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Which bulbs/flower seeds to plant now?

BouncingBackBouncingBack Posts: 142
in Plants
We have a very large raised bed at the top of the garden that gets full sun. It has three fruit trees, two gooseberry bushes and a loganberry plant along the back with lots of room in front of them. The past couple of years I've grown edible plants, including peas both years. However, there was a major problem with aphids and mould last year, I suspect from everything being overcrowded plus the weather. So this year to reduce stress I just want to fill the front of the bed with flowers. What can I plant now that will bloom throughout spring and summer? All suggestions welcome 🙂

Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Are you thinking of perennials or more along the bedding plant/annuals route? 
  • BouncingBackBouncingBack Posts: 142
    Just annuals then I have the option to grow veg next year I think, although could add a few perennials as there's space.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    edited 22 February
    So many annuals we'd be here all day, so l've included a link to Simply seeds seeds website just to give you an idea :)
    https://www.simplyseed.co.uk/flower-seeds.html.

    Off the top of my head and from personal experience, Cosmos, cerinthe, antirrhinums to name a few. 
    Perennials could include lavender, salvias such as Caradonna, and Achillea. 

    Most if not all of these will attract bees and pollinators. 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692

    BouncingBack Cosmos Rubenza and Tagetes Burning Embers are two of my favourites from seed but much too early to start them off yet.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    As @AnniD says - it's far too big a subject to answer easily. 
    The other, very important, factors are your location and climate. I don't sow anything at this time of year [mid March usually for me ] because I then need to be able to judge when plants can safely go outside. In warmer, drier areas, with more light at this time of year, that can be considerably earlier  :)
    If you can give an idea of what you like colour wise, how much room you have to sow inside, the actual size of the areas to fill [a photo will help with that ] and how much time you have to spend on pricking out and potting on, as well as general maintenance - deadheading, supporting the plants etc, that will help. 
    For example - I use nasturtiums a lot- you can sow those direct, but not everyone likes the colours of those. Rudbeckias ar e the same.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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