How to grow your free seeds

Inset: Alamy

with Bob Flowerdew, AG’s organic gardening expert

To give meadow-style fl owers like Papaver rhoeas , Coreopsis tinctoria , nigella and lavatera, follow my steps to success… Widespread low-growing turf grass Poa annua can soon take over

Bob’s top tips for the week

Inset: Alamy

Alamy

1If looking congested, mark clumps of snowdrops and other early bulbs, for lifting and dividing soon after the flowers finish.

Routinely moved, stepping stones help you create optimum conditions for fl owers to be sown or planted

Call of the wild

Do your meadow-style flowers have to fight greedy grasses? Bob looks at how to give your ‘wild side’ a helping hand

IT’S downright hard work to get a meadow full of flowers, especially if making this from your lawn. The problem is that grasses, particularly established grasses, are too good at competing so –other than the odd tree sapling, dock or bramble –they choke out everything In real meadows, sheep cattle remove lush grass reducing the fertility, allowing other plants to have a chance. You can slice off the top layer to expose the less fertile subsoil and establish your ‘wild’ flowers before the grasses return. This ca be successful, but is also very hard work. Another way is to remove small areas and to sow or plant your ‘wild’ flowers there. This is less work, but can still be “Create a clean zone for seedlings to fl ourish ” quite tough going, especially if the grasses are matted and deeply rooted. Whichever way, two or three years later, the grasses will have choked out the flowers again, and you need to repeat. Well, there’s an easier method. Make a meandering path with concrete slab g stones. Laid flat, these e and can be mowed er occasionally, so rough rasses are trimmed and aplings removed. Then, after six months or so, move the pathway a bit, making another. Where ach slab was sitting has come a patch of bare with grass roots coming the edges. A quick trim of these, and you have a clean zone in which to get your ‘wild’ flower seed or seedlings established. Then, after six months, move the path again, creating yet another series of cleared patches. Admittedly, each becomes choked out, but this takes a year or two, during which time the flowers have a chance and put on their display. By regularly moving the slabs, you will create a series of clearings to support your ‘wild’ flowers at different stages, and easily! Make sure fl ower plugs and seedlings have the best chance before planting

2Bring tub-grown grapevines, peaches, apricots, blueberries, gooseberries and strawberries under cover, cool and bright, for forcing really early fruits.

3Put silica gel ‘drying agent’ pouches (from photographic / electrical stores) in with your seed packets to keep them drier.

Begonia Illumination Apricot Shades F1

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Begonia Illumination Apricot Shades F1 is a stunning variety with fully double fl owers that are exceptionally weather tolerant and will even thrive in a partially shaded spot to give months of interest and colour. Perfect for hanging baskets, window boxes and containers. Grown in moist, well-drained soil/compost in sun or partial shade. Half-hardy and perennial.

✿ Supplied as Garden Ready Plants , measuring approx. 10-12cm/4-5in

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✿ Flowering from June to October – feed and dead-head weekly to keep the fl owers coming

✿ Delivered from mid-June for immediate planting out

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Buy 2 or more trays for just £13.95 each!

Code Description Price 1 tray Price 2 trays or more Qty Total

50995 30 Begonia Illumination Apricot Shades F1 Garden Ready Plants £17.95 each £13.95 each

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