Stock StoX Vanilla & Snow Mix

Stock will definitely thrive best in a sunny location, although they can also tolerate light partial shade.

As for the soil, they require a high-quality base. Ideal soil for them is loamy, humus-rich, and very well-drained. Make sure the seedlings are not sitting in waterlogged soil, otherwise they may start to rot. Before planting, we recommend enriching the soil with high-quality compost.

Stock is a relatively cold-hardy plant and can handle mild morning frosts down to -4 °C without any major problems.

However, to ensure they handle being transplanted into the garden bed as well as possible, it is absolutely essential to harden off the seedlings before planting. Start moving them outdoors while they are still in their trays so they can get used to the wind and cooler nighttime temperatures. Hardened-off seedlings will become beautifully robust, and transplanting them into colder spring soil will not shock them.

If you are growing stock primarily for cutting for vases, we recommend harvesting them with their entire roots. Simply pull the whole plant carefully out of the garden bed.

During subsequent storage in a vase, it is absolutely essential to change the water very frequently to prevent bacteria from forming. A properly cared-for stock will then give you a lot of joy and maintain its fresh appearance for longer.

Although this seed mix contains a high proportion of double-flowered plants, as with any stock, some plants with simple, non-double flowers will appear in the garden.

Selecting double-flowered seedlings at an early stage is a relatively complex and unreliable process. Therefore, the best strategy is to expect that a portion of the plants will have simple blooms. You can then naturally incorporate these more delicate flowers into bouquets for a unique touch.

You don't need to worry at all! Stock (Matthiola incana) is not poisonous or toxic in any way.

It is completely safe for children and pets. Furthermore, its beautiful flowers are actually edible! You can confidently use them in the kitchen to decorate things like spring salads, sandwiches, or festive desserts.

Unfortunately, summer stock is not suitable for drying at all. It is intended exclusively for enjoyment in the garden or for use fresh as an elegant cut flower in classic vases. If you try to dry its flowers, they usually lose their beautiful pastel color, deform in shape, and the petals fall off very quickly.

The germination of stocks is highly dependent on the correct temperature. The seeds germinate relatively quickly, usually in just 4 to 8 days, but they require a temperature precisely in the range of 18 to 22 °C to do so.

If you are having trouble getting the seeds to germinate, the temperature was likely too high. Temperatures exceeding 25 °C significantly reduce the germination rate of stocks. Also, make sure you have not covered the seeds with soil and that you have provided them with plenty of light.

Summer stock is popular among florists and gardeners, among other reasons, for its intense and very sweet fragrance that reliably scents an entire room. This specific StoX Vanilla & Snow mix stands out for its amazingly soft shades of pastel vanilla yellow and pure white. It is perfectly suited for elegant, delicate, and romantic arrangements. To ensure an even representation of both colors, remember to sow the entire packet of seeds.

We do not recommend sowing stock directly into the garden bed; it is always necessary to start the seedlings indoors. The ideal time for sowing is January to March for spring flowering, or July and August for an autumn harvest. Sow 1 to 2 seeds on the surface of the substrate in each seedling cell. It is important not to cover the seeds with soil, as they need light to germinate. Instead, cover them only gently with a thin layer of vermiculite.

Yes, growing stock will definitely support biodiversity in your garden. Its intensely fragrant flowers act as a great lure for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.

Especially those with simple, non-double flowers are an easily accessible and valuable food source for pollinators during the spring and autumn months.

Since stock are grown strictly as single-stem plants and are not pinched, a relatively intensive planting density is used. The ideal distance between individual seedlings is 10 to 20 cm.

On our farm, we prefer to grow stock with a 12 cm spacing. This allows us to comfortably fit 7 rows on a standard 90 cm wide garden bed, which ensures a rich harvest from a small area.

Although the plant has the word 'summer' in its name, growing it during a hot summer is not recommended at all. Stock (Matthiola) naturally prefers cooler temperatures, ideally between 15 and 20 °C, which is why it blooms mainly in the spring and autumn.

If you try to grow it during the scorching summer months, higher temperatures and long days will cause extremely premature flowering. The result would be a tiny plant barely 15 centimeters tall with minimal blooms.

Definitely not! With the StoX series of stock, it is very important not to pinch the seedlings. These plants are grown exclusively as single-stem varieties.

If you were to pinch the main stem in good faith, while it might encourage some plants to branch out, in the case of this stock, it would unfortunately cause them to not bloom at all. Therefore, let it grow freely in height.

Immediately after transplanting the seedlings into the bed, make sure to water the bed thoroughly and regularly. For stocks, it is necessary to maintain sufficient moisture throughout the entire growth period so that the plants root properly and grow tall. Don't forget regular fertilization with nutrients as well. A small change occurs the moment the stocks start to bloom. At this point, you can slightly reduce watering.

Definitely yes, especially if you are growing stock for cutting into vases. This variety reaches a considerable height of 60 to 80 cm and forms strong stems. The best solution is to stretch a support netting over the bed, which the stocks will gradually grow through. Without netting, it often happens that the stems bend or twist due to weather or the weight of the flower. For straight and show-quality stems, netting is a must.

Regarding viral and fungal diseases, you mainly need to watch out for powdery mildew in stocks, which is an unpleasant fungal disease that forms a fine white coating on the leaves. You can prevent it by maintaining proper spacing and ensuring good airflow around the plants.

As for pests, flea beetles, which chew small holes in the leaves, and pollen beetles, which can seriously damage developing flowers, are the most common culprits.