In the arc of an Irish gardening year, May is the month of magical things. The first rose. The first swallow. The first properly hot day. The first beech tree in full leaf. The first sighting of wisteria in magnificent lilac bloom, draping itself languidly against a high, sunny wall. As nature flashes its brilliant feathers, it’s also our last real opportunity before summer finally arrives to make a substantial difference to our gardens or allotments, whether that’s filling them with fast-growing annuals to provide plenty of homegrown produce for the months ahead, planting up spectacular summer containers, or fine-tuning flower borders for maximum impact. With all of this in mind, here’s a handy little to-do list to help you stay on course.
Gardening: 10 fast-growing, ultra-productive annuals that can be sown right now
03.05.2024 - 14:13 / irishtimes.com / Fionnuala Fallon
It’s April, that most magical of months, when nature’s life force quickens day by day and every tiny seed sown is a powerful spell racing to transform itself. With that in mind, below are 10 fast-growing, ultra-productive annuals that I wouldn’t be without, all of which can be raised from seed sown in the next couple of weeks.
Cosmos/Cosmos bipinnatus: One of the superstars of the summer garden, this fast-growing, floriferous half-hardy annual looks every bit as at home in a pot in a chic town courtyard garden as it does in a potager-style allotment, while it also makes a fantastic cut-flower. Depending on the variety, its daisy-like flowers can be of the purest white (examples include Cosmos ‘Purity’ and Cosmos ‘Fizzy White’), shocking-pink (Cosmos ‘Dazzler’), and ruby red (Cosmos ‘Rubenza’). For something extra special, seek out seed of the shimmering-pink Cosmos ‘Xsenia’ and the peachy Cosmos ‘Apricotta’. Cosmos likes a position in full sun and a free-draining, not overly fertile soil or compost.
For reliably good results, sow seed into a 2L-3L pot filled with a good-quality seed compost (ideally lightened with a handful of fine-grade vermiculite), bottom water by placing it in a shallow container of water up to its waist overnight, and then cover an upturned clear freezer bag sealed with an elastic band before placing them on a bright window sill to germinate. As soon as they do, start gradually removing the bag to slowly improve ventilation. Once full germination has occurred, remove the upturned bag and very gently water as required, taking care not to bruise any of that tender new growth. When those baby seedlings produce their first set of “true leaves” (leaves that look similar to the adult plants), prick them
Your gardening questions answered: Are there any slug-proof plants?
Q: We have a small back garden that includes an old wall covered in ivy. I love the ivy, but it has become home to an army of slugs that have eaten many of my plants over the years. I have tried many different things to combat the slugs (ground eggshells, coffee grinds, various different pellets), none of which have really made that much difference. I am also concerned about using products that may harm the birds that visit the garden and our dog. At this stage, I think I have to accept that the slugs are part of the garden and learn to live with them. So, I would like to look at planting some small shrubs and flowers that are not appealing to slugs. I would be grateful for some suggestions. JM
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