Propagation
The C. P. Snow has fade , the temperature has risen , the birds are babble out , it ’s March – surely that means it ’s formally Spring ! In an uncharacteristic paroxysm of simplicity , I have thus far resisted the enticement to sow yearbook . There ’s small decimal point in sowing them in February , even if the bundle suggests one could . after seeded come will catch up as the term will be intimately suited . In possibility I could extend this logic into April , or even May but , quite frankly , sod that for a game of soldiers ! I have typically focused mostly on perennials from cum , having thought annual to be too much bother give that they are compost fodder after one season . In their quest to reproduce as tight as possible , the sheer flower power of annual has at last sway me to have a go .
It was an outstandingly engaged weekend work - wise , but I managed to sneak into the potting shed for an hour on Sunday afternoon to see what I could sensibly sow . I did n’t fox caution to the wind entirely . Any packet that said “ sow in Feb to April ” was in , any that tell “ sow March to May or June ” was out , I ’ll sow those in April .
Even with this sensible filter , I still had secretive to 20 come variety that I could sow . For the most part I have employed the method which has worked well for me the preceding two sowing seasons . I fill a 7 centimetre square pot two thirds full of multi - purpose compost then tamp down that down , topping up the pot with vermiculite to half a centimeter below the lip . For modest seeds I sow on to the surface and water in . For medium sized seeded player I do the same but arouse them into the top stratum with a dibber , then water in . For turgid , pea plant - sized seeds I inseminate onto a shallow layer of vermiculite then encompass with more vermiculite .
So , what have I sown this time ?
From the Suttons Seeds 2018 range .
These seeds were given to me by Suttons in yield for me wittering about them here .
Felicia ‘ moderately blasphemous ’ . I ’ve never develop these before . I aim to plant these up in containers on the patio . They produce to about 25 cm so are perfect for this purpose . Blue is hard to come by in a garden flower , so I am face forward to these doing well .
Tithonia ‘ red torch ’ . Again , never grown these before , indeed I had never listen of Mexican sunflower before shop the Suttons range for this year . They maturate quite tall , and resemble a lanky bedding Dahlia pinnata .
Lobelia ‘ Mrs Clibran ’ . I always have some lobelia . In the past I bought them as plugs or tatty trays and grew on . Last twelvemonth I grew from cum and was pleased with the results – preconception away , I thought they were salutary plants than the cheaply bought version . Anyhow , this potpourri comes in “ Supasow ” form , the seed is coated to make it easy to handle . I did note that it also come at a toll per seed significantly high than its uncoated brethren ( 0.3p per ejaculate vs 0.08p per seed ) . Whether it is deserving the pregnant price premium will have to wait till germination and resulting works . I can say that the seminal fluid themselves are a mint easier to handle and can be see clearly when sowing , wee-wee for better dispersal . As lobelia descend in the 100 or M per semen packet , I have sown these into a seed tray rather than a small pot , using half a tray for this assortment , half for a unlike lobelia change , see below . When they pullulate I will prick out in small thumping and move them to modules .
Snapdragons . From the kiddy range , my youngest daughter is reckon forward to growing these . I grew antirrhinum from seed last year and they were a straightforard way to tote up some colour to the front of a border .
Cosmos ‘ white horse ’ . Sigh . Cosmos have been a dashing hopes for me the last two geezerhood . They germinated well enough but I got only two or three plants to grow to a utilitarian garden sizing . Nonetheless , I do like them , so I continue in my quest to develop them . I have always turn pinkish or deep ruddy cosmos , so was intrigued by these pure white image .
From my miscellaneous closing - of - season steal seed purchases
Coleus ‘ Prize strain ’ . purely speaking a tender perennial , these are usually grown as an annual or as a houseplant in the UK . I sowed a batch of these back in September , but they succumbed to damping off over the winter . I have it in mind to plant these up in a terrace container for a bit of foliar colour .
Coreopsis ‘ Incredible dwarf ’ . These will likely go in gaps at the front of a cheery border . It ’s grueling to recount from the picture how swelled the flower are , but they do wait colourful .
Lobelia ‘ crystal castle ’ . The naked , unadulterated variation . The seminal fluid are like very fine dust . I use lobelia in containers for the most part . It ’s easy to plonk a few in amongst fading bounce bulb leafage , then when read foliage is slue back later , there ’s plenty of room for the lobelia to spread out .
Brachycome ‘ over-embellished splendour ’ . Another first for me . Quite low growing , each plant allegedly drip with over 100 flowers . I imagine the flowers to be lowly then ! Destined for pots and maybe the odd break in the border .
Aster ‘ starlight mixed ’ . A dwarf , top out at 20 centimeter , I forsee these going into a container . I ’m go to need a lot of container .
Rudbeckia ‘ rustic dwarf ’ . A half - unfearing perennial that we are advised is well grown as an yearly . These should give some good blistering colouring throughout the summer and early autumn .
Marigold ‘ naughty marietta ’ . You might call back I chose these for the name , conceive of a brash French maid with a flirtatious manner . Utterly awry . Not me guv . Honest . I might dot a few of these around the veg patch .
Begonia ‘ summertime rainbow ’ . Who would n’t want a rainbow in their garden , hmm ? Although a tender perennial , I find I can commonly persuade them to give another year or two ’s service , if kept in a terrace pot and not allowed to get too stiff and ‘ orrible over the wintertime . But these I shall charge to the heap when done .
Nemesia ‘ circus ’ . Another first for me , these look quite jolly .
genus Mesembryanthemum . Another blast of colour , these are mini at just a few column inch high . Front of border for these fellas , I think .
Busy Lizzie ‘ safari’ . I did raise some of these last twelvemonth , just a few plant , they flowered by all summertime , brightening up the terrace steps . I am aim for a alike force .
Salvia ‘ blaze of flaming ’ . I ’m not confident I will like these judgement from the motion picture on the mailboat , but the flowers should be long - persistent , from July through to the hoar . These are a shining Marxist and 30 atomic number 96 tall at most .
That ’s it for now . This is just the first spate , though , I ’ll have more to sow in 4 to 6 weeks sentence . No such thing as too many plant …
I ’ll be back in a while with an update on sprouting , pricking out and the similar .
PS . The full term a - go - go is think to descend from the Frenchàgogomeaning in abundance , galore , to your inwardness content . It ’s also a style of disco saltation . Who cognise .
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