| Summer containers |  |
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| There are many plants suitable for summer containers, none more so than bedding and patio plants which offer a huge choice of colour, form and size. The most popular include Begonia, Busy Lizzie, Geranium, Fuchsia, Lobelia, Nemesia, and Petunia but there are also many others including Anagalis, Bacopa, Calibrochoa, Mimulus, Torenia and Verbena.
Just about anything that will hold compost and has drainage holes makes a suitable container but the most commonly used are pots of all types, galvanised buckets, half barrels and window boxes.
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| On arrival | | | • | Unpack your plants as soon as they arrive and check that everything you expect is enclosed. | | • | Water any plants that have dried out in transit. | | • | Ideally plug plants (particularly small plugs & standard plugs) should be potted up within a day or two into 7.5cm pots (3in), but they should stay in good condition for a week or so if well-watered and fed every few days with a liquid plant food. Plants should be left in a light, sheltered, frost-free place such as a greenhouse or cold frame. Loose packed plants are best potted on or planted out immediately, providing the weather conditions are suitable and there is no danger of frost (usually from late May). |
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| Growing on | | | • | Before potting up, thoroughly water your plants and leave to drain for half an hour. | | • | Select your pots or growing trays, which should be at least twice the size of the plug plant. If re-using old pots or trays wash them first in a mild disinfectant solution and rinse well. | | • | For plug plants in trays push the blunt end of a pencil through the hole underneath each plug and the plant will emerge at the top without disturbing the root system. | | • | Handle your plants carefully so as not to damage the leaves and stems. | | • | Fill your pots or trays with a good potting compost as this will contain more nutrients and reduce the need for additional feeding. | | • | Simply make a hole large enough to accommodate the roots with a dibber and plant so that the top of the root-ball is at compost level. | | • | Water well. | | • | Grow on for a few weeks in a light sheltered frost-free spot out of direct sunlight, preferably a cool greenhouse or cold frame. | | • | All your plants should be compact and bushy but as they grow, you may need to pinch out the growing tips of some trailing and upright types. | | • | When your plants are large enough and have produced enough roots to hold the compost together, they should be hardened off ready for planting out. Simply put your plants outside during the day providing it is not bitterly cold and bring them in at night, and after a week or two they can be left outside or planted out providing there is no danger of frost. |
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| Planting a container | | | • | Get together all the things you'll need: Container; Good quality potting compost (A container compost is generally better than multi-purpose as it contains more plant food); Water retaining granules unless already in the compost; Plants. | | • | Place broken up pieces of polystyrene plant trays or broken pots in the bottom of your container to help with drainage. | | • | Fill your container with potting compost (mixed with water retaining granules) so that the level is about 5cm (2") from the top. | | • | Plant your central plant(s) first by scooping out a hole just large enough for the roots and so the top of the root-ball is at compost level. Then continue planting the outer circle of plants about 2.5 - 5cm from the rim of the container, firming gently. | • | Top up with compost if needed to about 2cm (?") below the rim of the container. | | • | Water thoroughly and place in a greenhouse or sheltered spot out of direct sunlight for a week or so before placing in its final position once the danger of frost has passed (usually from late May). |
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| Aftercare | | | • | Containers are prone to drying out even on apparently cool overcast days, especially when there is a wind blowing and should be watered frequently. | | • | Snip off the dead heads of flowers at regular intervals to encourage a longer flowering season. | | • | Liquid feed about once a week during the flowering period to keep your plants looking healthy and flowering longer (tomato food is ideal). | | • | There are generally few pest problems but greenfly (aphids) may on occasions need to be controlled using an appropriate spray. |
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