SPRING BEDDING CALLS FOR ACTION NOW

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29803, 21 April 1962, Page 19

SPRING BEDDING CALLS FOR ACTION NOW

Jobs m the garden will probably figure prominently on ail the little lists being drawn up for the long week-end—particularly if someone else has been drawing up the list! Last weekend’s rain well soaked the soil, so there should be no excuse for getting out of planting up the spring bedel, ng—as long as the soil isn't still soggy. It’s not a good proposition to transpie about on soil which is too waterjogged. But as there have been a few drying days, the soil should be just right. Wallflowers are the backbone of most spring bedding schemes, and there are few gardeners who don’t appreciate their rich colours. There are good and bad quality plants on sale—“you pays your money and you takes your choice.”

Choose plants with several stems, not one. and with root systems which are well developed and bushy. Spindly plants at cheap prices are a sure sign that they have not been transplantea from the seedbed — and they won’t give as good a display as a result. Good varieties include Orange Bedder, Rose Bedder, Fire King and Vulcan. This latter variety is the deep bronze which most people associate with wallflowers. Wallflowers make an excellent association interplanted with tulips. Space the wallflowers about nine to 12 inches apart, and plant them first. Then plant your tulips among them. You will thus avoid spearing your blubs. A few good combinations are, say Wallflower “Primrose Monarch.” interplanted with tulip "Marjorie Bowen”; Wallflower "Fire King”, with Tulip "Mrs J. T. Scheepers” • yellow); and Wallflower “Golden Monarch” interplanted with Tulip “Pride of Haarlem” (scarlet). Forget-me-nots are common associates of wallflower, and can be used as the edging to a bed if planted nine inches apart. Another very attractive way to use them is as a dot planting with wallflower. They associate very well with almost any variety. If your bed is not too large, then a complete ground cover of forget-me-not with a yellow tulip interplanted can be very attractive.

Polyanthus have undergone a revolutionary change in the last 10 or 15 years, and the strains available today are superb. Strong sturdy stems, large flowers, and a colour range that leaves the coppery-orange colours of yesterday far

behind. Polyanthus mixed with a sprinkling of myosotis, or with a mixture of tulips can be very effective. The best strain of polyanthus is probably the American V and R strain, although they ai;e rather expensive. But quite a number of good strains have been raised locally, and some growers have made beautiful selections.

Canterbury Bells and Sweet William are worth mentioning as examples of plants which can upset your schemes if you intend to replant summer bedding immediately after the spring bedding has faded. They are very attractive plants, but should be planted in a bed which is replanted about January. They do not flower early enough to combine well with the others I have mentioned, and tend to fall between two stools if not bedded on their own.