How To Grow Stock Flower BY HASHMI GARDENING & LANDSCAPING

            How To Grow Stock Flower                                            (Matthiola Incana, Gillyflower, Perfume Plant)

Stock (also called Matthiola incana, Gillyflower, perfume plant) is one of the most fragrant flowers you can grow. Its scent is described as both sweet and spicy, not to mention incredibly
pleasant. Many gardeners who have experience growing stock flower suggest making the most of stock by positioning them to mature at nose height, so that the blossoms are easier to smell while they’re in bloom. Stock flowers are quite hardy and sturdy, making them a great choice for containers or for planting directly into your garden beds. Stock is a cool weather flower that blooms from early spring into summer. The summer heat stops stock from blooming, as it needs temperatures of 60 degrees Fahrenheit or lower in order to produce blossoms

Description of stock:                                                                                                                           Most stock varieties have become well-bred doubles, an upgrade from their wild, single nature. Modern varieties vary in height from 12 to 30 inches, but they're all rather stiff columns surrounded by flowers. The flowers are pink, white, red, rose, purple, and lavender in color..                                  

 Growing stock:  

 Stock is at its best in the cool, humid weather of foggy, coastal areas, even though some varieties are more heat-tolerant for a longer flowering season elsewhere. Stock will tolerate light frost and is useful for winter bloom in mild climates. Elsewhere, plant as early in the spring as ground can be worked. Moist, well-drained soil high in organic matter is preferred. Stock should be planted in full sun. Space them 8 to 15 inches apart, depending on the size of the variety.

Propagating stock: 

Start new plants from seeds. For winter use in mild climates, sow stock in the fall. In other places, sow seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks prior to when ground can be worked outdoors. Seeds germinate in 7 to 10 days at 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Don't cover the seeds; they need light to germinate. A percentage of seedlings are singles. Doubles are usually the most vigorous seedlings and are lighter in color than the singles

Uses for stock: 

Stock is relatively precise in appearance, best suited to formal beds where it can be lined up like soldiers. Plant them where the fragrance reaches passersby -- near walks, by doorsteps, and close to heavily frequented places. They're also adaptable to containers, especially if you combine them with informal flowers to break up the rigidity. They're also superb cut flowers, with the scent pervading an entire room.

Stock related species: 

Matthiola bicornis has a particularly strong scent at night; the daytime flowers are unexceptional, so plant them discreetly.

GARDEN PESTS AND DISEASES OF STOCK FLOWER

There are no major issues with pests or diseases with stock flower. However, if any problems do arise, they should be easily treated with a insecticide, fungicide or repellents as needed.