Feeding for best results
Some plants will need more feeding than others
As anyone who has seen greenery growing in between paving stones knows, if a plant is happy it will thrive, even in apparently inhospitable conditions.
However, to ensure quality, we like to cosset and feed our plants to make sure a they perform at their best potential.
Peak times for feeding are late winter and spring, as plants start back into growth, and in summer when they are flowering and producing fruit.
In late winter/early spring, fork granular feed into the soil around plants and water it in.
Many plants will happily grow through the summer with little or no feeding. The exception is container and basket displays, certain ‘greedy plants’ and crops.
Edibles and greenhouse crops need weekly feeding with a high-potassium liquid fertiliser through the growing and fruiting season.
Plants that fall into the ‘greedy’ category include roses, sweet peas and clematis. Feed these monthly, but stop by late summer because you don’t want any new and tender growth to be damaged by early frosts.