My Sweet William reseeds every year. The first time it flowers, I deadhead the plants. Then it will blossom later in the season. I let those flowers go to seed. I simply ignore them and the seed drops onto the ground. There is always a variety of new and old plants coming up within the clump.

Sweet William is a biennial. The seeds sown this year will most likly blossom next year. If your Sweet William is happy and in a good spot, the reseeding just happens.

Same with me in zone 4. they just set their seeds and grow. I have them growing in shade under trees. I did collect some seeds and scattered them in another bed. I have to wait to see if they take off or not. Barb

Thank you Evonne & Barb. I guess I won't have any flowers next year, since the plants that flowered this year were sown last summer and it takes two years to flower. I will follow your instructions Evonne, but I think I will still try to sow some now and see what happens. I'm such a deadhead 'nut' it will be difficult just leaving them there. Thanks agin.
Northerner.

You are very welcome.

The biennial cycle usually is that the plant seeds over and small seedlings start in the fall getting somewhat established. The ones that make it through the winter are your flowers for the summer season.

I wouldn't worry TOO much - you'll probably find some volunteers anyway. In my first year of WS'ing - I did lots of sweet william and it eventually took over. No matter how much I try to rip it out (it gets way too floppy for me) - I still find it (even in places that I DIDN'T plant it) years later!

Fgirl21, I'm so glad to know that I may have Sweet William forever. However, for safety, I sowed 2 containers of them yesterday (some for a new bed) and hope that our unseasonably cool weather will co-operate and yield some seedlings. I've been lucky, all mine have stood tall, perhaps because of full sun. I'll post some pics. when I get around to uploading them to Photobucket.
Northerner