I want to plant up some sumer bulbs in pots. The instructions say I should use loam based compost. Do I need John Innnes and which one? Or can I use home-made compost with some mpc from a garden centre? I hope someone out there knows! Thank you.
OK - No 3 it is. I want a few pots of acidanthera (?) the pretty white gladioli. They should do well on my front patio in the sun. I was just a bit unsure about the compost. Also, I don't think they can be kept, can they?
They're not hardy - Acidanthera, but you can lift them and protect them over winter. I treat them as annuals when I grow them, but a couple have made it through this winter as it's been unusually dry here. I'll wait and see if they survive the spring!
If you're in a warmer part of the country , they would probably do ok in most winters, especially if you can protect them from the worst of the rain.
They get quite tall, so if you have them in pots, put something else smaller in front to give a bit of balance. You'd probably need to stake them too.
I just used MPC for mine, although I planted some out in raised borders where they have gritty, free draining soil
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you for all your advice. I will try to keep them in the greenhouse over winter, or perhaps the shed. We live in Hampshire and it is usually quite warm but this winter we had some cracking frosts of -7 several nights in a row.
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What bulbs are you planting Grannybee ?
If you're planning to keep the bulbs in that pot, then JI no3 is for permanant planting.
OK - No 3 it is. I want a few pots of acidanthera (?) the pretty white gladioli. They should do well on my front patio in the sun. I was just a bit unsure about the compost. Also, I don't think they can be kept, can they?
They should flower year after year, just put the pot somewhere sheltered over winter and bring them out again next spring. They are very pretty.
They're not hardy - Acidanthera, but you can lift them and protect them over winter. I treat them as annuals when I grow them, but a couple have made it through this winter as it's been unusually dry here. I'll wait and see if they survive the spring!
If you're in a warmer part of the country , they would probably do ok in most winters, especially if you can protect them from the worst of the rain.
They get quite tall, so if you have them in pots, put something else smaller in front to give a bit of balance. You'd probably need to stake them too.
I just used MPC for mine, although I planted some out in raised borders where they have gritty, free draining soil
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you for all your advice. I will try to keep them in the greenhouse over winter, or perhaps the shed. We live in Hampshire and it is usually quite warm but this winter we had some cracking frosts of -7 several nights in a row.