best containers for mid may party

We are having an engagement party in mid-May in our garden in South London, and I would like to buy or grow some early bedding plants to make a display in the pots and containers - normally I would be patient enough to wait till midsummer for these, but short of just visiting the garden centre a month before to see what's in, are there any ideas for some gorgeous flowers I could perhaps raise? I don't think at the end of the day anyone cares much what they are, just it will gladden the heart to see flowers, but I feel that garden centres don't really offer a huge amount at that time of the year? Pelargoniums would in truth be fine, but any suggestions would be very welcome. Thank you all

 

Depending on your growing facilities, but its limited in what you may start now. Best bet would be plugs or perhaps nursery stock to grow on. Would expect primroses, pansies etc now, with bellis perennis (daisy) and maybe french marigolds to be in bloom by then if treated right.
Why not visit a grower with whom you could book (and pay for!) your choices, to collect when you/they are ready. Its difficult to double guess the seasons these days.

 

Yes you're right re the seasons, we all remember that hot March during Covid, but alas not repeated since! But I do very much like your french marigold suggestion, and the suggestion re the grower is a good one too. I'll get on to it. Thank you

 

I would say Wallflowers, being a bi-annual they tend to flower earlier than annuals and give a wonderful fragrance off and colours too. But I wonder if you can buy these ready to plant out to flower from nurseries ? I do mine from seed from the year before.

 

The timescale's certainly an issue. How about trying one of those mixtures of annual wildflowers? E.g. this one.

Suggested because I'm in South London too and last year on the common up the road a new butterfly meadow sown in early March had a good show of colour by mid-May - poppies, cornflowers, etc.

You could sow directly into the containers, provided their soil isn't too rich, and see what happens. If it works, it's been a cheap and easy and eco-friendly solution. If it doesn't, you will still have the pelargonium option to fall back on .

 

What a great idea! Thank you. And erysimum isnt a bad idea, I have some in pots already from last autumn, but I can see if there are any supplies in the garden centre.