Mignonette

[Guest guest]

> I ordered Mignon, fragrance that Napolean gave

> phine for wedding, from canada and from a whole

> pack of seeds I only got 1 maybe two plants two leaves

> above sugar leaves. They waited till it really warmed

> up to form 4th leaves(only 4 so far) I am wondering if

> you have any experience with this potenential harvest

> flower.

Hello BB,

I apologize for taking so long to answer. I have been really

swamped lately. Regarding Mignonette (Reseda odorata), it is a low-

growing perennial native to North Africa. Legend has it that

Napoleon found it while on campaign in North Africa and so loved the

scent, he sent it back to phine in France. The seeds should be

refrigerated for a week before planting in soil that is 70 degrees.

They like very well-drained, alkaline soil (add some horticultural

lime) that is firm, not loose. Overwatering established plants is

fatal. Mignonette likes to grow in the sun and hates to be

transplanted. The flowers are small, greenish-white with brownish-

red highlights. The older varieties have a powerful, violet-like

fragrance. Try to grow an heirloom variety - the flowers are

smaller but more fragrant. Many factors can cause seeds not to

germinate. The most common cause is not keeping the soil constantly

moist until the seeds sprout. It is also possible to have gotten a

bad batch of seeds. Even though you have had kind of a bad

experience with Mignonette thus far, don't give up on it and keep

those few seedlings alive and well. Their fragrance is wonderful!

> Would you give us a start recipe for a " WET " potpouri?

I appreciate your interest in Wet (Moist-Method) Potpourri. I will

write about this sometime in the future when I have more time

(Winter) as it is a very involved, time-consuming process which

needs detailed directions in order to be successful.

Mark