Page 17 - Blue Valley Issue 5 2020 print.pdf

GARDENING

ANNUALS

“Flowers are like friends;
they bring colour to your
world”
Unknown

lants that perform their entire life cycle
from seed to flower within a single
Pgrowing season are called annuals.

We are a country facing severe water
shortages with dramatic climatic variations,
but there are few areas which will not sustain
a spot of colour in some annual floral form
throughout the year.

What we describe as a “winter garden” will
actually reach its peak in spring. The summer
plants will carry through to the next winter
planting season. This will give a full cycle of Namaqualand daisies
colour throughout the year.
conditions, it can take six days. Read the
Few other countries have the superb instructions on the seed packet and believe
conditions that will allow annuals to provide the supplier that the plant will take ninety
such an abundance of colour. Bulbs are of days to flower.
little significance in our gardens due to their
short season and flowering perennials are Collect your own seed from annuals such
erratic. A few trays of annuals can add the as the Namaqualand daisy (sown in April
stunning finale to a very ordinary garden. for spring colour) and Marigold (sown in
September for summer colour). Plants with
big seeds, such as Zinnias, can be sown
Growing annuals from seed: directly in situ and germinate easily. Small
Under ideal conditions, a seed may germinate
in two days, but under less favourable seeds (often dust-like), for example Petunias,
need to be mixed with flour before sowing
and should preferably be sown in a seed
box where germination can be carefully
monitored.
After germination, the seedlings are
transplanted into seedling trays or directly
into the garden when the plants are 50mm
across. Protect the small seedlings from direct
sunlight for a few days and remember that
the soil has to be moist at all times.

Choosing seedlings for your garden:
Never buy a tray of seedlings when the
leaves are wilted. The small plants will have
a setback due to wilting. Choose a tray not
fully in bloom but filled with healthy, sturdy
little plants. The seedlings with fewer flowers
will settle quickly and provide an abundance
of flowers. Seedlings in full flower and grown
too large for the small container will be root
bound, and take a while to spread in garden
soil.
Bellis perennis English Daisy
Allow enough space between individual
plants and if snails and slugs appear in your these pots are perfect. Grow your own pots of
garden, apply organic snail bait to protect the colour. After planting up the flower bed, pot
annuals. up a few extra seedlings. Plant each plant in a
small individual pot, place in a protected spot
and use as needed when the plants are fully
Planting pots of colour: in flower. BV
This is ideal, but it is expensive. Small pots/
bags are sold, each filled with an annual plant Source: Garden Group
fully in flower. When planting containers for
Photos supplied by: Carol Knoll
use at functions or in small indoor gardens,
Dimorphotheca 'Whirligig' Annuals
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