Miss Jekyll
Classic blue flowers with finely cut foliage and a loose, airy habit.
When to plant Nigella in York
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 York · last frost ≈ 26 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
10 Sept to 8 OctSow thinly during 10th September - 8th 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
8 Oct to 19 Nov Dates as each sowing reaches this stageThin during 8th October - 19th November, leaving the strongest plants apart. Take out surplus seedlings carefully so nearby roots are not disturbed.
03
Feed and Water
10 Oct to 23 Sept 2027 Dates as each sowing reaches this stageFrom 10th October to 23rd September 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
28 Apr to 3 Oct 2027 Dates as each sowing reaches this stageFlowers open next year, from 28th April 2027 through 3rd October 2027. Pick and deadhead fading flowers. Leave a few heads if you want seed.
05
Harvest Seed Heads
17 Jun to 3 Sept 2027 Dates as each sowing reaches this stageCollect seed next year, from 17th June 2027 through 3rd 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.
Related plants
Explore similar plants you might like
Basil
Sow indoors March, plant out May, harvest June to September. Frost risk October to April.
Brussels Sprouts
Sow indoors March, plant out May, harvest September to February. Frost risk October to April.
Calabrese
Sow indoors March, plant out May, harvest July to September. Frost risk October to April.
Nigella guides by town
See how Nigella timing shifts in other towns with different frost dates.