In the wild, carnations and pinks are pros at spreading their own seeds. But if you want to take the reins and grow them yourself, you can easily use those seeds for a more targeted approach. I’m going to walk you through everything you need to know about sowing dianthus seeds so you can enjoy a garden full of home-grown blooms.
Letting Nature Do the Work
If your garden provides the right conditions, carnations will usually self-seed without any help from you. The trick here is to skip the pruning shears once the blooming season ends. If you don’t deadhead the faded flowers, they’ll develop ripe seeds that drop naturally. By next spring, you’ll start seeing plenty of tiny new seedlings popping up on their own.
Controlled Sowing
If you want a bit more control over where your flowers grow, you can gather the seeds and plant them exactly where you want them. You can get your hands on seeds by:
- Picking up a packet at your local garden center.
- Harvesting them yourself from plants you already have in your yard.
When to Get Planting
The best time to sow your seeds is during the summer, specifically between June and September. This window gives the seeds plenty of time to germinate and establish a strong root system before the colder weather hits.
Patience is Key: Flowering in Year Two
One thing to keep in mind is that seed-grown carnations won’t bloom right away—they typically flower in their second year. Even if you try to get a head start by planting in early spring, they usually won’t budge. You might see a nice rosette of leaves the first year, but you’ll have to wait until the following summer for that first big floral show.
Direct Sowing in the Garden
The easiest way to go is to sow the seeds directly into your garden beds. Just sprinkle them in your desired spot, cover them with a light dusting of soil, and give them a good watering. You should see sprouts appearing within a few weeks. While most varieties are winter hardy, it’s a good idea to give these young, tender seedlings a little extra protection during their first winter.
Starting Seeds Indoors
If you prefer, you can also start your seeds in nursery pots. Keep the soil consistently moist (but not soggy!). Once the little guys are sturdy enough, you can transplant them into larger pots or move them straight into your garden.
Other Ways to Multiply Your Plants
If you don’t want to wait on seeds, you can also propagate your carnations using cuttings. Simply snip off a side shoot about four inches long and tuck it into a pot with starter soil or directly into a garden bed. Before long, it’ll develop its own roots and start putting out new growth!
