How much longer for bedding plants?

I have around 40 pots and baskets and a couple of borders of bedding plants! This is my first year really of proper gardening and I have gone a bit mad. With lots of TLC, most of them are still going strong. Still going strong are the following: Fushias, busy lizzies, marigolds, tagettes, pelagoniums, geranuims, some petunias, cosmos, cornflowers and lobelias.

Now I am going on hols on Friday for 8 days and wondering whether it is worth asking the neighbours to water them or not (as you can see with this many and the borders it is not a small ask!)

I would so like to come back to them, but if I can only expect a week or two more it is probably a bit unfair to ask anyone to do them. I live in Yorkshire, any idea how long they will keep going for anyone?

Cheers EGW xx

 

Ellie, rain is forecast for the weekend. And I don't mean just for N. Yorks, I mean the whole of the region. I have seen neighbours say 'Yes, no prob.' to watering plants for people but then not doing it and then falling out.

In view of the forecast, and the fact that they are totally established, I'd trust to nature.

P.S. The only trouble we have in Scarborough is that it is always sunny.

 

Thanks for your reply.

They are very reliable and would definately do it if I asked them I just don't want them to feel put out if they then notice they all finish a week later. If rain is forecast at the weekend I will probably just put them all where they will catch it and hope they survive though I am not back till the following weekend. Otherwise it will be a good excuse to get straight on with winter pots and planting bulbs! xx

 

Well as insurance you could ask them to water if no rain by next Tuesday or Wednesday. Point out that they haven't got long but you would like to keep them as long as possible.

I need some rain water for my insectivorous plants so hope it comes soon. It's been all or nothing this year.

 

Im in west yorkshire & its my first year too. All of my pots are doing great and dont seem quite ready to give up the ghost just yet! I went away for 1 week and came back and they were all fine, check the forecast. If rain is shown your pots should be fine left for a week. Just give them a good watering before you leave. If your neighbours are reliable I would ask them, no harm in a bit of neighbourly help, after all... "thats when good neeeeiiighboours become, good friends!"

Sarraceniac the pinocchio smiley was about right!! i've seen the weather in scarbs everytime I go surfing, it changes in an instant!

 

i`m sure your neighbours won`t mind watering your plants .My neighbours have gone away for a week , did`nt need to ask me to water the plants cos they know i`ll do it anyway ,

 

Yeah. But Linda, you are from Cornwall, where the nastiest thing said is 'OOH AARH'.

We are from Yorkshire where we practice the arts of Eebygum and Echythump. (Very similar to those awful Lancastrians.) :rolleyes: :D

 

Hi John,

The Welsh side of my family thinks that all 'us' lot (over the border) go around saying: 'Eeh by gum but i could eat a scabby donkey' :D

They say 'Ello butty ow are you', kinda lost in translation but i can do the accent :D

 

Ellie, you shouldn't need to water the plants in the border. Actually my garden is very dry now - so I would give the border a really good soak before you go. But the baskets and pots really do need to be watered every day. I would be inclined to move as many of them as you can together in one place. This makes the watering so much easier. I am sure your neighbours would help out.

Some of your plants could go on flowering into December, or until the first frosts.

 

Put them in the shade. Water well before you go and ask them to water in the middle of the week if no rain.

 

Paula, we Welsh say we could eat a scabby cat. David.

 

Last time i went Scarby i did'nt get a tan...................i got RUST.