Plant your seeds in March
### How to Grow Cornflowers, Lettuce, Beetroot, and Love-in-a-Mist for a Spring Garden
Spring is here, and it's the perfect time to start growing your own garden. Here's a step-by-step guide to growing four popular spring plants: Cornflowers, Lettuce, Beetroot, and Love-in-a-Mist.
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## Cornflower (*Centaurea cyanus*)
Sow Cornflower seeds directly outdoors in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, or in late summer for early spring blooms next year. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil and scatter the seeds directly onto the prepared soil. Lightly rake in the seeds and allow 12–18 inches between plants for best growth. Water regularly until established, and deadhead to prolong blooming. Cornflowers are drought-tolerant once mature and attract pollinators, making them excellent for cut flowers and companion planting.
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## Lettuce (*Lactuca sativa*)
Start sowing lettuce seeds in early spring when the soil is workable. For continuous harvest, sow small batches every 2–3 weeks. Lettuce prefers cool weather and can tolerate some shade, especially as temperatures rise. Sow seeds directly in the garden, barely covering with soil, or start indoors for the earliest harvest. Transplant seedlings after hardening off, and thin seedlings to 6–12 inches apart, depending on variety. Keep the soil consistently moist, and use mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Harvest outer leaves to extend the productive period, and in hot climates, provide afternoon shade to prevent bolting.
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## Beetroot (*Beta vulgaris*)
Direct sow Beetroot seeds 2–4 weeks before the last frost date in your area. Beetroot prefers full sun to partial shade in fertile, well-drained soil. Sow seeds ½ inch deep, in rows spaced 12–18 inches apart. Thin seedlings to 3–6 inches apart once true leaves appear. Keep the soil evenly moist for best root development, and mulch to conserve moisture. Harvest baby beets for tender greens and roots, or allow to mature for larger roots. Beetroots grow by pushing each other apart, so be sure to leave enough space for them to expand.
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## Love-in-a-Mist (*Nigella damascena*, esp. ‘Miss Jekyll Blue’)
Sow Love-in-a-Mist seeds directly outdoors in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked and temperatures are above 10°C (50°F). Prefers full sun to light shade in well-drained soil. Scatter seeds on prepared soil and lightly rake in. Thin seedlings to 8–12 inches apart. Water gently until established, and once mature, Love-in-a-Mist is quite drought-tolerant. Flowers are followed by attractive seed pods, which can be dried for arrangements. Self-seeds readily in the garden, so you may enjoy volunteer plants the following year.
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## Quick Comparison Table
| Plant | When to Sow | Sun Exposure | Soil Requirements | Spacing | Key Notes | |-----------------|------------------|-----------------|--------------------------|---------------|-----------------------------------| | Cornflower | Early Spring | Full sun | Well-drained | 12–18 inches | Attracts pollinators, easy cut flower | | Lettuce | Early Spring | Sun/part shade | Moist, fertile | 6–12 inches | Succession sow for harvest | | Beetroot | Early Spring | Full sun/part | Fertile, well-drained | 3–6 inches | Harvest for greens & roots | | Love-in-a-Mist | Early Spring | Sun/light shade | Well-drained | 8–12 inches | Self-seeds, attractive seed pods |
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## General Tips
- Prepare soil by loosening and enriching with compost before sowing. - Keep soil moist during germination and establishment. - Thin seedlings to prevent overcrowding and encourage healthy growth. - Mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds once plants are established.
These plants are all easy to grow from seed and will provide color, texture, and harvests for your spring garden. The transplanted lettuces are large enough to withstand slug attacks, and the clumps of beetroot seeds are planted outside, spaced 10cm apart. Happy gardening!
Seeds for Cornflowers, Lettuce, Beetroot, and Love-in-a-Mist are ideal for enhancing the lifestyle and beauty of a home-and-garden. By following the steps for each plant in the spring garden guide, you can create a diverse and colorful garden that blossoms and attracts pollinators.
