Deutzia – unknown variety
Well I can’t complain about the weather this bank holiday weekend which makes a change. Temperatures on the patio got up to 26C at one point yesterday which was a little too warm for pricking out but overall I am thrilled with how much I have achieved.
The main task has been potting up the hanging baskets and pots with review plants from PlantMeNow but I will post more fully on those later in the week. It does seem strange to be planting hanging baskets when there are still daffodils in flower.
I have also planted out my chrysanthemums in the new Big Border and a few more unnamed dahlias from last year. I haven’t grown chrysanthemums before so this will be an interesting experiment. I have pinched out their tops and we will wait and see what happens. Also in the Big Border are some Castor Oil plants. I have to say I am a little disappointed with their growth but I am assuming this is due to low temperature and light levels. Anyway they are out now and we will see how they get on. The idea is that they will provide a backdrop for the dahlias and chrysanthemums – all very late summer color. Cosmos has also been planted out, this is a white variety and was sown before the Big Border really came into being and predate my plans so I have struggled to work them into the scheme but I am hoping the white will act as a nice counterbalance to the deep rich colours of the dahlias.
Dahlias etc in Big Border
I have spent the rest of my time pricking out and potting up, oh and sowing more seeds!! I had good germination on Delphinium requienii which I have discovered is a biennial so hopefully they will look wonderful next year. I have also learnt that I should have pricked out my meconopsis seedlings as soon as the leaves appeared. Now I would normally have done this but I have got very confused with alpine seedlings and how to treat them. The advice, particularly in relation to monocot plants such as alliums, crocus is that you leave them be for a year or so but this also applies to the tiny seedlings. Of course whilst meconopsis poppies are alpines they are tiny. That is today’s task as well as tackling some of the other seedlings.
Bog garden looking rather good
Saying all that I am pleased with how I have kept on top of things so far this year despite the weather. Everything that is ready to be planted out is planted and there are only a few purchases left on the patio which are waiting for me to sort the woodland border out. My biggest headache are my snowdrops. I need to stop dithering and make a decision of where they are being planted and do it.
We are on holiday next week so I am keen to get everything moved on so my Mum has an easy job of watering and I don’t have to leave her too many instructions. She is one for watering so I need to make sure that she doesn’t over water things like my alpines – I can see there will have to be some no go areas.