Sweet alyssum: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
When and how should you sow sweet alyssum outdoors?
Sow sweet alyssum, Lobularia maritima, in spring in workable, warming soil. This plant bears small white, pink or mauve flower clusters; it is not wild garlic or perennial basket-of-gold. Choose a bright, freely draining position where neighbouring plants will not cover seedlings. Adapt the start to late frost risk in your garden.
Remove competing weeds and crumble the surface. Seeds are small, so distribute them evenly rather than burying them in a deep drill. Press them against the soil and barely cover, as light aids germination. Water with a very fine spray to avoid moving them. Mark the site so you recognise future seedlings.
Maintain steady moisture until emergence without a dry crust or waterlogged soil. Once true leaves appear, thin according to the variety's stated spread, often around 15 to 20 cm for compact forms. Do not retain every seedling crowded together. Check moisture more often in pots. When grown as an annual, the same plant should not automatically be expected to flower next year: persistence depends on climate and type.
When and how should you plant sweet alyssum?
When does sweet alyssum bloom and how can you prolong flowering?
