Rudbeckias

Toto

Which variety will give you colour all year round?  An independent gardening laboratory recently tested Rudbeckias, and 'Toto', and early flowering Rubeckia, came out as a clear winner.

It started flowing early, and flowered for fifteen weeks from June to October.  It has a height and spread of around 40cm as is ideal for the front of a border.

It remained covered in the trial in lots of small flowers for the whole of the summer.  It quickly formed a sturdy short plant, with no problems with either pests or diseases.

The seeds are available from Nicky's Nursery.  I suggest that you put a note in your diary around the  end of next March to order some.

Other varieties that did well: 'Tiger's Eye' - also Nicky's Nursery; 'Irish Spring' - Mr Fothergill's; 'Cappuccino' - Dobies.  These flowered for a couple of weeks less than Toto but were all a little taller.

Tiger Eye

Irish Spring

Cappuccino

Another Spledid Plant Combination for Full Sun.

Crocosmia 'Lucifer' is a stunning Crocosmia with apple green foliage and bright-red flowers.  It will grow practically anywhere seeds readily.  The flowers are attractive even before they open.  It reaches a height of about 1 meter.

Pair it with Helenium 'Sahin's Early Flowerer'.  This is an exceptionally long flowering Helenium, starting in early July and continuing to the end of September.  It needs to be deadheading but do this carefully.  It grows to a height of around 90cm.

Add Sedum 'Matrona'.  This is bigger and stockier than most Sedums and flowers from August through Autumn.  It will reach a height of 80cm.

Pair this with Sedum Herbstfreude Group.  This is a Sedum that looks good almost all the year round.  It should be grown in front of the Crocosmia.  It reaches a height of 60cm.

Finally a purple geranium at the front.  I would suggest Geranium 'Nimbus' - the foliage contrast beautifully with the crocosmia.  This will grow to a height of approximately 40cm.

All these plants require moist well drained soil, but the sedums will tolerate drier conditions.

Organic Pest Control Comes Out on Top

An organic spray has topped a recent trial by an independent laboratory for aphid control.   It is Bayer Natria Bug Control and is available from Homebase.  It cost £4.99 for a 1 litre dispenser.

The same laboratory found that slug control containing ferric phosphate were as effective as ones containing metaldehyde.  This is excellent news as it means we can care for our gardens and not need to use dangerous chemicals.