SOWING INSTRUCTIONS
Seed To Bloom:
16-18 weeks
Starting Indoors:
Stratify for 30 days. Sow in a container, cover with a plastic bag and refrigerate, or mix seed with damp clean sand or vermiculite, bag, and refrigerate at 35-40°F. Check often for germination and maintain a lightly moist medium. Transplant any seedlings as they germinate. After the chill period, sow into soilless media and keep at 65-70°F.
Starting Outdoors:
Direct sow in fall or earliest spring, or winter sow into pots in the shade, covered with a thin layer of clean sand and a wire screen to keep out mice and voles. Check for moisture at regular intervals.
WHEN TO SET OUTSIDE
At last spring frost date.
PLACEMENT & CULTIVATION
Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate's dangling tassels of bright pink flowers mingle well with branched sunflowers and salvias at the back of the summer border or in wild areas, where it attracts an abundance of pollinators—bees, wasps, beetles, and more. Excellent cut flowers, fresh or dry. It self-sows readily, look for thead-like red seedling stems in spring.
Fertilizer:
If soil is not rich, mix in a few inches of compost prior to planting. Topdress with an inch or two yearly thereafter if allowing to self-sow.
Diseases & Pests:
No major problems. May self-sow excessively in some warmer regions.
When to Cut for Bouquets:
Cut when florets are 3/4 open, may be dried.
