Carnations belong to the genus Dianthus and are hardy perennials.
There are many varieties of Dianthus and they bloom from the end of spring or summer depending on the species.
They carry pink, red, yellow or white flowers atop thin long stems.
Dianthus caryophyllus – Garoafa by Nite Dan - Enjoypixel.
They have foliage of green or silvery blue long lance shaped leaves.
Some of the common names for perennial Dianthus include, Carnation, Cottage pink, Indian pink and Maiden Pink.
When growing outdoors, seeds of carnation should be sowed about 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 inches) apart either at the beginning of spring or the beginning of autumn.
Once sown, simple cover the seed. Dianthus prefer to grow in a sunny area of the garden that has very good drainage.
Ideally the soil should be slightly acidic to neutral (pH6 to 7) and of a rich nature.
If you plan to first grow carnations (Dianthus) indoors as seedlings before later transplanting then the process should be started about 9 or 10 weeks beforehand.
They take about two or three weeks to germinate at a temperature of 15 to 20 degrees Centigrade.
They can be transplanted out into the garden either in the autumn or before the last frost of spring.
Although it is a perennial it is probably best to replace carnations every three years or so to maintain their beauty.
Carnations are quite easy to look after, requiring watering in prolonged dry spells and cutting back of stems once flowering has finished.
If you require more plants and don't want to grow from seeds then shoot cuttings of Dianthus can be took in the summer, or carnation plants can be divided in the spring.
I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Dianthus. You may also enjoy the following growing guides for Dahlia and Tulip plants.