Newbie asking advice!

[JennieAtkinson]

:I'm going to look through my catalogues and see if there are any "pretty" plants that take my fancy! DDL

You've hit the nail on the head there DDL - its all about growing what you fancy and with perennials and annuals, as long as you don't grow something that is a pain to germinate or requires inordinate amount of care, you can really have a go at anything. That's what I do! I also send for a lot of the freebies (well postage and packing cost) in the gardening mags. It all gets you started and you find out what you like, what is easiest to grow and what works well in your own soil.

Good luck!

[SueA]

That's what I do Jennie - send off for the freebies to see what grows O.K. in my garden (or what I don't kill off!) so that I don't waste a lot of money on bulk orders of bulbs/plants etc.
DDL. It probably was Chocolate cosmos you saw they are a lovely rich chocolatey-russet colour & smell of choc. if you put your nose right up to them, but they are tender so you might have to lift them in winter or mulch & protect them some way.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Thank for your advice! I really appreciate it - thanks for the offer Slug - its very kind of you! I think the one about getting freebies is a good idea - don't know why I didn't think of it before! will give it a go! also, I think that was the chocolate plant I saw/smelt - got to give it a go methinks! DDL

[Earthbabe]

If you want flowers for scent I can let you have some clary sage seed but be warned it gets huge with a flower spike over a metre and starts to look scraggly as it dies back. It also self seeds extremely readily and although mine were originally grown as an annual they are perennial. I adore heavily scented plants (no surprise there then) and am gradually filling the garden with them.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Thanks EB! Have sent you a PM. DDL

[Snadger]

Don't have the ones Snadger grew the flowers are rubbish

What flowers?

[nick the grief]

I rest my case

[Earthbabe]

What would that be a case of Nick?

[ugly gourd]

I always grow statice to dry some for flowers in the house for over winter, asters for the fun of it I grew the big ostric ones but the rain really battered them then dhalias from seed just for the fun and to see what I get But I never pick the asters and dahlias because I can see them from the house so just dead head and dead head again Im trying zinnias next year

[Birdie Wife]

Do you grow companion flowers with your veg? You could start with these and then if you don't like the flowers you won't feel like it's wasted space ! Try marigolds with tomatoes/potatoes, nasturtiums with broccolli/squash. There's lots of information in organic gardening books, here on the vine and here http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/companion.htm

[Snadger]

Do you grow companion flowers with your veg? You could start with these and then if you don't like the flowers you won't feel like it's wasted space ! Try marigolds with tomatoes/potatoes, nasturtiums with broccolli/squash. There's lots of information in organic gardening books, here on the vine and here http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/companion.htm

Good site BW...

[dexterdoglancashire]

Thanks BW - was wondering about "companion planting"! DDL

[dexterdoglancashire]

You've hit the nail on the head there DDL - its all about growing what you fancy and with perennials and annuals, as long as you don't grow something that is a pain to germinate or requires inordinate amount of care, you can really have a go at anything. That's what I do! I also send for a lot of the freebies (well postage and packing cost) in the gardening mags. It all gets you started and you find out what you like, what is easiest to grow and what works well in your own soil.

Good luck!

Now Ive got my lottie am ready and raring to go! LOL Dexterdog