Gardener's World with Paraic Horkan NDH

Plant now for summer colour.

May is an excellent month to complete your planted containers, hanging baskets and patio tubs for lots of summer colour this summer.
Containers can be planted with a selection of trailing and upright summer bedding or on mass planted with the one variety to give a strong uniform splash of colour.

Two excellent plants to look out for this season include:

Petunia million bells.

Trailing petunias are always popular but a neater and more useful plant is million bells. As the name suggests this plant produces an abundance of small flowers from June to November. Million bells is more suitable for mixed plantings and window boxes as it is less vigorous and is less competition for other patio plants.
Available in a wide range of colours million bells can be highly recommended for many uses.

Horkys tip: Use Westland tub & basket compost when planting your containers, it contains a water retaining agent that releases water during dry periods to keep your plants going.

Petunia surfinia.

Trailing petunias were introduced to the Irish market eight years ago and have grown in popularity every year.
The colour range has been improved every year and now includes, purple, pink, light blue, navy, white, and striped. Look out this season for the double flowering variety called Priscilla with its large scented double lavender flowers.

Trailing petunias are easy to grow and are resistant to light frosts.
Planted in hanging baskets, window boxes and patio planters they will flower from June to late November and can be held over to flower the following season.

Horkys tip: Plant five trailing petunias into a 14" basket to create a ball of colour.

Look out this year for petunia million bells, which has smaller flowers but makes up for its size with the abundance of flowers it produces. Ideal for window boxes and patio tubs.

Hints & tips for petunias.

• Use good quality compost with a slow released fertiliser. We recommend tub & basket for all patio planters and baskets.
• Add swell gel granules to hold a store of moisture in your containers. Swell gel is added to the nursery compost before you start planting.
• Pinch back young plants before planting into containers.
• Feed every week with algoflash liquid fertiliser to increase flower colour and new flower production.
• Never let your flowering plants to dry out. Water daily irrespective of the weather.

Patio planters.

A number of excellent outdoor patio plants were introduced by Horkans last summer including Impatiens fiesta large double flowers covered this busy Lizzie all summer despite the wet season. Dwarf dahlias proved very popular and very reliable with compact plants producing an abundance of double flowers until late autumn. A wide selection of colours are available and this low growing plant is equally at home in patio tubs or flower borders.

Fuchsias were superb last summer the mild cool summer suits fuchsias, many of the low growing bush varieties featured last summer and flowered until early winter in patio tubs. Winston Churchill, beacon, Brutus and lady thumb were very popular.

Summer vegetables & herbs - Plant them now.

Planting time for vegetables.

The mild dry weather over the past week has been ideal for planting some early vegetable plants and kitchen herbs.
A wide selection of summer vegetable and herb plants are now available for planting for early fresh kitchen veggies in summer.

Early cabbage.

Look for 'hispi' or 'golden cross' cabbage plants, which will give excellent solid heads of cabbage for mid summer if planted now. Both varieties offer excellent greens throughout the summer season and can be planted in stages to prolong the cropping period.
Red cabbage is becoming very popular as a table vegetable for its sweet distinctive flavour. The plant is easy to grow and produces solid red heads for early and mid summer use. Look for the f1 variety called 'autora'.

Easy to grow leeks.

Leeks are one of the easiest garden vegetables to grow, they are hardy and give an excellent return in late summer and winter. Leeks are related to garlic and onions and are just as easy to grow if the soil is well prepared, as they do best on a good rich loamy soil.
Young plants are available now for transplanting into a sunny location in free draining soil that has been prepared by the addition of garden compost or into a location where potatoes grew last season, as the soil should be ideal to grow leeks well.
Grow the variety f1 verina, which produces long white well-flavoured stems that can be picked from October to the following march.

Summer green broccoli.

Calabrese or summer green broccoli is a super summer vegetable. The plants are easy to grow providing excellent summer pickings from July to early autumn. Prepare the soil well by adding well-rotted organic matter or garden compost and firm the plant well after planting, as a firm base is critical. Plant the variety Calabrese f1 marathon for its reliable deep green spears of delicious green broccoli.

Salad lettuce.

Summer vegetables are not complete without the addition of fresh lettuce picked from your own garden. Lettuce is easy to grow and can be planted in succession right throughout the spring and summer season.
This year try planting 'continental ' mixed which offers you a selection of many varieties to provide you with choice and selection right through the summer salad period.

Fresh vegetable plants are now available for planting into your garden and remember you don't need a large space to grow vegetables simply plant them through existing plant's in your garden to provide you with fresh and regular pickings all summer long.

Horkys tip: Plant vegetable plants now into well-prepared garden soil, continue to plant a small number every two weeks to provide you with regular pickings all summer long.

Fresh herbs in containers.

Garden herbs are one of the easiest garden plants to grow, suitable for all gardens, and many varieties suitable for growing in patio pots and containers.
Cutting your own fresh herbs can be so easy if you plant now.
Young fresh herb plants are now available for planting in flower borders to complement existing plants or in containers kept close to the kitchen for easy access.

Some of the most popular.

Plant the most popular herbs in containers and window boxes and keep outdoors close to the kitchen for regular use throughout the summer.
Many varieties are winter hardy and will survive all year round with out protection. Parsley is possible the most popular herb in use try the plain leaved varieties for better flavour and higher winter tolerance.
Parsley should be sown freshly every two tears to give a continuous supply.

Golden sage is an excellent all round kitchen herb the plant makes a perfect clump of bright yellow foliage throughout summer.

Mint lends its self to container planting on its own; this vigorous plant quickly spreads and will fill its container very rapidly.

Green fennel and chives are welcomed in every kitchen and will provide you with regular pickings throughout the summer period. Both are easy to grow and will provide you with pickings this season.

Horkys tip: Plant a selection of fresh garden herbs now in window boxes or containers, place in a sunny location and enjoy the aroma and flavour of fresh garden herbs from June to autumn.

Remember Horkans Garden Centres in Sligo and Castlebar are open seven days Sunday 2 to 6pm. horky@iol.ie

Top

Go to Castlebar