What Flowers Are Good To Plant Now?

[Baby_Sham]

Hi, I need a hobby, so figured my garden is a good place to start :-)

However, I am pretty clueless when it comes to plants and flowers.

It's all very green out there right now, and pretty bland.
I would like to inject some colour, but as the ground isn't great (and space is limited) I was thinking of using planters.

Any ideas of things I could plant now?
Garden is south facing and doesn't have a huge amount of shade, if that makes any difference.
Would like some nice, bright flowers which I could buy in trays ready to plant now.

Thanks.

[Frank97]

I'd just go to a local garden centre and buy some bedding plants that are already starting to flower, that way you can see what you are getting, you could also plant some Gladioli to come through as they fade.

[woofgang]

ooo take your pick! If you are going for containers, go for big ones and when you fill them with soil, use a good quality mix and add water crystals as this will lessen the amount of times you need to water and will also retain what you do put in so less is wasted. You can get products that are both water crystals and plant food which helps a lot. Most of the tray plants sold now will love your sunny garden. Its worth going to the poshest nursery near you that you can find and looking at their ready made up tubs and displays to get ideas for colour schemes and plant mixes. You don't have to buy there, although the poshest nursery near us also has some of the best prices! If you want a hobby how about trying your hand at growing food? tomatoes are easy, decorative and will be happy in sun. You could mix them in with things like pot marigolds and herbs for wonderful scent and to keep the bees happy.

[Ann]

Buy some hanging baskets and plant trailing begonias, they give an amazing show of colour from June to November and don't need so much water. Sometimes they are called Illumination Red, Apricot, White or Yellow. Just make sure they are trailing habit not the upright ones.

[treetops68]

If you go for planters, given their locatoin you will need to water copiously when the hot weather comes as planters tend to dry out quickly.

[Ann]

Antirrhinums (snap dragons) are good for bedding colour and don't need much looking after, just snap the spikes off when the flowers fade and they should sent up another flower spike. Petunias are good unless the summer is wet, geraniums give good show, Cosmos are taller and flower for ages if you deadhead, bedding begonias spread and give a carpet of red, pink and white. Yellow tagetes give a lovely splash of yellow which brightens up the garden and lasts well into Autumn.

[woofgang]

treetops, that's why i mentioned water crystals, they help a lot.
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[Baby_Sham]

Thanks for the responses, the idea of herbs is a great one and I will definitely do that :-)

When I say I'm using 'planters', I've actually got some old galvanised tin baths, a couple of old chimney pots and two old milk churns.
I'm 'assuming' I can plant any kind of flower (or herb) into these?

[treetops68]

Sorry, woofgang, I didn't see your answer before I posted mine.

Baby_Sham, yes, almost anything can be used as planter as long as it has at least one drainage hole.

[Baby_Sham]

That's great, thankyou :-)

[snags]

''space is limited''

''I've actually got some old galvanised tin baths, a couple of old chimney pots and two old milk churns''

Must look like a right tip...

[237SJ]

I have these every year https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=portulaca&client=firefox-a&hs=U9r&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=np&biw=1360&bih=610&;tbm=isch&imgil=9XW7QG55tsCXjM%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fencrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com%252Fimages%253Fq%253Dtbn%253AANd9GcR-j_JAS1MhjLIxNgG8ZRlHpJv9-KNxVbVdeFrzhmDFi0Mr3ig9%253B1181%253B1192%253Bo04z442O6qf2hM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Friversidenurseryva.com%25252Fgallery3%25252Findex.php%25252FProducts%25252FPlants%25252FAnnuals%25252FPORTULACA&source=iu&usg=__TRDZN1JzzpYXWrHOes-vGTgtNu4%3D&;sa=X&ei=EwVyU6_DIbPG7Aayu4CIBQ&sqi=2&;ved=0CL0BEP4dMA0#facrc=_&imgdii=_&;imgrc=9XW7QG55tsCXjM%253A%3Bo04z442O6qf2hM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Friversidenurseryva.com%252Fgallery3%252Fvar%252Falbums%252FProducts%252FPlants%252FAnnuals%252FPORTULACA.jpg%253Fm%253D1270321295%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Friversidenurseryva.com%252Fgallery3%252Findex.php%252FProducts%252FPlants%252FAnnuals%252FPORTULACA%3B1181%3B1192 They`re gorgeous and keep flowering until the autumn

[237SJ]

BTW - you don`t need to keep watering them as they are from South America and are tolerant of dry conditions.

[Baby_Sham]

"Must look like a right tip..."

It does now, yes.

[whirlyhurly]

I believe that Pinks {small carnations} are very easy to grow & thrive.

[gness]

Hi, Baby...geraniums seem to tolerate dry conditions.....I have a hot south facing patio so I cover the top of the soil in my pots with pebbles to help stop drying out....good luck...gardening is fun.....x