional problems and can be controlled with insecticidal soap.
|