HAVE you collected your ripe seedheads yet? I ask because I had a bit of a time with my Digitalis (foxgloves to you and me) as they were so dry that most of them shed themselves before I could get them in the paper bag. This means that I may have a forest erupting next spring or it may mean that they don’t stand a chance of germinating because of the cover from other plants’ leaf growth. Fortunately I got enough to be able to sow them myself into some pots. They were a particularly lovely shade – cream with dark spots inside (Dalmation Series) – and I am hoping that there are no plain pink ones so near that the bees visited first, or they’ll all end up that colour (cross-pollination always ends up with the ‘source’ colour dominating).

Foxgloves are biennials – that is to say that the common foxglove, Digitalis purpurea, is a biennial and the one you most commonly see. There are perennial types and I have a lovely Digitalis parviflora ‘Milk Chocolate’ under the Silver Birch tree I told you about a while ago. It would be even lovelier if the recycling lorries would make more of an effort not to drive over it and other plants, as they reversed around the bend.

Now, being a biennial means that you put down roots and grow leaves the first year and then flower, set seed and die the second year. Do not confuse it with bi-annual – this means happening twice a year, as in a fete or some such other. Generally, you sow the seed as soon as it becomes available so I might be a bit late here but I am not one to hold to time schedules. I shall get on and sow my lovely foxgloves and see what happens.

Other biennials are – Lunaria annua (Honesty), some poppies but not all (check the packet), Daucus carota ‘Black Knight’ – a really elegant form of the carrot family; Heperis matronalis (Sweet Rocket), Matthiola incana (Stocks), and Anthriscus sylvestris ‘Ravenswing’ – the one that had all my slugs hanging off it!

The other thing to think about is hardy annuals – yes, I know – summer 2016 seems ages away but it will be here before you know it, and the received wisdom is that annuals sown now and allowed to grow on unimpeded, make better plants than those normally sown in late spring. You’ll need space (which I don’t have) and remember that many do not like having their roots messed about with once they have grown. Don’t even think of sweet peas yet – leave them until October if you want to get them on early. Instead, think Malope trifolia (annual Mallow), Nigella, Briza maxima (Quaking Grass), cornflowers, pot marigolds (calendula) and Eschscholzia (Californian poppy). I love the idea that I can look forward to next year by getting a move-on; I also realise that not all I sow outside now will get through the winter.

Hot on their heels – lovely violas and pansies are back to fill your poor, pathetic-looking summer containers. To be honest, if it all looks too horrible for words, get rid of it and fill with new, fresh plants to cheer you up. Don’t forget about underplanting with some mini-bulbs such as mini narcissus, such as ‘ Tete a Tete’ and crocus like ‘Snow Bunting’ – they’ll see you through. Do check heights and flowering times before parting with your hard-earned cash. Add some mini ivies (Hedera) or some mini conifers eg. ‘Wilma’ and they’ll do you proud.