The Beechgrove Garden 2022 episode 5: In this episode, Calum and Carole have something for almost every type of gardener. If you don’t have access to a garden, or just want to maximise the space you have, we show you how to make the most of your windowsill by growing herbs and micro greens.
For those who do have a border to work with, Brian revisits some old favourites in the shape of gladiolus, fucshias and begonias, reminding us that there is nothing wrong with the traditional planting approach. And if you need inspiration, there is a visit to a beautiful East Lothian garden, while, at Beechgrove, Calum takes the next step in building his new plot.
The Beechgrove Garden 2022 episode 5
How to grow gladioli
Gladioli offer a brilliant array of flower colours. Some are hardy and overwinter happily in well-drained soils, others are best lifted each autumn and stored dry, or dried off in the pots where they grow. They can be planted informally in borders, in rows for producing cut flowers or used to create container displays.
While many gladioli are easy to grow in the first summer, for a reliable display you will need to lift and store many of the popular garden hybrids somewhere frost free over winter. As a result, think about whether you want to do this each autumn, or whether you are just happy to see what comes up the next year. There are a few hardy types to try too which can more reliably left in the ground year after year.
Choose a sunny, open place, clear of competition and shade from surrounding plants. If you’re growing tall hybrids, find a spot sheltered from wind to avoid the need for staking or installing a netting support to stop them blowing over. When planting each spring, dig well-rotted manure or garden compost into the soil to help retain moisture, improve drainage and add some nutrition. On poor soils, you can also add a general-purpose fertiliser, such as Growmore, when you plant.
Fuchsia
Fuchsias flower continuously from mid-summer to the early frosts, providing colour and interest with their pendent blooms. Their flowers are diverse, ranging from dainty and elegant to bold and bright, which makes them great additions in bedding displays, containers or borders.
Tender fuchsias are grown for their very attractive pendant flowers, which bloom continuously from summer to autumn. They come in an array of colours and habits, making them a useful addition to summer-bedding schemes, containers or in the ground for border displays.
Tender fuchsias bring reliable colour summer containers and borders. Fuchsias with upright habits can be used to create height in the middle of a container, while those with trailing stems are perfect for tumbling over the edge of your hanging baskets. They can even be an eye-catching standard (lollipop shape) that is the centre piece to the patio or a house plant for a cool conservatory or sun room. With the right care, they will flower continuously and bring colour to wherever you plant them.
