Edible flowers
Carnation
Fresh petals to pick, removing the bitter white base.
Sowing & planting windows in Australia
Planting timing varies by broad Australian gardening zone. Local weather, unusual seasons and your garden’s microclimate can shift timing.
Cool
Sow · Feb-May,Aug-Oct
Core months: February, March, April, May, August, September, October
Temperate
Sow · Mar-May,Aug-Oct
Core months: March, April, May, August, September, October
Subtropical
Sow · Apr-Oct
Core months: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Tropical
Sow · Apr-Oct
Core months: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Arid
Sow · Apr-Oct
Core months: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Getting started
Sow seed in the recorded five-zone window. Use clean seed and follow the packet's depth and spacing for the named species or cultivar.
The right conditions
Choose a position with good light, fertile free-draining soil and protection from harsh heat; provide winter chill where the crop requires it.
As it grows
Water consistently while establishing, mulch without burying the crown or stem, manage weeds early and provide support where the mature habit needs it.
Ready to harvest
Pick clean newly opened petals, remove the bitter white base, and leave enough flowers to sustain the plant.
Important cautions
Use unsprayed petals from correctly identified Dianthus; remove the bitter white petal base and do not use florist flowers.
Plant guidance: P11a propagation, food-safety and plant-specific guide audit. Planting windows are a guide rather than a rule.