100 days to gladioli
Ornamentals
Although gladioli bulbs, dahlia tubers and begonia tubers are now available for planting for summer flowering, don’t rush to plant them. Your energy is better directed towards preparing their beds.
Dahlias are best planted from late August to late October, or after all threat of frost has passed. Plant 5-6cm deep, 50cm apart in in full sun. Good drainage is essential, so if you’re in doubt about your spot, build up mounds to plant them on. Prepare beds by incorporating plenty of organic matter such as well-rotted manure or compost into the soil.
Similarly, gladioli may be planted from August to December. As they flower about 100 days after planting, with planning you may have them flowering for up to five months. Plant 8-10cm deep and 15cm apart in a sheltered position with full sun and good drainage. Dig compost into soil now, but not animal manure.
Although available in garden centres now, local experts recommend that tuberous begonias are best bought in spring when they are just budding. These tubers are then planted with their buds facing upwards in trays filled with a 50:50 mix of seed-raising mix and either coarse river sand, perlite or vermiculite to ensure excellent drainage – the tuber loathes hanging around in the wet. Put the tray on a heat pad or in a warm and sunny spot. Once at least two leaves have formed, pot up or plant out in the garden, avoiding full sun.
Edibles
Prepare asparagus beds for planting crowns later this month – at the earliest. There is no hurry, they may be planted until December. Asparagus is a perennial crop and may last up to 20 years, so choose the bed with care, somewhere in full sun with free-draining, light soil. Turn over the top 30cm of the soil, digging in compost or well-rotted animal manure. Then leave for a few weeks before planting crowns 15cm deep and 30cm apart in rows at least 50cm apart.
There is still time to prune fruit trees – if you get on to it promptly.
If you omitted to sow broad beans in autumn, fear not, they can be sown now, though spring-sown crops are less resistant to rust.
Those with glasshouses, heat pads or just tempered enthusiasm may wish to get an early start on tomatoes by sowing them under cover. If they are to be transplanted outside, this should not be done until mid-October at the very earliest. – Mary Lovell-Smith