Goatsbeard is also known as Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon as it closes its yellow flowers around midday, leaving striking, long, ribbed flower buds. After flowering this biennial produces huge, lovely seed heads, like tall, elegant versions of  dandelion ‘clocks’. It grows to around 90cm.

Sowing:  these seeds needs cold to germinate. Sow outside in autumn onto a fine-raked seed bed, firming down well or sow at any time of year onto a tray of damp compost, put the tray in a fridge for 6-8 weeks then move to somewhere warm until seedlings appear. Transplant seedlings outside as soon as they are big enough to handle. Water well & keep young plants weeded.

• 90cm
• 20-30 seeds per packet
• Biennial