WHAT'S LOOKING GOOD IN SEPTEMBER 2020

The Gardeners World programme pete mentioned was shown on 21st August 20 and was a trip to South Africa by one of the Team, (Nick), who visited the different areas, from the lowlands to the highlands where some of the 12 different species Eucomis thrived.
He saw E.Autumnalis on high ground in fairly well drained but, slightly moist, terrain and then E.Bicolour at around 2500 metres which required a well drained,gravel/grit, but dryer soil. The Eucomis pete is thinking of is E.Pallidiflora, sub-species Pole-Evansiii, which was sitting in almost bog like conditions but the only one that actually seemed to like those conditions. He was also taken by a friend of his to see the extremely rare E.Vandermerwei in it's natural habitat......a lucky man!

RHS ADVICE......

Planting in the garden
Plant bulbs 15cm (6in) deep to help prevent frost damage, in fertile, well-drained soil, in full sun. Avoid shady areas of the garden, but also make sure that the pineapple flower won’t be shaded by other plants as they grow. Excessive shade will reduce the flowering.

Keep plants well watered during the growing season (April to early October). Don’t let them dry out, as you won’t get such a good flowering display.

Each spring, top-dress with a general fertiliser, such as Growmore or fish, blood and bone at 50-70g per square metre (1½-2oz per square yard).

Growing in containers
Plant in a wide, shallow pan, if possible. A normal-shape flower pot will do, but is less stable when the bulbs are fully grown. Use a loam-based compost, such as John Innes No.3, with added sharp sand or horticultural grit to improve the drainage.

Allow at least 7.5cm (3in) between bulbs, but up to 15cm (6in) will still produce a striking display. Make sure that the top of the bulb is just below soil’s surface.

Just like plants in the garden, keep well watered during the growing season (April to early October) and apply a balanced, liquid-feed fortnightly.

 

Cosmos have done very well this year and we have a large number of pots of them. One has grown 10ft tall and is falling over (overbalancing from the height), a few are 8ft and there are others varying in size and coming down to about 3ft. Mrs Shiney hasn't been able to keep up with the deadheading so there are now fewer new flowers. Some are too tall for her to work on







Other plants are still managing to keep going but are getting a bit tatty.









Some are still going strong


Lots of different grasses are now looking good


We had a glut of Cobaea this year and we stuck them into the garden wherever there were places for them to climb.
This is an early morning shot from my office window and it has dozens of blooms on it

 

It doesn't have this stamped on it, does it, Ruth


Congratulations, Ruth, that is an Apple to be proud of and it looks delicious

 

October Thread Here:-

What's Looking Good In October 2020