Planting season is finally with us
W
HILE most people are still on their second cup of coffee, gardeners all over the country will be feverishly plucking trays of plants from greenhouses, conservatories and cold frames and ransacking sheds for trowels and trugs.
That’s because this is the weekend when you can usually say it’s safe to plant out the summer bedding and cold-tender veg plants such as courgettes, sweetcorn and French beans.
If you’ve grown your own plants bring them out and join the fun but if you still have to shop for yours don’t delay because this is the big weekend for sales of ready-grown plants at nurseries and garden centres.
In the quest to better last year’s display, outdo the neighbours, or merely get the job finished quickly a lot of folk cut corners – which is often disastrous.
Bedding plants and frost-tender veg are notoriously prone to teething troubles in their early stages and it really doesn’t pay to skimp on soil preparation or rush your planting technique.
My advice is to clear domestic chores and other distractions out of the way then settle down for the afternoon so you can do the job properly.
First, fork the soil over. Remove every scrap of weed, roots and debris and work in some wellrotted organic matter (which could be home-made garden compost, second-hand compost tipped out of seed trays, last year’s used grow bags, or a bag of soil improver bought from the garden centre).
Then dust the soil with general fertiliser (Vitax Q4, Blood Fish & Bone, Growmore or an organic equivalent) and work it in with a rake, smoothing out the soil as you go.
Now you’re ready for your plants. Water them well then take them gently out of their containers to avoid tearing off roots. Plants growing in trays need prising carefully apart with your fingers. Those grown in individual “cells” or multiple packs can be tricky to get out. If necessary impale the blocks of root with a sweetcorn prong or a cocktail stick to lift them intact.
Lay the young plants roughly in place so they are evenly distributed over the space available then plant each one with a trowel, making sure each hole is deep enough to accommodate all the roots without scrunching them up.
When they’ve all been planted water them in. Use a can or a slow-running hose to trickle water slowly round the base of each plant. This helps to settle the roots in properly so they make good contact with the soil.
If they’re left hanging in a pocket of air they’ll just dry up and die.
Finish off by using an organic slug and snail remedy all around newly planted areas but don’t leave it at that. It’s vital to visit new plants frequently in the first few weeks in case they need more water or anti-slug measures. All that attention to detail really pays off. Plants establish themselves seamlessly and go on to give great results with none of the usual hiccups.
TOP SUMMER DISPLAYS MADE EASY