The leaves are conspicuously marbled in green and white and in themselves produce a very attractive plant. Add to this vivid multicoloured blooms, flowering above the foliage, and an unforgettable sight is produced. Flowers summer to frost. Height 20cm (8in).
Culinary note: The peppery flavour of the leaves and colourful flowers will enrich salads and the unripened seeds can used like capers – delicious combined with cream cheese or butter in canapés.
Sow outdoors where they are to flower. Prepare the ground well and rake to a fine tilth before sowing. Sow 20mm ( 3/4in) deep, in rows 30cm (12in) apart.For earlier flowering: Sow seed, 1cm (1/2") deep, 3 seeds per 7.5cm (3in) pot, in free-draining, damp seed compost. Place at 20-29C (68-86F) until after germination. Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions before planting out after risk of frost. Before planting into containers, ensure plants are well rooted in their pots.
Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions before planting out after all risk of frost. They flower most freely in poor dryish soils and full sun.
The leaves are conspicuously marbled in green and white and in themselves produce a very attractive plant. Add to this vivid multicoloured blooms, flowering above the foliage, and an unforgettable sight is produced. Flowers summer to frost. Height 20cm (8in).
Culinary note: The peppery flavour of the leaves and colourful flowers will enrich salads and the unripened seeds can used like capers – delicious combined with cream cheese or butter in canapés.
Sow outdoors where they are to flower. Prepare the ground well and rake to a fine tilth before sowing. Sow 20mm ( 3/4in) deep, in rows 30cm (12in) apart.For earlier flowering: Sow seed, 1cm (1/2") deep, 3 seeds per 7.5cm (3in) pot, in free-draining, damp seed compost. Place at 20-29C (68-86F) until after germination. Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions before planting out after risk of frost. Before planting into containers, ensure plants are well rooted in their pots.
Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions before planting out after all risk of frost. They flower most freely in poor dryish soils and full sun.
