How to grow Busy Lizzies in the UK
A carpet of flowers for the shady bits of the garden, all summer long.
- DifficultyEasy peasy
- WhereBeds or Pots
- Sunpart shade or shade
- Grows to25cm
- Spacing25cm
- Time to first pickabout 4 weeks
- Typeannual
When to sow, plant and harvest busy lizzies
| Plant | mid May to late June |
|---|---|
| In flower | early June to mid October |
Dates are for central England. Sow about two weeks later in the north and Scotland, and up to two weeks earlier in the south and south west. Get the dates for your postcode.
Planting it
- Water your new plants in their pots first
- Dig a hole a bit bigger than the pot
- Tip the plant out gently, holding the leaves, not the stem
- Pop it in the hole, firm the soil around it, and water well
- Space the plants about 25cm apart each way
Top tips for growing busy lizzies
- Choose 'New Guinea' kinds - they resist the mildew that troubles the old sort.
Soil and feeding
Poor soil - really!. Nasturtiums flower best in poor soil. Feed them and you get all leaves and no flowers.
Harvesting and eating busy lizzies
No deadheading needed - just enjoy them.
Saving your own busy lizzies seed
.
- Not one to save from - buy new plants or seed.
Where to buy busy lizzies plants
Thompson & Morgan · Suttons · Amazon
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Busy Lizzies questions
When do I plant out busy lizzies?
Plant busy lizzies out from mid May to late June, once the last frost has passed.
When can I enjoy busy lizzies?
Busy Lizzies is ready from early June to mid October. No deadheading needed - just enjoy them.
How long do busy lizzies take to grow?
Roughly 4 weeks from sowing or planting until the first harvest.
Are busy lizzies easy to grow?
Busy Lizzies are rated 'easy peasy' for beginners, and can be grown in the ground or a raised bed or in pots and containers.
Plan your own garden: it tells you what to do and when, for your postcode.
Start growing - it's free