How gardening makes you happy step 5. The temptation.



Dear garden girls,

This month I would like to talk about the temptations all gardeners are exposed to. And I do not mean that nice CHOCOLATE CAKE while you are on diet, or those SHOES with too high heels you never can walk on, or that much too expensive designer BAG, no .... I mean the temptations of a garden centre!

Lakspur in the garden centre

Last week I visited a garden centre and again they were on display: tower-high larkspurs, with fresh leafs and almost in bloom. I was tempted very much to buy one of these plants. And of course I have done that many times in the past! However, these plants have never been outdoors, have never had lack of water or manure. They are real DIVA’S. In a short period of time after planting, they will die under the bitter conditions of an ordinary garden! A smaller plant without flowers is more likely to survive. Keep that in mind.


Lathyrus

But you can also sow plants. Therefore, I want to seduce you to sowing Lathyrus. I did already mention these in my previous post. If you have already sown the seeds in a jar, now they are strong enough to plant outside. If you did not sow these in a jar, they can also be sown on the spot now.



Your example garden.
Oeps, I was seduced to plant many bulbs. That makes it difficult to put those bamboo canes in the ground!

HOW TO DO IT?

First, some bamboo-canes must be placed in the ground, because Lathyrus is a climbing plant and needs support. After you have placed the bamboo-canes, plant the seedlings on the inside of each cane, or put 4 seeds an inch deep into the ground. Remember to water the seeds and plants!



Don't forget to water your plants.

The balcony gardeners amongst you, you can do the same. Take a big plastic container pot. Fill it with potting soil and put the canes in it. Plant or seed the seedlings.



Lathyrus in a pot

Finally wrap the bamboo canes with tie wire (see picture). That gives the Lathyrus the opportunity to climb easily. This wire is available at the garden centre or at the florist. It's also possible to do it with chicken wire, but to my taste that is too obtrusive.


I use this kind of wire so the Lathyrus can climb up to the top.

ANY OTHER ADVISES?

Buy all the seeds / plants you like and plant them with attention.

And if you want to buy a DIVA ......, that is fine by me! Whatever makes you feel HAPPY!

Thank you for all the kind comments on my previous post. I even received some photos:


Garden woman R takes drastic steps. I hope to see more of her garden.


Garden woman Y has a garden full of flowers. Fantastic Y!

READ THE PREVIOUS BLOGS:



Information about my garden: 

romantic rose garden



Follow this blog? Do not miss a thing and sign up to 'Follow by Email (Left indicated) You will automatically receive a mail in your email box.

Next post “Gardening makes you happy step 6” is on June 5th.


Comments

  1. Dear Hetty,
    it is a pleasure to read your "How gardening makes you happy steps"! Your tulips look great! I sowed Lathyrus this year and planted them outside yesterday. They seem to be doing fine. I also sowed some poppies this year. The poppies I sowed directly in the borders in the garden. I did so early this year, though I remember you telling me that it is best to sow them in autumn.(unfortunately I forgot to do it in autumn, so I had to do it this year) They germinated well, but the problem is that I now have much to many and they are too near to each other. Due to my experience from last year (I sowed many seeds in my small garden, but only one plant or so survived), I thought it is better to sow many seeds. However, in the big garden there is much more sun and the seedlings seem to survive more easily, which means that I now have about a thousand mini poppy plants next to each other and I need to replant some, which will be quite a lot of work.
    Best wishes,
    Lisa

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dear Lisa, just pull out some of the poppies! Just thinning a little that is easy. And complaining about a thousant poppies? It will be beautiful in your garden this summer. Hope to see a picture of it. You are right on time planting your Lathyrus seedlings. Can you smell the Lathyrus already in your memory? I do. Groetjes Hetty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Hetty,
      guess you are right and I should pull out some of the poppies. It just seems such a waste. Yes, I am already imagining my Lathyrus blooming, though I wonder how long it will take till they bloom. So far I always bought them as already blooming plants from garden centres. This is the first time that I sowed them myself.
      Best wishes,
      Lisa

      Delete
  3. Dear Lisa, normally they flower in July. Fingers crossed! Groetjes Hetty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Hetty, really? I now have to wait till July? I guess I need to be very patient then. Just saw some sweet peas in a garden centre yesterday and they were already in bloom. I hope the long waiting will be worth it and they will look super beautiful.
      Best wishes,
      Lisa

      Delete
  4. Yes, I absolutely LOVE temptations!
    Beautiful tulips!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment