Summer Bedding...Growing, Planting and maintaining.

Summer Bedding

Most summer bedding plants are grow from seed. The earliest of these is, (unless you are growing from cuttings), is the "Pelargonium" or Geranium as most people call them.

Sown in December with a bottom heat of 20 degrees C, they take approx 7 - 10 days to germinate, they are then pricked out into 3cm modules and finally into 9cm pots.

Begonias should be sown in late January - early February, but most other bedding plants can be sown from the end of February.

Sow plants in trays of multi-purpose seed compost 2-3cm deep, level the compost and firm lightly with a flat piece of board. Water with warm water and allow to drain. Sow the seeds thinly and cover to the depth of the seed. Cover with a sheet of glass or polythene and place in a warm position to germinate. Keep in the dark unless seeds need light to germinate.

All annual bedding plants should be "hardened off", gradually over a period of 3 - 4 weeks, allowing them to come into contact with cooler air. Use of a cold frame is ideal.

The plants should be fully hardened-off by the end of May, when planting out can start.

Planting without adequate hardening-off could result in stunted growth or the death of the plant.

Planting Out

All winter bedding plants should have been lifted by the middle of May. The beds are then weeded, forked over and given a dressing of general fertiliser which is then raked in to the surface.

Try not to plant out until the soil is moist, firm the plant well in with your hand to remove any air pockets around the root ball. Give the plants a good watering when you have finished, but not in full sun.

Antirrhinums are one of the hardiest of the summer bedding annuals and can be planted first, in the middle of May. A large border just filled with these plants, fronted with smaller plants, (alyssum and lobelia or French Marigolds and ageratum), can look absolutely magnificent.

During the summer keep the beds free from weeds by hoeing, and by keeping the plants dead headed, you will have a longer season of colour.

Summer Bedding Plants

Main Plants

• Antirrhinum nanum
• Begonia semperflorens
• Begonia tuberous rooted vars,
• Calceolaria
• Calendula
• Dahlia coltness mxd
• Fuchsia
• Geranium
• Godetia
• Heliotropium
• Impatiens
• Nicotiana
• Pentstemon
• Petunia
• Phlox Drummondii
• Salvia splendens
• Verbena
• Zinnia

Edging plants

• Alyssum maritimum
• Ageratum houstonianum
• Lobelia Erinus
• Verbena venosa
• Dianthus
• Pansy
• Tagetes signata pumila

Go from Summer Bedding back to Annuals