What could I plant here?

Hi everyone

I built this planter out of pallet wood. It's been lined and painted with garden fence paint.

I have no idea what the stringy grass looking things are...My Granddad gave them me as bulbs to plant...Apparently they get big orange stems on them

Anyway, does anyone have any idea what I could do with this space? It's quite a sunny spot!

 

Looks like it might also be sheltered and free draining. A good spot for growing Mediterranean herbs perhaps?

 

Look like Montbretia.
I agree with Clueless, make a nice herb bed.

 

That's what I was thinking, but was put off by the 'orange stems' bit. The ones I know all have green stems, but stunning orange flowers from late summer.

 

I was thinking Crocosmia

Anyway, I agree, a Herb bed

 

Ah, you might be right about them. He defiantly said something about "orange" but maybe he said flowers rather than stems?

So you guys think a herb bed would be good? Are they difficult to grow?

 

Ohhhh, orange STEMS....my bad

 

No. Well, depends, actually no.

I grow Rosemary, Thyme and Sage as a minimum, but usually also have a few others kicking about.

Rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, marjoram - just buy them as young plants, shove them in (allowing plenty of space around each), water them in and let them do their thing. They require a little bit of maintenance, which is usually just trimming them so they don't grow leggy and woody.

Basil is easy to grow from seed or with a bit of TLC, can be saved from cheapo supermarket forced ones, but it is such a softy I think its not a good plant for outside in the UK. If the weather (any weather at all it seems) doesn't get it, then it every single passing pest will. Coriander is very easy from seed and makes a lovely plant. Grow it at the back if you're going to because it gets tall very quickly. Parsley is easy to grow from seed if you're patient but takes ages to germinate. I'd put that at the back too because it grows huge if its roots aren't restricted.

Think twice before putting mint or lemon balm in. They're ok, but they do kind of take ownership of the whole site if you let them.

 

A very good post that C1

 

Oh, just to add, I would think that most of these will still be available to buy at G/C's

 

I reckon they will be Orange flowers. Montbretia / Crocosmia - different names for the same thing. The plant is Bullet proof! It has little corms, you can dig it up in the Autumn, separate the corms, and spread them around if you want a wider clump.

 

Thank you for your replies everyone! I'm quite a keen cook and regularly use Rosemary, Thyme and Sage so having these in the garden would be very useful too!

Thank you for all your guesses about my mystery bulbs! Does anyone know when they should flower? Some of them look a little sorry for themselves...Should I cut them back?

 

Soon "Summer time"

They do do that ...

No, you won't get any flowers if you do.

Give them a little general fertiliser if you feel like it ... I just ignore mine and let them do whatever they can without any help (that's not to say that feeding them wouldn't help though )

 

im planning on planting some herbs in ornamental half barrels. is it too late now or will they be ok. also will they keep over winter or die off? I agree with c1's post too that was really allot of good info, thanks.

 

My first thought was also a herb bed - so pleased to see that was everybody else's reaction as well - phew! Gives me some confidence to think that more experienced people think the same .

I'd echo on the thoughts about Mint - IF you really want some in your garden, put it into its own pot, raised inside a solid container to allow for drainage - but to stop it from spreading everywhere. Believe me, from my childhood memories of grandparents garden, it will grow far faster than you can use the darn thing !!!!!