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Plant Name		DIANTHUS notes to read. Few available at this time.
Plant Description		Most of my Dianthus will be available for spring & summer planting, as young plants. From September each year I try to have over a dozen varieties, or more. This year, 2011,12, I have had a very bad growing season, with all the wet & no cover for the plants, and a bad attack in winter & spring of the pest, Aphid. If your plants are struggling too, go have a close look at them, & spray. I do not grow the large Carnation type, they are specialist lines for the cut flower trade, but I'm gradually building up a good range of all sorts of the smaller Dianthus for the garden. Mostly they are double or semi double flowered, a few really nice singles, & I am starting to extend into the wee alpines. Most of the Dianthus grown here are heavily perfumed. Many flower only in spring, or summer, a few are 'perpetual' and flower all season. Many will flower twice a year. Many are old fashioned, or 'Heritage' varieties, & I'm always looking to increase the range. I'd be interested in hearing if you have some variety of interest, & I'm always happy to swap plants. It doesn't have to be a named variety, just a really nice one. As a note on the history of these plants, way back in the 1800's there was a big surge in the UK of producing different plants. Literally thousands were grown, but of course so very few now remain. There was one aspect everyone wanted in their flowers, for the flowers to split down the side. It seems incredible now that this was desireable, but that's the reason so many of our modern day Dianthus do that... it was bred into them all those decades ago. So don't growl when your flowers split down the side, it's part of their history. For growing conditions, provide free draining soil, adding some grit if it's heavy & tending to wet, & give a light dusting each winter of lime. Dianthus don't like sour or acid soils. To prevent stem or collar rot, ALWAYS plant at the same level they are in the containers & do not mulch right under the plant.Watch for sucking insects, all year, but especially towards spring. Give them air flow; Full sun, & if they are happy they will perform brilliantly.
Plant Cost		$ 0.00

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