Late Summer Fire Seed Collection

A gorgeous array of pink, creamy white, apricot, tangerine and lemon to bring early cheer in May. Iceland Poppies are easy to grow and once you have them, you’ll want them forever. Remember to sear the stems of the poppies once you have cut them, to help them last longer in the vase. You can do this by dipping the stems in just-boiled water for five seconds.

‘Jewel of Africa’ has tangerine, crimson and cream flowers. I love it for a happy tumble of intrepid leaves and flowers. Climbers like these are excellent for pots and on wigwams in the garden. They go on and on, right through to the frosts and will self sow. Add the flowers and the bright green fresh-tasting peppery leaves to salads and rice dishes for some extra colour and flavour.

A wonderful, multi-headed sunflower which can grow to 180cm tall. Each stem has a brilliant array of colours, ranging from raspberry, chocolate, apricot, to golden yellow, to give you flowers until the end of September. You can’t go wrong – these are easy to grow and will dance merrily in the garden until you pick them.

Don’t miss out on this lesser-known Mexican sunflower. It is my favourite shade of orange, so richly tangerine it is almost scarlet. Easy to grow and flowering until the frosts, tithonia loves the heat, so plant it somewhere it will thrive in hot weather like against a south-facing wall or hedge.

Try growing this spiky, sassy, large-flowered zinnia. You won’t be disappointed. Each flower has wonderful, exotic bursts of salmon and peach and will be productive all the way from July to October. Will tolerate some drought and heat.