{"product_id":"fothergills-nigella-midnight-seeds","title":"Fothergill's Nigella Midnight Seeds","description":"\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eDetails:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eBotanical Name:\u003c\/b\u003e Nigella papillosa 'Midnight' (often listed as Nigella hispanica 'Midnight'), a premium, highly ornamental Spanish love-in-a-mist selection.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003ePlant Class:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardy Annual, establishing with exceptional speed from a spring sowing to rapidly flower and seed in the same season.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eExotic Dark Purple Blooms:\u003c\/b\u003e Bears an abundance of large, open, saucer-shaped flowers in an opulent shade of rich, deep indigo-purple. The petals surround an exotic, prominent crown of near-black central stamens, creating an incredibly artistic, dramatic focal point.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eLacy Textural Foliage:\u003c\/b\u003e Features a highly attractive architecture of finely cut, bright green, and fern-like lacy foliage. This delicate, frothy canopy creates a beautiful, soft visual contrast with the intense saturation of the dark blooms.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eStately Tall Framework:\u003c\/b\u003e Naturally forms a robust, multi-branched, bushy, and upright framework reaching a mature height of 90cm (36in). Its tall stature makes it perfect for weaving through the middle or back of sunny cottage borders and meadow planting schemes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eQuirky Two-Season Interest:\u003c\/b\u003e Long after the flowers fade, the plant remains a major garden asset. It develops highly structural, deeply ribbed, and horned seed pods in a dark purple-maroon shade, effortlessly extending the plant's seasonal beauty into the autumn.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eElite Fresh or Dried Cut Flower:\u003c\/b\u003e Highly sought after by floral designers; both the long-stemmed, exotic fresh blossoms and the unique structural dried seed pods make magnificent, dramatic additions to home floral displays.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eCare Instructions:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eSowing Position:\u003c\/b\u003e Nigella features a delicate, sensitive taproot and strongly dislikes being transplanted. For the absolute best results, always sow seeds thinly directly into their final flowering positions outdoors from March to May for a summer display. Alternatively, sow in September to over-winter the plants for an extra-early, extra-robust flush of flowers the following spring. Position in full sun.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eSimple Sowing Method:\u003c\/b\u003e Rake the soil to a fine, crumbly tilth in a weed-free bed. Make shallow drills 0.5cm deep, scatter the seeds thinly, and cover lightly with soil. Water the rows gently with a fine-rose watering can, keeping the seedbed evenly moist until germination occurs (usually within 14–21 days).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eThinning \u0026amp; Maintenance:\u003c\/b\u003e Once the young, feathery seedlings emerge, thin them out gradually to a final spacing of 15–20cm apart to give the branched bushes plenty of room to grow. Nigella is incredibly low-maintenance and drought-tolerant once established, requiring only occasional deep watering during extended dry spells.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eSuccessional Harvesting:\u003c\/b\u003e For a non-stop, continuous supply of fresh summer flowers, sow small successional batches of seeds every 3 to 4 weeks throughout the spring. To use as dried everlastings, harvest the unique horned seed pods in late summer when they are firm and fully colored, hanging them upside down in a warm, dry, and airy room.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Fothergill's","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57675111235967,"sku":"FTG-47128","price":3.19,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0305\/7713\/1659\/files\/Fothergill_s_Nigella_Midnight_Seeds.jpg?v=1780477256","url":"https:\/\/www.sam-turner.co.uk\/products\/fothergills-nigella-midnight-seeds","provider":"Sam Turner \u0026 Sons","version":"1.0","type":"link"}