Pot-sown seedlings
In early May, we prepare our half-hardy planting spots. Increasingly, we follow the no-dig system here, so add some organic matter on top of the soil if it’s poor. We mix this with some grit in parts of the garden (such as the annual cutting garden) that sit low on wet and heavy soil. The tender perennial climbers, such as cobaea and Rhodochiton, should be planted in the same way.
Once the frosts are definitely finished for spring, we plant everything out. Here’s how…
● Fill a barrow or a water-tight trug with water, then stand all your pots in there before planting to give them a good drink.
● With a trowel, dig a decent-sized hole, aiming at twice the depth and width of the seedling’s root ball.
● Water the hole so that the base roots will be in damp soil.
● Knock the seedling out of its pot with a firm strike to the pot base, tease out the roots a little if they’re knotted, then plant.
● When planting climbers, tip them out of the pot, taking care not to disrupt the frame. Don’t try to separate them, just lean the pot frame on to the garden frame and tie it in. This works well with no root or top disturbance and uninterrupted growth.
● To keep the weeds at bay, cut down evaporation and keep soil temperatures more constant, we mulch around our planted seedlings with 4cm of green waste compost from our local council.