The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Gardens => Topic started by: suziequeue on June 15, 2011, 06:05:04 pm

Title: I've bought all these plants - now what!!
Post by: suziequeue on June 15, 2011, 06:05:04 pm

I went a bit mad on the T & M website the other day and now I have about

35 Marigold "French vanilla" F1 plug plants
12 trailing Osteospermum "falling star" super plugs
5 Begonia "inferno" super plugs
5 petunia "phantom"

I've no idea what to do with them (I have potted them all on, given them a good watering and popped them in the cold frame for now).

Any ideas for planting schemes?

I want to avoid hanging baskets but could manage a pot or two (an excuse maybe to go and get something grand in terracotta or blue glazed) - but would mainly want to fill my beds

Am ploughing through the books but if anybody has personal experience or great ideas then please let me know!!!

Thanks

Title: Re: I've bought all these plants - now what!!
Post by: doganjo on June 15, 2011, 06:21:46 pm

All I've been told is to plant in groups of odd numbers not singly.  Other than that I haven't a clue.  What size and shape are your flower beds?

Title: Re: I've bought all these plants - now what!!
Post by: suziequeue on June 15, 2011, 06:31:52 pm

Mostly long and thin.

Two in full sun, to shade and one partial/full

Odd numbered groups is an advance on current knowledge so - thankyou very much.

Title: Re: I've bought all these plants - now what!!
Post by: jaykay on June 15, 2011, 08:14:50 pm

Everything you've bought there is sun-loving. The begonias and petunias will manage in the partial shade bed.

I second odd numbers, either of actual plants or groups, in uneven shaped groupings.

No idea what the colours are like, so reject this if they clash: what about the begonias and petunias together in two patches, that merge together like the Paisley shapes/ying yang. And then 5-7 patches of marigolds, with three groups of osteospermum inbetween?

I might add: some taller plants, or sweet peas on wigwams, to give you some height. Maybe something with sword/grass type leaves, like iris (you can get some with nice stripy leaves).

As for the shady beds, how shady, wet or dry? Maybe hostas, ferns, primrulas......

Title: Re: I've bought all these plants - now what!!
Post by: suziequeue on June 15, 2011, 10:02:35 pm

Well that's great as it's the full sun beds that need filling the most really.

The shady beds are pretty full of stuff.

I will go with your plan. I've no idea what colours they are either but I wanted a riot so it doesn't really matter.
 :) :)

Thanks
  :-* :-*

I'll post up when all the flowers come out

Title: Re: I've bought all these plants - now what!!
Post by: suziequeue on June 16, 2011, 06:53:17 am

These all seem to be "annuals".

Does that mean they only flower this year and then I have to do the same all over again next year? Like council roundabouts?

See...... really clueless!!!

Title: Re: I've bought all these plants - now what!!
Post by: jaykay on June 16, 2011, 07:03:02 am

Yes  :)

So you might want to find the perennial section of the garden centre too  :)

Title: Re: I've bought all these plants - now what!!
Post by: doganjo on June 16, 2011, 09:20:06 am

Some annuals self seed though, so ywatch out for new baby plants in spring when you are hoeing the weeds!

Title: Re: I've bought all these plants - now what!!
Post by: dizzy1pig on June 16, 2011, 09:43:10 am

i think you should go back to website and check what theese plants are..

from memory your marigold is pale cream,
however i am pretty sure that the est are all trailing plants ideal for pots...
if so then they will rot easy if trailin along the ground...

 ;)

Title: Re: I've bought all these plants - now what!!
Post by: doganjo on June 16, 2011, 10:01:36 am

These can be palnted in borders or in pots, they don't trail but can be in teh top of hanging baskets
35 Marigold "French vanilla" F1 plug plants
5 Begonia "inferno" super plugs
5 petunia "phantom"

These are trailing plants and need to be in hanging baskets or round the edges of fairly tall pots
12 trailing Osteospermum "falling star" super plugs

Title: Re: I've bought all these plants - now what!!
Post by: suziequeue on June 16, 2011, 04:24:34 pm

Yes - I have a perfect border for the osteospermum which will allow it to trail over the retaining wall.

The others will go in the same border but don't trail as far as I can see although I might put some of the petunia and a begonia together in a strategically placed pot. I think I'll spread the Begonia around a bit as it's pretty "in your face"

Ooooh - this is such fun.

Thankyou  :D :D