Home Gardener's Propagation (UK Only). David Squire
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Название: Home Gardener's Propagation (UK Only)

Автор: David Squire

Издательство: Ingram

Жанр: Сад и Огород

Серия:

isbn: 9781607652427

isbn:

СКАЧАТЬ to the surface of the compost, remove the pot and allow it to drain. Then, either cover it with a transparent lid or place the pot in a polythene bag and seal it.

      • Remove the bag as soon as seedlings appear.

      Hardy annuals in borders

       Is there a wide range?

      There are many hardy annuals to grow in gardens (see opposite page). You simply sow the seeds where they will germinate, grow and flower, either in borders totally dedicated to annuals or as fillers in established herbaceous or mixed borders. When growing them in dedicated borders, sow the seeds in groups of differing final plant sizes, so that they dovetail with each other and drench the bed or border in inexpensive colour throughout summer.

      WHEN SHOULD I SOW THEM?

      It is a waste of seeds and time to sow hardy annuals too early in spring, when the soil is still cold and wet; the seeds will not germinate and may even decay before conditions are right for germination.

      Here are a few clues to sowing hardy annuals:

      • The earliest time for sowing seeds depends on the weather, and even within a distance of a hundred miles the optimum time may vary by seven to ten days – sometimes more. If you are in doubt about a suitable time, your local gardening club will be able to help.

      • Gardens on warm, sun-facing slopes can be sown earlier than those with a cold and wind-blown aspect.

      • While waiting for the soil to warm up and dry out slightly, avoid walking on it and causing compaction.

      • Wait until the soil’s surface is dry and crumbly – usually during mid- and late spring.

      HOW TO SOW HARDY ANNUALS IN BORDERS

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      1 Dig the soil in winter and in mid-spring use a wooden rake (or large metal type) to level the surface and to remove large stones.

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      2 To evenly firm the soil, systematically shuffle sideways over the entire area. Then, use a rake to remove the foot marks and to re-level the surface.

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      3 When the surface is level, use a pointed stick to mark individual sowing areas. Make them of differing sizes. An alternative method is to use sharp sand to define the sowing areas. Make corner areas large and dominant.

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      4 Within each sowing area, form 12 mm (½ in) deep drills about 20 cm (8 in) apart. If possible, form the drills in each sowing area at different angles to the ones next to it. This helps to prevent the entire bed appearing too regimented. There are two ways to form the drills: using a draw hoe (above left) and with a pointed stick guided by another stick (above right). Using a straight stick for guidance is ideal when sowing a small area.

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      5 Sow seeds evenly and thinly in the base of each drill. Label each sowing area with the name of the annual, together with the date.

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      6 Use the flat top of a metal rake to push and pull friable soil over the seeds. Then, employ the top of the rake again to tap down and firm soil over the drills.

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      7 When sowing is complete, lightly but thoroughly water the entire area without disturbing the seeds (use an upturned fine rose). Then, to prevent birds disturbing the surface, lay twiggy sticks over the area. As soon as seeds germinate, remove the twiggy sticks or lines of cotton.

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      8 When the seedlings are large enough to handle, carefully thin them without unduly disturbing the soil and loosening the roots of the remaining seedlings. Put the seedlings that are removed on a compost heap; do not leave them on the soil’s surface. Then, lightly but thoroughly water the whole area.

      ANNUALS TO SOW IN THIS WAY

      The range of hardy annuals that can be sown in borders each year is extremely wide, and all of the following plants are described in the ‘A–Z of propagating plants’ (see pages 42–78):

      • Agrostemma githago ‘Milas’ (Corn Cockle)

      • Amaranthus caudatus (Love-lies-Bleeding)

      • Calendula officinalis (Pot Marigold)

      • Chrysanthemum carinatum (Annual Chrysanthemum)

      • Clarkia elegans (Clarkia)

      • Clarkia pulchella (Clarkia)

      • Consolida ajacis (Larkspur)

      • Convolvulus tricolor

      • Eschscholzia californica (Californian Poppy)

      • Gypsophila elegans (Baby’s Breath)

      • Helianthus annuus (Sunflower)

      • Hibiscus trionum (Flower-of-an-hour)

      • Iberis umbellata (Candytuft)

      • Lavatera trimestris (Annual Mallow)

      • Limnanthes douglasii (Poached Egg Plant)

      • Linaria maroccana (Toadflax)

      • Linum grandiflorum ‘Rubrum’ (Scarlet Flax)

      • Linum usitatissimum (Common Flax)

      • Lobularia maritima (Sweet Alyssum)

      • Lychnis viscaria (Annual Campion)

      • Malcolmia maritima (Virginia Stock)

      • Matthiola bicornis (Night-scented Stock)

      • Nigella damascena (Love-in-a-mist)

      • Papaver rhoeas (Field Poppy)

      • Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy)

      • Reseda odorata (Mignonette)

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