It's Maybe Worth a Try (Lobelia)

Last year I dug up my Lobelias some time in October and put them in a tray with the intention of moving them into the shed.  This was by way of an experiment to see if it was possible to overwinter Lobelia.  I'd never tried this before.  Like most gardeners I'd always bought them as bedding plants in the spring.

However, I completely forgot all about them and they remained outside all winter.  The trays had no drainage holes, so the Lobelias spent the winter in two inches of water!  I was amazed when come the spring they had all survived the winter outside in what I can only describe a bog-plant conditions.  I promptly planted them out and they were away in no time and did splendidly.

Whether this was a fluke (last winter was mild) or whether I have discovered a useful way to overwinter Lobelia remains to be seen, but I'll certainly try it again this winter.

Giving a Rose as a Gift 2

I recently blogged on giving a rose as a gift, and shortlisted five modern roses that were ideal for this purpose.  However, I forgot to include a rose that has been around for some years, Absolutely Fabulous, which won the coveted Rose of the Year award in 2010.

This is one of the healthiest roses around and has lovely scented flowers from June to September.  The blooms are beautifully scented and borne on strong stems.

Caring for Hanging Baskets from Late August Onwards

When you first set up an hanging basket, hopefully earlier in the year, it would have been prudent to add a teaspoonful of slow-release feed granules.  This will have kept the plants healthy for several months.

But slow-release granules don't last for ever and come this time of year you will need to start topping up once a week with ideally a tomato feed.

Two best buys are: J Arthur Bower's Tomato Plant Food and Westland Gro-sure Tomato Food.