SoS: A Passion for Pots

This week I’ve been planting up pots to bring some much needed vibrant summer colour to the garden. Shrubs, cacti and succulents make a great low-maintenance backdrop, but the displays of annuals really make the garden pop with colour.

I usually go to the garden centre and select a range of annuals but this year, thanks to a seed obsession, I attempted to grow all my own plants. However, unlike the garden centre, I lost the plot and have no idea of the colour or variety so it’s become a lucky dip. The other issue is that the seeds germinate at different times or not at all, so not all the plants are ready. Next year, I will take a more organised approach, label everything and be more mindful on predicted germination times!

My method of planting containers may differ to many of my fellow gardeners as I plant in a plastic liner pot rather than directly into the container. The benefits of this are threefold.
1. I can remove the plastic insert as and when so I can rotate between winter, spring and summer displays.
2. Using an insert prevents root damage to bulbous shaped pots
3. The insert acts as insulation so the soil does not dry out as quickly.

1. Ali Baba Pot

I love this pot! I had been admiring them for several years and one day I dug deep into the purse, bought one and had it delivered. We filled the bottom half with gravel for stability and use a plastic pot as the planting receptacle. If there is one thing I have learned with gardening NEVER plant directly into bulbous shaped pots.

I am unsure if this colour combination will work. The red Dipladenia and my homegrown Petunias are hardly a striking combination. The red, to my critical eye, is not enough contrast to the terracotta and the trailing Petunias grown from seed are NOT trailing (at least I don’t think so).

Ali Baba August 2018… The Petunias trailed to the ground.

 

2. Potty About Petunias

When I planted two packets of mixed coloured petunia seeds, trailing and bush, I had no idea they would all survive. And… I can’t kill plants. (not intentionally). Unfortunately, over time and while pricking out the seedlings I mixed up the varieties so it’s now pot luck as to what I’ve planted.

The displays are not that exciting as I am trying to utilise the plants I have rather than buying even more.

 

 

and I’m still left with

 

and

 

and even more! I am surprised they’re not growing out of my ears.

Hopefully, once I can establish which are trailers or bush petunias, I will find someone to adopt some of them.

 

3. Gin Corner

I jokingly nicknamed this area the Gin Corner as last year I included two chairs and a small table. Gin corners were all the rage in the U.K. (apparently)

4. Nasturtiums – an Edible Display

The Nasturtium seeds planted on the 27th of February have finally started to flower. I’ve already started adding some of the leaves to salads so not long before I will include the flowers, too.

5. Succulent Display

I love the colour combination of these succulents, and the open shallow terracotta dish works well to showcase the plants.

6. Tumbling Terracotta Pots

What a wonderful way to display plants in a restricted space! We happened upon this idea in the garden of a cafe restaurant near Milfontes in the Alentejo. Intrigued, we studied the construction, bought the pots and made our own version. I will post a ‘How To’ in a separate post. I still need to buy one more plant as the one I originally purchased does not like afternoon sun. A good excuse to visit the garden centre!

That’s it for this week. why not check out more Six on Saturday gardeners over at Mr P’s blog.