I think 'option paralysis' is my natural state so this is very helpful, thank you. I did sow some seeds a few weeks ago, without any sort of a plan about where they were going to go. As it happens that isn't going to be a problem since over half didn't germinate (old seed and perhaps I am just rubbish at growing from seed). The cosmos purity did well though, so there's that...
Lots of lovely ideas here. I need to have a big sort out of all my pots - have lots of scented leaves pellies to go in which my kind mother-in-law has overwintered for me in her greenhouse so I'm looking forward to getting those back in.
So if you were a complete idiot garden wise but like flowers - what would you plant out as I cant even spell some of the ones you have suggested let alone find them in a gardening centre!!! I am sorry to sound so dim - my strengths lie elsewhere but I want the garden to give me some pleasure. I have managed with daffodils and then tulips and then aliums but what next?? Huge thanks and I love your posts and I love your book too x
I would get some scented leaved pelargoniums. They are so gorgeous and if you treat them right they’ll go on and on for you. Look at height and spread on the label. Or go for a cloud effect with a lobelia or a verbena? The point is to pick the thing that gives you pleasure and I can’t tell you what that is, but rest assured all a plant in a pot needs is regular watering and a bit of a feed and it (and you) will be so happy. X
You have reminded me, I need some nicotiana!!! Have taken a huge liking to coleus in the recent years, calibrachoa over petunias too, sweet peas (matucana and cupani) , euphorbia diamond frost ! I am dreaming summer
I love Acidanthera. Amazing fragrance but I find they often don’t come back the following year 😏 adore too Nicotiana Sylvestris which have returned the following year and are bigger and better. A wonderful triffid in the garden. Happy gardening Laetitia.
I do bulb lasagnes in my pots which work beautifully but now ( helped by… squirrels? Or a fox?…) they are on their last legs and looking a bit manky. I planned to replace them with dahlias and nasturtiums and those will look lovely later but my dahlias are still only just above pot level in their growing pots in the unheated greenhouse so I am wondering if I can transition between the bulbs and the dahlias with something else, or will that just be wasteful? Grr! Wish I had a better understanding of this pots business…
You’re right about the sweet peas! My seedlings haven’t really happened and have just faded away and I was feeling sad about not having any. I might just go buy some sweet peas from the garden centre now. And I found a packet of nicotiana seeds so threw them in some pots and am going to hope for the best? Maybe they’ll appear…
Do you think I could be SUPER lazy & plant the bulbs deeply.
Leaving them in situ with annuals planted above?
Or is that just a step too far?
YES for sure
I think 'option paralysis' is my natural state so this is very helpful, thank you. I did sow some seeds a few weeks ago, without any sort of a plan about where they were going to go. As it happens that isn't going to be a problem since over half didn't germinate (old seed and perhaps I am just rubbish at growing from seed). The cosmos purity did well though, so there's that...
I never got around to sowing anything lol! And yes I think old seed really is not worth the effort…permission to discard anything out of date!
Lots of lovely ideas here. I need to have a big sort out of all my pots - have lots of scented leaves pellies to go in which my kind mother-in-law has overwintered for me in her greenhouse so I'm looking forward to getting those back in.
Honestly they are desert island must-haves!
So if you were a complete idiot garden wise but like flowers - what would you plant out as I cant even spell some of the ones you have suggested let alone find them in a gardening centre!!! I am sorry to sound so dim - my strengths lie elsewhere but I want the garden to give me some pleasure. I have managed with daffodils and then tulips and then aliums but what next?? Huge thanks and I love your posts and I love your book too x
I would get some scented leaved pelargoniums. They are so gorgeous and if you treat them right they’ll go on and on for you. Look at height and spread on the label. Or go for a cloud effect with a lobelia or a verbena? The point is to pick the thing that gives you pleasure and I can’t tell you what that is, but rest assured all a plant in a pot needs is regular watering and a bit of a feed and it (and you) will be so happy. X
You have reminded me, I need some nicotiana!!! Have taken a huge liking to coleus in the recent years, calibrachoa over petunias too, sweet peas (matucana and cupani) , euphorbia diamond frost ! I am dreaming summer
Diamond Frost is the BUSINESS
Scent - great discovery last year = Heliotrope reva. Wonderful. Plant in a container on a stand so they flower at nose height. They flower for ages!
Heliotrope now on list. Thank you.
I love Acidanthera. Amazing fragrance but I find they often don’t come back the following year 😏 adore too Nicotiana Sylvestris which have returned the following year and are bigger and better. A wonderful triffid in the garden. Happy gardening Laetitia.
This is true - I have even experienced them not appearing at all BUT I think worth it nonetheless!
I’m definitely going to find some nicotiana for my pots but what do you do with the tulips and daffodils after they’re done?
I compost most of them, but anything very special I try to plant out and see if it returns
I do bulb lasagnes in my pots which work beautifully but now ( helped by… squirrels? Or a fox?…) they are on their last legs and looking a bit manky. I planned to replace them with dahlias and nasturtiums and those will look lovely later but my dahlias are still only just above pot level in their growing pots in the unheated greenhouse so I am wondering if I can transition between the bulbs and the dahlias with something else, or will that just be wasteful? Grr! Wish I had a better understanding of this pots business…
You’re right about the sweet peas! My seedlings haven’t really happened and have just faded away and I was feeling sad about not having any. I might just go buy some sweet peas from the garden centre now. And I found a packet of nicotiana seeds so threw them in some pots and am going to hope for the best? Maybe they’ll appear…