Bedding Plants

[Python15]

Apologies if you all have answered this sort of thing before but I'm at a bit of a loss. I'm not much cop at growing flowering plants and usually kill them. This year however I've had what I consider great success! My problem now is how to plant out these plants? I have absolutely no idea what to do or how to arrange them. The plants are Lobelia, Impatiens, Pansies and Begonias. I don't consider the Begonias to be quite ready but the others are all starting to flower. I have two borders to fill; 3 metres by 40cm and 5 metres by 40cm. Could someone please shed a bit of experience on me and explain how to set these flowers out. Sorry it's such a long winded post.

[WendyC]

All of your plants are about the same height about 8inches or so, unless the lobelia is trailing. I would plant them in blocks of the same type about 8 inches apart in staggered rows. Lobelia is nice as an edge to your border. Do check your seed packets as a guide to height. Impatiens will cope with quite a bit of shade.

[Python15]

Very many thanks Wendy, the Lobelia is Crystal Palace, is this a trailing type? I wish they were as simple as veg, lol.

[WendyC]

No that's a upright one. Dwarf growing at about 4" and a lovely deep blue. Plant about 4-6" apart. Love to see photos when you're done.

[Bill HH]

Wendy has given you excellent advise, at all costs avoid regimented rows if you can. Watch out for slugs and keep them well watered until established.

[Python15]

Thanks again Wendy and Bill for the good advice although I'm not too sure what a regimented row would look like Bill, lol. If I can get them in and keep them alive I'll be happy. Wiil try and post a photo if it turns out good enough Wendy but if I were you I wouldn't hold my breath.

[Martin H]

Keeping them alive shouldn't be a problem, just water them in well, give them another soak a week later and they should look after themselves after that.

The only problem might be the Impatiens. Down here they have been impossible to grow for the last few years; within a week of planting out they are struck down by Impatiens Downy Mildew disease. I don't know if it's the same up there in Moray though.

[rary]

I may be a bit late for this post but please remember to harden off your plants first, pansies are a great plant in a garden as they are very hardy and slugs/snails dont seem to go for them, just keep deadheading them or they will make seed(which you can keep for sowing next year) if your begonias are fibrous-rooted they will be ok to go out once hardened off but if tuberous I would keep them inside till they are in flower before hardening off and putting them out