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I love carnations and thought I have grown some I have not had as good a crop with them as I have had with Sweet Williams which remind me of carnations.
Though Sweet Williams can be sown from seed, I find that buying a flat of them at my favorite nursery saves me more time and at the age of 73 time becomes more important. However, should you start from seed do not expect any flowers until the following year.
Sweet William is better known, technically, as Dianthus, often referred to as Pinks and they like about 4 or 5 hours of sun each day. If you over water you will get yellowish leaves, so in dry periods water once a week.
When you plant Sweet Williams make sure you put your plants 12 to 18 inches apart and upon insertion into the ground make sure the bottom of the stem or the top of the root crown is even with the ground. Do not cover the stem with dirt! Sweet Williams love good air circulation and do not like foliage moisture.
Depending on the variety you plant you will get Sweet Williams from 2 inches to 3 feet tall. I have never had any that height, but have had many about 18 to 24 inches tall.
This plant likes fertile and well drained soil and is a grand perennial coming back year after year with their lovely blossoms gracing many parts of your garden other than where you planted them in the beginning.
As the flowers die off just dead head them or trim out the dead ones and they will continually bloom for you.
Each season you can divide them and replant part of the clumps in other areas of your garden and this will give added life to the clumps you are digging up. Separate you clump gently into two parts and water well upon replanting.
The colors range from pure white to really dark red and the narrow leaf ones were referred to as Sweet Johns and the broad leaf ones were referred to as Sweet Williams. The Chinese Pinks are bi-annual. I like the ones that are colored with white edges.
All types of these plants whatever you call them are very fragrant and make lovely cut flowers.
If you do not have some in your garden think about adding some and you will be pleased you did.
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Author Bio Box: Arlene Wright Correll
 For more gardening or cooking information click http://www.learn-america.com/
To see Arlene’s Gardens and to read her gardening diaries or click on Arlene’s Books where you can download or buy her gardening & cook books. Arlene says, “All my royalties from the sale of my books go to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and I thank you for visiting my site.”
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