Which flowers at the allotment

[laura butler]

HI,

I am a newie here, so I hope this comes out correct and in the right place. I have an allotment which I have had since Feb this year, I am a newie at growing fruit and veg, and have dont quite well so far (I hope), my potatoes are flowering, my onions, carrots, bettroot, peas, strawberries are all growing. My problems are runner beans, the leafs have all been nibbled on in the middle, the cabbage leafs also the same, and there is a train on them - I think they are slugs, also my sweetcorn plants look a bit limp. they were fine in the seed tray but as soon as I planted them out yest, they went limp. I watered them so hopefully they are ok.

Anyway sorry gabbing on about veggies, I really would like some information on flowers, I would like to put flowers in hanging baskets on my shed, also in a few pots, but would like some really colourfull ideas please. and also any plants or flowers I can plant in and around the beds which also are colourful but maybe come up each year, instead of planting new ones each year.

any advise please.

thanks

[Two_Sheds]

Hanging baskets and pots sound lovely, but they will need watering at least once every day.

Personally, I grow cornflower, limnanthes and calendula on my plot, in the ground. They look nice, but more importantly they attract predatory insects which eat aphids.

[Flummery]

I have nasturtiums around my tomato beds - you can eat the leaves and the flowers! You need to sow every year but the seeds are massive and easy to collect from your own plants. It's just another part of the harvest.
I also have self seeding popies. A previous planting my a plot neighbour - they come up in all sorts of places. I pull out the ones I don't want but if they can grow there without hindering my plants I leave a few. Calendulas (English, or Pot Marigolds) are always a part of my home veg plot. Again, you can eat the petals on a salad, use them to colour rice (poor man's safron). Wouldn't be without them. Borage is goo too. It self seeds - just pull out where you don't want them. Beware though, they get VERY big!

[laura butler]

Oh wow, thanks guys for the advice, thats helps me alot. I will look in to these. great advise on hanging baskets, they look good but unfortunatley, I work in the City, and when I get home from work, I dont always go up the allotment everynight, so hanging baskets would prob die then. I love the idea of poppies. i just love those red ones, they would be great.
can I just ask, you mentioned cornflower, prob a stupid question and I know they are spelts differnetley but this is not the grain is it ? it is just a flower right ?
you never know untill you ask.
thanks again for all your help and advise. i need to go to the flower shops now.

thank you again.

[Flummery]

Not the grain, no. It's a blue flower which used to grow amongst the wheat before the days of intensive farming and spraying. Beautiful - all the seed merchants stock it.

[laura butler]

Ar- I see. i just thoughts id ask.