Okay, so, let’s talk about these stocks, specifically the night-scented variety, the Matthiola kind. I decided to give these a try, see what the fuss was all about. I’ve never grown them, so I decided to document my journey growing them.
First off, I got my hands on some seeds. I went to the local store and got a few packets of night-scented stock seeds. I read the packets and got some helpful information about growing them.
I prepared the soil in my garden. It was just regular garden soil, nothing fancy. I made sure to get rid of any weeds and raked the soil until it was nice and fine. I watered the soil a bit to make sure it was moist before I planted the seeds.
I planted the seeds directly into the soil. I sprinkled them thinly, just like the instructions said, about a quarter-inch deep. I made sure that the soil is moist, warm, and free from weeds. I had read that germination usually takes about 10-14 days.
After planting, I watered the area lightly, just enough to keep the soil moist but not soaked. I did this every day, especially since it was pretty warm out. This helps the seeds germinate.
Then came the waiting game. It took about a week and a half, maybe a bit longer, before I saw the first little sprouts peeking out. I was so excited to see the first signs of growth from my seeds!
Once the seedlings were up and growing, I thinned them out a bit. I did this in stages, making sure they weren’t too crowded. I ended up spacing them about 12 inches apart, just like the instructions suggested.
- Seed Sourcing: Got the seeds from a local store.
- Soil Prep: Used regular garden soil, cleared weeds, and raked it fine.
- Planting: Sowed seeds directly, thinly, about 1/4 inch deep in moist soil.
- Watering: Light daily watering to keep the soil moist.
- Germination: Took about 10-14 days to see the first sprouts.
- Thinning: Thinned seedlings in stages, spaced them 12 inches apart.
Watching Them Grow
Over the next few weeks, I kept an eye on them, watering when needed, and just enjoying watching them grow. They started to get bigger, and the leaves looked healthy. I could see the flowers starting to bud, and I was getting pretty excited about seeing them bloom.
Finally, the day came when they started to flower. And the smell! It was amazing, especially in the evening. They really lived up to their name – night-scented. The flowers were beautiful, and the fragrance was just the cherry on top. It made all the waiting and work totally worth it.
I am so happy that I decided to grow night-scented stocks this year. The flowers are lovely, and the scent in my garden in the evening is incredible. It has been a great experience, and I will definitely be doing this again next year!
So, that’s my little gardening adventure with night-scented stocks. Nothing too complicated, just some seeds, soil, water, and a bit of patience. If you’re thinking about it, I’d say go for it. It’s a pretty rewarding experience, especially when you get to enjoy those fragrant blooms in the evening.
