Sowing & Growing

To sow Anemone de Caen seeds in the UK, it’s best to wait until the soil has warmed up in the spring, around March to April. Firstly, prepare the soil by removing any weeds and debris and then add some compost or well-rotted manure to improve the soil’s fertility. Next, scatter the seeds over the surface of the soil and cover them lightly with a thin layer of soil or vermiculite. Water the soil well, but be careful not to wash the seeds away. The best temperature for germination is between 15-20°C (59-68°F), so it’s important to keep the soil consistently moist and warm until the seedlings emerge. Once the seedlings are established, thin them out to around 10cm (4 inches) apart to allow enough space for growth. It’s important to keep the soil consistently moist throughout the growing season and to feed the plants every few weeks with a general-purpose fertiliser. Anemone de Caen typically flowers in late spring to early summer, and the blooms can be harvested for cut flowers once they are fully open. It’s important to deadhead the flowers regularly to encourage the plant to continue producing more blooms. In the autumn, the foliage will start to die back, indicating that it’s time to lift the corms for winter storage. After lifting, brush off any excess soil and allow the corms to dry out before storing them in a cool, dry place until the following spring.