The Sweet William challenges our patience, because it only unfolds its picturesque blossoms in the second year. A Dianthus barbatus compensates us for this waiting time with a firework of bright colors and frugal undemanding. How the nostalgic cottage garden flower transforms your green kingdom into a sea of flowers is explained in the following answers to frequently asked questions.

Sweet William often only show their impressive flowering potential in the second year

Plant Sweet William correctly

In two stages, you settle a two-year-old Sweet William in the garden. Sow the seeds in the seedbed in May for planting in their final location in August/September. How to do it right:

  • Sow the seeds broadly in a finely crumbly bed in a sheltered spot
  • Thinly sieve with substrate, press lightly and pour with a fine shower
  • Water regularly and weed consistently every few days
  • Pinch once above the sixth pair of leaves to achieve bushy branching

If the seedbed is crowded, plant the young carnations 20-25 cm apart in the intended location. Enrich the soil there beforehand with compost or bark humus and a few handfuls of rock flour (€14.13) or algae lime. Please keep the current planting depth and water generously.

care tips

The be-all and end-all of successful care is regular watering and cleaning of faded flowers. In addition, a starter fertilization with compost and algae lime gets the Sweet William plant going. In the pot, the charming flower is happy about liquid fertilizer in June and August in a 2-week cycle. In exposed locations, we recommend winter protection in the form of autumn leaves and fir fronds. Please place planters in bright winter quarters before the first frost.
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Which location is suitable?

In a sunny location, the Sweet William thrives vital and healthy. This applies equally to flowers in beds and pots. Choose a spot with loose, humus-rich, nutrient-rich and calcareous soil. Use commercially available potting soil as a substrate and please enrich it with some rock flour or algae lime.

What soil does the plant need?

Characteristic of cottage garden plants is their preference for fresh, moist, humus-rich and nutrient-rich soil. In this regard, the Sweet William is no exception. In addition, the biennial perennial feels particularly well cared for when the soil acid value of 7.5 to 8.0 shows a slight alkaline tendency.

What is the best planting time?

Two dates are relevant for the proper cultivation of a carnation: Sowing in May/June in the seed bed and planting in the final location by September at the latest. Anyone who takes this sequence to heart when planting can look forward to the picturesque blossoms in the following early summer.

When is flowering time?

The blooming period of a carnation extends from May/June to August. However, the biennial perennial only puts on its colorful flower dress in the year after sowing and planting. Until then, the Dianthus barbatus develops a basal leaf rosette, which produces the desired inflorescence in the following season. To ensure that the charming summer flower retains its radiance over this long period of time, please cut off faded flowers regularly.

Properly trimming the sweetheart

There are several occasions when you cut the Sweet William. The following overview gives all the important details:

  • During cultivation, pinch off the seedlings once above the sixth pair of leaves
  • For the vase in the early morning, cut the stems with slightly open buds close to the ground
  • Regularly clean out wilted flower heads to ensure constant reblooming

In regions with mild winters, there is the prospect of another blossom festival next year. In this case, only cut the carnation back to the ground next spring so that the withered leaves protect the root ball from the rigors of winter.

watering sweetheart

The Sweet William reacts extremely bad-tempered to drought stress by refusing to flower and letting the foliage hang limp. Therefore, water the summer flower regularly when the soil or substrate has dried. The best time to pour regular tap water directly onto the root disk is in the early morning or evening.

Fertilize Sweet William properly

The modest demands of a Sweet William find expression not least in the nutrient supply. An organic starter fertilization with compost and horn shavings as well as a handful of algae lime cover the needs in the bed. In pots and flower boxes (€16.99), please fertilize every 2-3 weeks in June and August with a liquid fertilizer or put fertilizer sticks (€4.48) once into the substrate with a long-term effect.

hibernate

In the year of planting, the Sweet William goes into winter with a basal rosette of leaves. So that the cold season cannot harm the root ball, we recommend covering it with leaves and brushwood for rough locations. Since a Dianthus barbatus does not always stick to the two-year life plan, there are prospects of another flowering period in regions with mild winters. Do not cut back the carnation plant in autumn, but spread a protective layer over the planting site again. With a little luck, the flower will sprout again. At least she has provided plenty of offspring by self-sowing.

Propagating Sweet William

The meager selection of propagation methods is characteristic of biennial plants. Only sowing has a chance of success for a Sweet William. To do this, collect the ripe, approximately 1 cm large capsule fruits at the end of the flowering period. These contain the valuable seed, which should be kept in a dark, cool and dry place. Sow the seeds directly into the bed in May or June. At temperatures of 15-18 degrees Celsius, germination begins within 7-14 days.

Sweet William does not bloom

Do not struggle with a lack of flowers in the first year. The Sweet William is designed as a biennial perennial. This property implies that in the year of sowing and planting, a rosette of leaves will first develop. This hibernates in order to let the enchanting inflorescence rise in the following season.

Beautiful varieties

  • Nigrescens: Much-acclaimed Sweet William, which enchants us with velvety, dark red flowers; Growth height 35-40 cm
  • Oeschberg: The premium variety spreads nostalgic flair with bright crimson flowers; Growth height 40-50 cm
  • Scarlet Queen: Royal splendor of carnations for the early summer garden and balcony; Growth height 50-60 cm
  • Albus: Pure white Dianthus barbatus that contrasts beautifully with its colored counterparts; Growth height 50-60 cm
  • Country of origin: Two-tone classic whose deep red flowers are decorated with a white eye; Growth height 50-60 cm
  • Indian carpet: A mix of delicate dwarf varieties, ideal for edging beds and pot flowers; Growth height 25 cm

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Vegetable garden