Flowers for an allotment

[Black Wolf]

This is my first full year on my plot, still slowly digging it over from being a field!

Just wondering what flowers to grow in amongst my veg for pollinating and pest prevention. I've got Calendula seeds for white fly, sunflowers for a bit of a wind break and Californian poppies just for the bees, and I like them. Is there anything else I should put in?

My herb patch is going to gain some Borage plus it's got Lavender and Rosemary which will help with attracting the bees too.

Trying to come up with a plan of action for the plot with planting etc but as I'm currently off work due to a hip operation, it's just all paperwork and thinking atm!

[chris]

Sow some green manure and let it flower.. Phacelia (will be COVERED in bees), red / crimson clover and lupins all proved well for me in terms of attracting bees and hover flies.

Not to mention 'poached egg plant', cerinthe, and chives. I let flowers set seed that I don't mind spreading everywhere- the other few that grow flowers on my site seem to deadhead - and then re-sow/plant new flowers each year.


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[Jeanied]

I grow sweet rocket on my plot - by accident, the seeds travelled in some soil I took from my garden - but welcome all the same. A good bee and moth plant and some I cut and take indoors. Hesperis matronalis is the latin name.

[Bren In Pots]

I grow tripods of sweet peas and wild flowers in amongst my veg plus like Chris i let some of the Phacelia go to seed.

have a read at the link on the RHS site for ideas :-

Plants for pollinators / RHS Gardening

[Martin H]

I planted out some self-seeded hollyhocks today. The bees love them, but did you know you can eat the flower buds? It says on the seed packed, "boil unopened flower buds for 2 minutes and use in salads". I'll give it a go in the summer.

[Expert Gardner]

I Grew lovely bomb on my story - by chance, the place seeds journeyed in some ground I took from my lawn - but welcome all the same. A excellent bee and moth place and some I cut and take in the house. Hesperis matronalis is the latina name.

[pebble]

French marigolds in amongst tomato plants help keep away black & white fly (especially in the green house)

[Two_Sheds]

I Grew lovely bomb on my story

the mind boggles! I'm finding all your posts ... intriguing

[spanish_gardener]

I hope this article helps a bit:
Wildlife Gardening On Allotments

[spanish_gardener]

I'm growing Hyssop Blue for the first time. Hyssop seems a good choice to grow in the allotment and the flowers are beautiful. Here is the packet information:

Hyssop is a strong-flavoured aromatic herb similar to rosemary or lavender which is enjoying a revival with home gardeners. An ideal plant for use in containers or as a low hedge or border within the herb garden.
Young leaves are used chopped and scattered on salads, sprinkled on meat or oily fish dishes or used to flavour soups, stews and fruit dishes. They should be used sparingly as the flavour is very strong.

Tea is brewed using the green tops of the plant. The infusion has an agreeable flavour and is said to help aid digestion of fatty or rich food. It is also excellent for chesty coughs. Externally it can be applied to bruises, to reduce the swelling and discolouration. The essential oil is an antiseptic.
Hyssop is also used as an ingredient in Eau de Cologne, and in the distillation of liqueurs, such as Chartreuse. It is widely used as a “taste enhancing” herb in Absinthe, along with Wormwood, Fennel, and Anise.

Hyssop famously attracts bees, hover-flies and butterflies; it makes excellent honey and is a must for any wildflower garden. Some beekeepers rub the hive with it to encourage the bees to keep to their home.
They succeed best in a warm aspect and in a light, rather dry soil. The plants require cutting in, occasionally, but do not need much further attention.

Sowing: Sow indoors March to April or sow directly outdoors in May to June

Sowing Indoors:
Sow in separate 7cm (3in) pots containing well drained soil and cover with 5mm (1/4in) of compost. Seeds will germinate in 14 to 21 days.
Transplant outdoors after the last frosts. Set plants 30 to 45cm (12 to 18in) apart. Keep well watered till established.

Sowing Direct:
Sow in drills, then thin the plants to 45cm (18in) spacing. Keep well watered till established. Prior to planting work in plenty of organic matter, such as compost, or aged animal manure. It is also helpful to add a light application of organic fertiliser to the planting hole. Hyssop grows equally well in containers.

Cultivation:
Hyssop should be grown in full sun on well drained soil, and will benefit from occasional clipping. Pruning to the first set of leaves after flowering will create a more compact plant and better flowering in the following year.
It is a short-lived plant, and will need to be replaced every few years.

Harvesting:
Use the youngest leaves and stems as needed. Cut in the morning after the dew has dried for optimal flavour.
Do not wash the leaves or aromatic oils will be lost. Hyssop is best used fresh but can also be stored frozen in plastic bags or dried.
To dry, tie the cuttings in small bunches and hang upside down in a well-ventilated, dark room. Hyssop leaves should dry out in about six days, any longer and they will begin to discolour and lose their flavour. The dried leaves are stored in clean, dry, labelled airtight containers, and will keep for 12 to 18 months. When dried, remove the leaves from the stems and store whole. Crush or grind just before use.

Companion planting:
Hyssop is a good companion plant to cabbage, partly because it will lure away the Cabbage White butterfly, and according to Dorothy Hall (The Book Of Herbs, Pan 1972) has also "been found to improve the yield from grapevines if planted along the rows, particularly if the terrain is rocky or sandy, and the soil is not as easy to work as it might be". However hyssop is said to be antagonistic to radishes, and they should not be grown nearby. It is not as invasive as other members of the mint family making it safer for interplanting.

[wellywoo]

We grow Nasturtium for aphids bees also love it we also grow cosmos,pansy's,forget me not's and Geranium's mainly for the bees


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[WPG]

I sow a lot of flower seed on the plot, mainly at the edges of the beds. Last year it was mostly calendula (which flowered till December), cornflowers, corncockle, field poppies, virginian stock, night scented stock, cerinthe, and cosmos. Grew sweetpeas along the fence, which worked very well.
Then a whole load of purple toadflax and foxgloves also appeared (didn't sow any) and also the most gorgeous white and pink poppies appeared from nowhere.