What to plant
Pot rooted pelargonium, dahlia and chrysanthemum cuttings in
individual pots in preparation for planting outside next month.
Plant up hanging baskets and containers and keep them sheltered or
under cover until the plants are established and growing before putting
them out.
Sow bedding nasturtiums, and the lovely climbing nasturtium, Canary
creeper (Tropaeolum peregrinum) where they are to grow, and cosmos.
Gladiolus corms should be planted now in groups in a sunny
well-drained spot, as well as the spectacular peacock flowers (Tigridia
pavonia). Throughout the south and south-west of the country Tigridias can
be left in the ground to form clumps.
Dahlia tubers must be planted in well fertilised, 'fat', soil. Plant tubers and bulbs of summer flowering plants like the vivid, sky
blue Commelina coelestis - once planted you have it forever; Peruvian lily
(Alstroemeria); the Mariposa lily (Calochortus); summer hyacinth (Galtonia
radicans); the brilliantly coloured Sparaxis; the firecracker flower
(Dichelostemma ida-maia), and the sweetly scented Marvel of Peru
(Mirabilis jalapa).
Dig out a celery trench about two foot deep and three-quarters fill
it with a mixture of soil and manure or compost.
Start a salad patch in the garden growing short rows of lettuce,
saladini, which is a mixture of oriental brassicas which you start cutting
when the seedlings are about two inches tall; coriander; American land or
Belle Isle cress, which looks and tastes like watercress, but grows on dry
land; Mediterranean rocket; summer purslane; corn salad or lamb's lettuce;
chervil; and basil, which needs to be started and grown on under glass
before being planted out. This range of salad plants will produce
outstanding mixtures of flavours.
Sow early crops of carrots, kohl rabi, peas and turnips for eating
when they are really young. Sow the vegetable oysters, salsify and
scorzonera for winter harvesting. Like Brussels sprouts, which should be
planted now, they need a long growing period.
Sow summer cabbages, and also winter and red cabbage.
Plant out leeks and onions raised from seed under glass after they
have been hardened off.
Tomato and chilli seedlings which are two to three inches long must
be potted on into individual three inch pots to grow into sturdy plants
either to go into greenhouse or outside beds. Those to be grown outside
will have to be thoroughly hardened off before being planted when the soil
has warmed up and all danger of frost has passed.
Aubergines need to be planted in large pots to be grown under glass.
Sow parsley for summer use.
Complete planting out strawberry runners, and straw mature plants
after weeding them thoroughly.
Train and tie in figs grown against a wall or fence, cutting out
unwanted growth.
Sow hardy annuals to in-fill gaps in the flower borders.
Once they have flowered in pots remove narcissi and dwarf irises
like Iris denticulata and I. danfordiae and plant in borders, or, in the
case of narcissi, in grass if you want to naturalise them. Otherwise heel
them in in an empty spot in the garden and let them die down naturally
before drying.
