Stock Flowers
The stock flower, also called Gillyflower, is an attractive and fragrant annual flower. There are plenty of different single and double bloom varieties. Stock can create lovely colour in your garden for a long season throughout the spring and summer.
You might be surprised to learn that flower stocks are actually part of the brassica family. The clove-like fragrance would give no clue as to this plant's family origin. Stock plants are great for a scent garden or for containers.
How to grow stock flowers from seed
Stock seeds are most usually sown indoors in early spring and then planted out later in that season. Stocks will grow best in sunny or part shaded areas in moist yet well-drained soil. Stock seedlings will benefit from a general purpose organic fertiliser or feed applied upon planting out and then once a month or so thereafter.
When growing stock from seed, you can tell which of the seeds will give double blooms by keeping the seedlings at a temperature of below 10 degrees C for a week. The palest seedlings will have double flowers.
How far apart should you plant stock flowers?
They should be planted around 15-20cm apart but will tolerate a little crowding. They arguably look best when planted in larger clumps of mixed varieties. When planting be sure to water well and keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.
Flowering stocks season - when are stocks in season?
If well cared for, stocks can flower throughout the summer and even into the autumn. If you plant stock seeds later in the year, stocks can also stand through reasonably mild winters and will provide early flowers the following year.
Stockflower plant care and deadheading
You can prolong the period of flowering by making sure that you deadhead the plants assiduously. Stock flowers are also lovely as cut flowers and can enliven and scent your home as well as your garden.
Some varieties of stocks are taller than others. This means that by choosing the right varieties you can create some layering in mixed flower borders.
What does the flower stock look like?
Stock flowers come in a range of colors, including white, purple, pink, yellow and lavender. The flowers grow 'up' the stalk, one of top of each other. The stems and leaves are dark greyish-green. The petals are randomly either arranged in single or double rows.
Why grow stock plants in the garden?
Stocks flowers are grown primarily for their colours and scent. Stock comes in a wide variety of colours and heights and can therefore look good in any garden. They can be grown in beds or containers and can be brought into the house as cut flowers.
With their vibrancy of appearance and scent, stocks are great in mixed arrays to attract bees and other beneficial insect life to your garden. Purple flowers in particular will attract pollinating bees which can aid you in your other growing efforts.