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This is the time of year when temptation is at its highest and our resolve is at its weakest. Spring – that delicious season when the weather softens and beckons, the blood seems to pump around our bodies quicker making life more alluring and, through our rose-coloured spectacles, everything is thrusting and burgeoning. A soft green haze romantically softens the ground and our minds. Now, before you all start thinking I’ve started writing a sex page, let’s put our feet back on the ground – not too firmly – and return to the land. For this is the time of year that most new gardeners are captivated and older hands cherish, and still wonder at, the new life stirring in their gardens.It’s also the time when garden centres are stacked with all types of temptations, Easter being a peak selling period. The plants all look so squeaking with health – greens are extra green, flowers entice us through all the colours of the rainbow – and more – and perfume softens our resolve. |
Obviously, I’m not going to sternly advise you to resist all temptation (hey, I do have a garden centre to run! And what’s that saying about “a little of what you fancy ..”?) So, what is the secret of success with all this bounty? Well, firstly, go to the garden centre with a plan in mind. If you can’t even get past this stage, seek professional advice. A good garden centre will willingly help you to select suitable plants – not just the most expensive, or the ones they want to shift. I’m always happy to chat about plants, so come and see me! Next, be realistic. I’m often asked why plants that looked beautiful when bought go into a rapid decline in the garden. Think about it, it’s only common sense really.
Those chocolate-box beauties you’ve bought have been spoilt and pampered in more ways than you can even think of, and much less emulate. And, yes, they look wonderful – for a very short time. Exposed in your garden to wind, sun, rain, cold, maybe cats, dogs, children – with all the correct planting and best will in the world they are going to take several large backward steps. Sadly, in my opinion, many garden centres now have almost their entire stock under cover – it helps it to look better and sell better. It’s a bit like those four perfect tomatoes you buy in their sterile polystyrene tray – they’re chewy and tasteless, unlike their irregular cousins sold on the open markets but rejected by the supermarkets. Plants really aren’t meant to look perfect – or not for very long.
So, my advice would be to buy plants that have been held in conditions as near as possible to those of your garden. That way, the garden centre is doing the necessary ‘hardening off’ for you and the plant will settle much more quickly into its new home. It will not look quite so wonderful but it will grow away well for you. If you do buy a ‘spoilt beauty’ harden it off gradually. Keep it in the shade for several days, bringing it out gradually into the sun. This is particularly relevant in summer when plants will suffer badly from sunburn, just as we do. But equally important is to gently and gradually acustom it to wind and colder temperatures.
Then there’s the question of fertilisers, misting etc. A new planting should not need fertilising initially. Normally there are nutrients in the soil and in the compost you have used for planting. Misting is a practise carried out in conjunction with high greenhouse temperatures and, in general, the two things together produce very rapid but soft, tender growth. This is something that you cannot maintain in the general garden situation, nor is it desirable.
If, in spite of all your care, your new planting loses all its leaves and looks like it’s on its last legs, don’t be too hasty to discard it. Plants are often tougher than we think and, once they have found their feet in their new home, they will re-shoot and be much tougher for it. Sometimes there’s no other answer than to shed all those chemically- boosted leaves and revert to their standard garb. It doesn’t mean that your plant will be any less beautiful. Mother Nature, after all, usually has the upper hand and can create more beauty than we can even imagine.
And one last tip. Remember that planting is rather like tucking a small child into bed – do it lovingly. Tuck the blankets well around, making sure they’re snug – a little stroke, a kindly word, even a kiss does no harm! But don’t tell everyone that I told you to go around kissing your plants – please!
Lorraine Cavanagh is the author of Mediterranean Garden Plants.
Her plant nursery, Viveros Florena, is on the Algarrobo/Cómpeta Road, 15km up from the coast. Look out for the flowerpot lady! Also, catch her weekly show on OCI radio.
WINTER OPENING HOURS: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Tel: 689928201 florenaspain@hotmail.com
