When to plant Nigella in Manchester

Nigella damascena

Nigella
Nigella · 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

Add to garden

Calibrated to Manchester · last frost ≈ 17 Apr

Sow outdoors March to April, harvest June to September. Frost risk November to April.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Sow outdoorsNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoYesYesYesYesNoNoNo

Growing guide

What to do through the growing season

Growing guide for

Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.

Sow straight into the ground. Nigella dislikes being moved.

  1. 01

    Sow Seeds

    20 Mar to 17 Apr Optional · repeat every 3 weeks

    Sow thinly around 20th March - 17th April on finely raked, weed-free soil. Cover with . Keep the seedbed just moist until seedlings appear. Sow a fresh batch every 21 days.

  2. 02

    Thin Seedlings

    17 Apr to 29 May Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    After each sowing, when seedlings are large enough to handle, thin to .

  3. 03

    Feed and Water

    19 Apr to 8 Nov Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    After each sowing, from 19th April, water only in dry spells. Avoid overfeeding.

  4. 04

    Deadhead Flowers

    19 May to 8 Nov Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    After each sowing, pick and deadhead from 19th May to 8th November. Leave a few heads if you want seed.

  5. 05

    Harvest Seed Heads

    18 Jun to 4 Sept Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    After each sowing, collect ripe seed heads from 18th June through 4th September once they are dry and papery. Leave some heads if you want pods.

Suggested varieties

Popular varieties of Nigella to consider

Miss Jekyll

Classic blue flowers with finely cut foliage and a loose, airy habit.

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.

Nigella guides by town

See how Nigella timing shifts in other towns with different frost dates.