When to plant Nigella in the UK

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
Sow outdoors April to May, harvest July to September.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Sow outdoorsNoNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYesYesNoNoNo

UK averages · set your town for dates worked out from your local frost records · how dates are worked out

Growing guide

What to do through the growing season

Dates for your town

Set your town to see planting windows worked out from local frost history, not a generic UK calendar.

Growing guide for the UK

Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.

Sow straight into the ground. Nigella dislikes being moved.

  1. 01

    Sow Seeds

    early April to early May UK average · set your town for your exact dates Optional · repeat every 3 weeks

    Sow thinly around early April to early May 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

    early May to mid-June UK average · set your town for your exact dates Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

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

  3. 03

    Feed and Water

    early May to late October UK average · set your town for your exact dates Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    After each sowing, from early May, water only in dry spells. Avoid overfeeding.

  4. 04

    Deadhead Flowers

    early June to late October UK average · set your town for your exact dates Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    After each sowing, pick and deadhead from early June to late October. Leave a few heads if you want seed.

  5. 05

    Harvest Seed Heads

    early July to mid-September UK average · set your town for your exact dates Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    After each sowing, collect ripe seed heads from early July through mid-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.