May 2024
Colourful Summer Bedding
As always, we’ve been busy nurturing thousands of summer bedding plants in the growing tunnels.
Back by popular demand this year, bushy Diascia plants bearing masses of tiny pretty flowers in white or pink. Angelonia with spikes of purple or red orchid-like flowers & Scaevola (yes, we know it sounds a bit like a disease) which hails from Australia. We prefer it’s common name - fan flower, delicate petals arranged in a fan-like pattern.
If you find it difficult to choose, or are never quite sure what goes together, we’ve got a great range of ‘Trios’. These ‘ready made’ combinations of 3 different varieties or complimenting colours have been selected to provide a balanced display throughout the season. Just plant one per 12” basket (or 3 per 18”) - job done!
Cuphea is a new introduction for us this year. With masses of bright blooms and reaching around 30cm high, pollinators also love it.
For vivid, daisy-like flowers with a dark centre we have a variety of Rudbeckia for containers or front of borders which reaches approx. 40cm high and flowers right through to autumn.
We also have new colourways of some old favourites, such as Calibrachoa, Impatiens & Petunias to name a few.
With well over 30 different summer bedding varieties in multiple colourways, there are endless planting combinations.
Don’t forget to keep feeding your summer bedding plants with a good liquid plant food approximately every couple of weeks to ensure you get the best from them.
English v French Lavender
English lavender, or Lavandula angustifolia comes into flower around June/July. It has THE archetypal lavender scent, is winter hardy and can be used to make a great low hedge.
French lavender, or Lavandula stoechas bears flowers with distinctive ‘wings’ or ‘flags’ on top. French lavenders come into flower earlier and will flower throughout the summer if kept deadheaded. They have a more subtle scent and are less winter hardy. French lavenders suit container planting better than their English counterparts.
Within both types there are varieties with slightly different foliage tones, flower colour, height & spread - it’s all about personal preference.