Miss Jekyll
Classic blue flowers with finely cut foliage and a loose, airy habit.
When to plant Nigella in London
Nigella damascena
A hardy annual grown from direct sowing in the UK. It does best in open, sunny ground with free-draining soil. It often self-seeds if you leave some flower heads to mature.
45 cm · Full Sun · Moderate Water
Calibrated to London · last frost ≈ 4 Apr
| Activity | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow outdoors | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Harvest | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Growing guide
What to do through the growing season
Growing guide for
Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.
Sow once in free-draining soil for flowers next year. Protect young seedlings only when hard frost is due.
01
Sow Seeds
22 Sept to 20 OctSow thinly during 22nd September - 20th October on finely raked, weed-free soil where the plants are to flower. Cover with . Keep the seedbed lightly moist until seedlings appear. This is one sowing, not a run of batches.
02
Thin Seedlings
20 Oct to 1 Dec Dates as each sowing reaches this stageThin during 20th October - 1st December, leaving the strongest plants apart. Take out surplus seedlings carefully so nearby roots are not disturbed.
03
Feed and Water
22 Oct to 5 Oct 2027 Dates as each sowing reaches this stageFrom 22nd October to 5th October 2027, water in dry spells once growth restarts. Cover young plants with fleece only if hard frost is due. Take it off in mild weather.
04
Deadhead Flowers
10 May to 15 Oct 2027 Dates as each sowing reaches this stageFlowers open next year, from 10th May 2027 through 15th October 2027. Pick and deadhead fading flowers. Leave a few heads if you want seed.
05
Harvest Seed Heads
29 Jun to 15 Sept 2027 Dates as each sowing reaches this stageCollect seed next year, from 29th June 2027 through 15th September 2027, once the heads are dry and papery. Hang them indoors to finish drying, then shake out the seed.
Suggested varieties
Popular varieties of Nigella to consider
Persian Jewels
Mixed colours on compact plants, useful for bedding and cutting.
Transformer
Grown more for the striped seed pods than the flowers, with a neat habit.
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Calabrese
Sow indoors February to March, plant out April to May, harvest June to August. Frost risk November to April.
Nigella guides by town
See how Nigella timing shifts in other towns with different frost dates.