Week 3: Garden colour that doesn't break the bank

After years of garden design being dominated
by hard landscaping and foliage plants,
flowers are back in fashion. And if you want a
great seasonal display in late winter and
spring, this is the time to start preparing.
Seeds sown now will produce seedlings ready
for planting out when the weather cools down.
Examples are popular varieties such as
calendulas, hollyhocks, delphiniums, forget me
nots, foxgloves, cinerarias, lobelia, pansies,
poppies, primulas (pictured), stocks and
violas.

Before you start sowing it's worth investing in
some Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix,
which has been specially blended to
encourage germination. It has finer, lighter
particles than general purpose mixes and
contains a form of controlled release fertiliser
that encourages new growth without harming
young roots.

Fill a pot or tray with seed raising mix, water
well and allow to drain. Read the packet
instructions carefully before you start sowing,
especially in relation to planting depth.

Keep the pot in a cool, lightly shaded spot and
make sure the mix remains moist (check more
often on hot days). If the mix gets dry it can
be helpful to cover the pot with a sheet of
plastic cling wrap between waterings.
Remove the plastic as soon as the seedlings
have appeared and, once their leaves start to
open, begin watering every week with half
strength Yates Black Magic Seedling fertiliser.
Gradually move the seedlings into more sun -
if they don't receive enough light they'll be
weak and lanky.

While seedlings are germinating, you have the
perfect opportunity to prepare the beds where
the flowers are to grow. Most will need a
sunny position, although cinerarias and
primulas will grow happily in light shade. Dig
some organic matter into the soil – milled cow
manure or compost are best – and add a
complete fertiliser (such as Thrive Granular All
Purpose).

When the seedlings are large enough to
handle (about 12 mm tall for most) lift them
carefully, separate the crowded seedlings and
discard or transplant the excess. New
transplants may need to go back into the
shade while they're re-establishing. Once the
seedlings have reached about 7 to 10 cm in
height, they're ready to go out into the garden.

Transplant gently, taking care to minimise root
disturbance. At this point it can be helpful to
water them with some Yates Nature's Way
Seaweed Tonic. This minimises transplant
shock and promotes new root growth. Watch
for snails and slugs – they love to attack fresh
young seedlings. Sprinkle a few Blitzem or
Baysol pellets to provide protection.

The tradition used to be to plant flowers in
formal rows or massed blocks of colour but
nowadays they're more likely to be popped
into sunny pockets amongst established
shrubs. Don't forget to save some for pots,
too.