Quartet Sonata Mix Stock brings sophisticated, fragrant blooms to spring and early summer gardens across zones 5, 10. This Matthiola incana cultivar grows to a compact 18, 24 inches tall and produces flowers in just 70, 84 days from seed, making it a reliable choice for gardeners who want color fast without sacrificing elegance. The mix includes a range of hues that create visual interest in beds or cutting gardens, and the flowers carry the distinctive sweet fragrance that makes stock such a beloved cutting flower. Plant in full sun with moderate water, and you'll have continuous blooms from March through August, with the added bonus that deer leave it untouched.
Full Sun
Moderate
5-10
24in H x 12in W
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Moderate
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Quartet Sonata Mix delivers multiple flower colors in a single seed packet, giving you garden variety without needing separate cultivars. At 18, 24 inches, it's tall enough to make an impact in borders yet compact enough for containers and cutting gardens. The blooms appear reliably within 70, 84 days, and they're fragrant enough to justify a spot near entryways or seating areas. Spring through summer flowering keeps color moving through the season, and the flowers last well in vases, earning their reputation as a florist's favorite.
Stock flowers are prized by cut-flower gardeners and florists for their long vase life and intoxicating fragrance. Quartet Sonata Mix works beautifully in fresh arrangements, either massed alone or blended with other spring bloomers. Gardeners also grow stock in borders where the vertical stems add textural contrast, and the compact size suits containers on patios or balconies.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors in pots 8, 10 weeks before your last spring frost. Surface sow the seeds and cover lightly with a sprinkling of vermiculite, keeping the soil temperature around 65, 68°F until germination occurs in 5, 10 days. Once seedlings emerge, move them to a cool location (45, 50°F) to grow on before transplanting outdoors in early spring.
Harden off seedlings gradually before moving them into the garden in early spring. Plant them out at least 2, 3 weeks before your last frost date, spacing them 8 inches apart for adequate air circulation.
Direct sow seeds 2, 3 weeks before your last spring frost in areas with cool summer weather, or in early fall in zones 9, 10 for winter and spring blooms. Sow on the soil surface and keep moist until germination.
For cut flowers, harvest stems in the morning when the bottom florets are fully open and upper buds are just beginning to show color. Cut stems at an angle with a sharp knife, removing foliage that would sit below the water line. Recut stems every few days and change the water to extend vase life.
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