ALAN TITCHMARSH
longer in pots. But add a little grit and some peat-free ericaceous compost to give it a fluffier texture that drains more freely as potted camellias hate having waterlogged roots, and in winter that happens all too readily.
From then on it’s just a case of keeping a camellia regularly watered. Use rainwater if you collect your own in a water butt – otherwise leave a bucket out on rainy days.
Dose it with diluted liquid tomato feed every couple of weeks from May to August. A couple of late feeds in August are especially important as that is when camellias initiate next year’s flower buds, and a quick boost of potash really helps.
Each spring, camellias appreciate having old potting compost refreshed, so shortly after flowering, remove an inch of growing medium from the top of the pot and replace it with new potting compost that you have beefed up with some slow-release feed
Camellia ‘Flame’
FORMED Ave Maria
Camellia ‘Yours granules. They only need re-potting when they are totally potbound, which may not be for two or three years or more.
But the secret of growing camellias in containers is choosing the right sheltered position, with very light dappled shade (sun is fine as long as the roots are kept cool and moist in summer) and facing any direction except east.
In a windy spot or one exposed to the early morning sun, the flowers are always disappointing because the petals turn brown.
White-flowered varieties are the worst for being affected like this, so avoid them unless you really have a truly favoured spot.
Otherwise, move your camellias into the conservatory from mid-winter onwards.
Doing this will mean the flowers open weeks earlier than usual, even without any heating.
However you grow them, camellias make brilliant tub plants for a touch of late winter glitz.
These are among the cheeriest of the early-flowering primulas. In early spring they create brilliant splashes of colour. Stand in an unheated conservatory, a semi-enclosed porch or even a cool room indoors.
Once the weather turns milder they make wonderful spring bedding for tubs.
Don’t tip them out of their pots, instead arrange the plants closely together, sink the pots to their rims in compost in the tub, and they’ll make a good show.
Keep them lightly watered. Once a week, snip off any dead flowers with their stalks. They should flower well into April.
Don’t throw them away when flowering ceases – remove from pots and plant in a semi-shady garden area. They’ll build up bigger clumps to flower again next spring.
■ Sow seeds of tomatoes to grow in a greenhouse now. Outdoor varieties give the most reliable results under glass if we have poor weather in the summer. ■ Plant three or four pre-chitted tubers of early potatoes in large (12-18inch) containers to produce early crops. Move them outside after the last frost.
■ Choose small starter plants or plugs of osteospermums, pelargoniums or fuchsias. Grow on a warm, well-lit windowsill in pots of multipurpose compost. In four weeks, nip out the growing tips to promote growth.