Amid Martha Stewart’s ample flower garden, sweet William is the best flower to routinely sow, according to design director Kevin Sharkey. “I’d always had a garden when I was young. I loved growing things from seed,” he said on “The Martha Stewart Podcast.” The timeless flower can add vibrancy to your garden. In a live chat with The Washington Post, he also recommended planting summer bloomers like zinnias, dahlias, and gladiolus nearby for added color and depth.

For best results, start your seeds indoors in the early spring or plant in the garden in late summer to early fall, avoiding the potential of frost. Scatter them in well-drained soil about ⅛ inch from the surface and approximately 6 inches apart. Keep the soil damp without overwatering or letting it dry out. Depending on when you plant your sweet William seeds, abundant blooms should emerge around the same time the following year.

Sharkey has found that sweet William also makes a great cut flower. In an Instagram post, the design director showcased an abundant, pink and red arrangement, commenting that it’s one of his favorites. It is a durable, long-lasting flower to showcase in a beautiful bouquet. When blooms are mostly full, snip the stems at ground level, as they can last up to two weeks in water. However you incorporate sweet William in your garden, practicing growing it from seed will help make the elegant flower even more perfect.

Source: housedigest.com