Aquilegia Mckana'S Giant

One of the cottage garden's most beautiful flowers, McKanas Giant produces long spurred blooms in a multitude of colours and combinations. The flowers have the most delicate and unusual looking appearance and make an ideal plant to have in your flower bed, reaching an approximate height of 75cm. This variety is also very attractive to bees and pollinators. WHEN TO SOW April to May WHERE TO SOW Sow the seed in a well prepared nursery bed about 1cm (½") deep in rows 15cm (6") apart. Keep well watered. WHAT TO DO NEXT As the seedlings develop, thin gradually until they are 10cm (4") apart. Keep weed free. Plant out into the flowering site in late September or early October 40cm (16") apart. MATURITY May to June HANDY TIP After flowering, cut all stems back to ground level. Most effective planted in groups of 6 plants or more. FLOWER SEED SOWING TECHNIQUE HARDY PERENNIAL Prepare a nursery bed well in advance, ensuring that it is weed free. Choose a time for sowing when the soil does not stick to your shoes but is moist below the surface and fairly dry on top. The soil should be crumbly and even. Rake the surface after a light treading. Mark out drills in the nursery bed or mark out an area for scattering the seed to rake in afterwards. Rows should be approximately 30cm apart and clearly labelled at the end. Sow the seed carefully and thinly, aiming to get a seed every 2cm (3/4") and then gently rake the soil to cover, and firm with the back of the rake. Water gently if the weather is dry for a period, but do not water too often as this will encourage the roots to form just below the surface and you will be watering all summer long to save your plants. Aim to encourage the root to look further down for water, and you will have a more relaxed summer and a finer show of flowers in the long run. When the plants have formed their first pair of true leaves, thin the plants to 10cm (4") apart and firm the soil around the bases. In September or October carefully raise the plants taking a ball of soil with the roots using a trowel and plant them in the flowering site and gently water them in. It is sometimes beneficial to give a little protection from winter winds for the first year