Spring is definitely here and the weather is lovely. But this is a tricky time for gardeners. We want to get on with planting for summer but the weather is still unpredictable and frosts are possible – even likely – in the coming weeks. Do not be lulled into a false sense of security by this lovely spell of weather. Snow at Easter is more common than snow at Christmas!
Plans to plant tender summer bedding should be put on hold except in the mildest and most sheltered gardens. You can certainly buy tender plants but they must be protected from frost and unless you have a heated greenhouse it is best to wait a few more weeks.
But it will soon be Easter and we all want our gardens and patio pots to look their best. If autumn-planted pots are not looking their best you may want to replant them or add some extra colour. All month the Viola Festival has been providing you with amazing-value, fragrant and beautiful plants for beds and pots that tolerate frost.
And now, to fulfil your needs, there are Senetti.
These are a fairly recent development and a new type of plant. Although they are superficially similar in appearance to the old fashioned cinerarias which were grown from seed for greenhouse display and which are now properly called Pericallis, Senetti are, strictly, perennial. They were developed from wild pericallis which grow wild in the Canary Islands and Madeira. As garden plants Senetti fill a useful gap, providing colourful plants that withstand low temperatures and even the lightest frost.
Although they are strictly perennials they are not very attractive in summer, having exhausted themselves by blooming in spring and they need the protection of a greenhouse in winter. So regard these as flamboyant late spring pot fillers.
You will find them for sale now, fully grown, in full bloom, and they will continue to look beautiful for up to two months. As such they are not really practical to fill flower beds but they are perfect for patio pots. Here you can mix them with other spring flowers such as violas and pansies, pots of spring bulbs and ranunculus. For instant effect they can be combined in a pot with spring-flowering shrubs such as pieris and rhododendrons.
The range of colours is remarkable but perhaps the blues and purples are the most striking.
They are generally easy to look after but you need to take care with watering. If they are overwatered and the compost is saturated for too long the plants will collapse and die. But the plants are also leafy and do need a fair bit of water. You can keep them on a windowsill in the house for a short time but they are not really houseplants. A sunroom is a better spot. Where they excel is in patio pots in a sheltered place where they get plenty of sun.
Senetti are a treat because they are not really practical plants for long-term display. But they are perfect for an instant splash of colour and make delightful gifts for Easter and will last much longer than a bunch of flowers.
Weekly Reminders
If you have not done so yet there is still time to prune your hydrangeas, cutting off the old flower heads to the upper pair of buds on the stems. And if you want blue hydrangeas you need to start applying Hydrangea Colourant now.
Feed your roses after pruning
There is still time to plant dahlias and gladioli in the garden, where they are to bloom
Plant up a pot with herbs for tasty pickings all summer
Plant potatoes now in well dug ground. Early and main crop kinds can all be planted now.
Apply a lawn fertiliser to promote strong growth and replenish nitrogen in the soil washed away during the wet winter. Feeding also helps smother weeds in the lawn and will make the grass stronger and better able to withstand wear in summer.