Night Scented Stock

Easy Summer Patio Project: Grow Calendula and Night-Scented Stock for Colour, Fragrance and Wildlife

If you’re looking for an inexpensive gardening project that will transform your patio this summer, growing Calendula and Night-Scented Stock (Matthiola bicornis) in pots is hard to beat. For less than £10, a few packets of seed, some pots and a bag of compost can provide months of colour, evening fragrance and valuable support for beneficial insects.

These two plants complement each other perfectly. Calendula provides bright, cheerful flowers throughout the day, while Night-Scented Stock comes alive in the evening, releasing a rich perfume that drifts across the garden on warm summer nights.

What You Will Need

• A packet of Calendula seeds
• A packet of Night-Scented Stock seeds
• Clay or terracotta pots
• John Innes Seed Compost or John Innes No. 1 Compost
• A watering can
• A sunny patio, balcony or seating area

The total cost is usually less than £10, making this one of the easiest and most rewarding summer gardening projects.

Growing Calendula in Pots

Calendula, often called Pot Marigold, is one of the easiest flowers to grow from seed. It germinates quickly and flowers continuously throughout summer and into autumn.

How to Sow

1. Fill a pot with John Innes compost.
2. Water the compost before sowing.
3. Scatter the seeds thinly across the surface.
4. Cover with a light layer of compost, around 1cm deep.
5. Place in a sunny position.
6. Keep the compost moist while the seedlings establish.

Seedlings usually appear within 7–14 days.

Why Grow Calendula?

Calendula is more than just a colourful flower:

• Produces bright orange and yellow blooms all summer.
• Attracts pollinating insects.
• Supports ladybirds and ladybird larvae which help control aphids.
• The flowers are edible and can be added to salads.
• Creates a cheerful display around patios and outdoor seating areas.

Some gardeners also find that strongly scented flowering plants such as Calendula help make outdoor dining areas more pleasant during summer evenings.

Growing Night-Scented Stock

Night-Scented Stock is one of the most underrated summer flowers. During the day the flowers appear quite modest, but as evening temperatures rise, the plants release an extraordinary sweet perfume.

The scent can fill an entire patio, making it ideal for growing close to seating areas, patios and open windows.

How to Sow

1. Fill a pot or container with John Innes compost.
2. Scatter the seeds thinly over the surface.
3. Cover lightly with compost.
4. Water gently.
5. Place in a sunny location.

The seedlings emerge quickly and begin flowering within a few weeks.

Why Grow Night-Scented Stock?

• Produces one of the strongest evening fragrances of any annual flower.
• Flowers throughout summer.
• Attracts evening pollinators.
• Perfect for patios, balconies and courtyards.
• Easy to grow from seed.

For maximum effect, place pots near a seating area where the scent can be enjoyed during warm evenings.

The Perfect Patio Combination

Growing Calendula and Night-Scented Stock together creates two completely different experiences throughout the day.

During daylight hours, Calendula provides vibrant colour and attracts pollinating insects. As dusk approaches, Night-Scented Stock takes over, filling the air with fragrance and creating a relaxing atmosphere for outdoor dining and entertaining.

The combination adds colour, scent and wildlife value to even the smallest patio or courtyard garden.

Looking Ahead

If you enjoy these simple summer projects, another inexpensive idea for later in the year is planting Iris reticulata bulbs in pots during autumn. These produce brilliant blue, purple and yellow flowers in late winter and early spring, providing colour long before most garden plants begin growing.

With just a few pots, some compost and a packet of seeds, you can create a patio that not only looks attractive but also smells wonderful throughout the summer months.