Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Granular Plant Food
Specially formulated to grow all types of flowers. With high potassium for large & abundant flowers, added calcium & iron for stronger flowers.
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September’s the month to prepare for summer colour in the garden and, fortunately, at this time of year, plenty of flowers can be grown from seed. Once the soil has lost its chill, you can sow flower seeds straight into a pre-prepared garden bed. In colder areas though, you’ll want to wait till it’s warmer, or start seedlings in pots you can tuck away in a warm spot.
Our first few suggestions are brilliant for sharing with kids, if you're keeping them occupied during the spring school holidays!
Sunflowers are the blooms that always spring to mind when somebody says "summer". And because they’re so easy to grow from seed, they make a great school holiday seed-sowing project for kids. Our favourite is Sunflower 'Bronze Shades', but most kids will be sure to vote for the extra tall (up to 5m!) Sunflower 'Ginormous FlowerZilla' with its classic, sun-facing, large yellow heads.
Nasturtiums, like sunflowers, have seeds that are a satisfying size to handle. Get onto nasturtium sowing quickly, though, because they don’t like germinating when soil conditions become too hot. Try Nasturtium 'Cherry Rose' or Nasturtium 'Jewel Mixed'. Not only do nasturtiums have bright and colourful summer flowers, but every part of the plant is edible. A fun thing to do, if you want to set kids a dexterity challenge, is to get them to roll beads of water around on the nasturtium leaf, without allowing the drops fall over the edge.
Everlasting daisies are another group of summer flowers that children will enjoy growing. Kids love the feel of the papery petals and can make full creative use of the long-lasting flowers. Did you know that the French call everlasting daisies immortelles because of their long life?
Petunias are probably the most widely grown summer flowers. Although they can be started from seed, petunia germination can be a little challenging. The seeds must be exposed to some light but this, of course, makes them vulnerable to drying out. Lightly press the tiny seeds of Petunia 'Neptune Shades' into the surface of some Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Keep the pot in a shaded spot and cover with plastic wrap or a sheet of glass. Avoid dislodging the tiny seeds, by watering with a mister or by wetting from the base. After germination, transplant to larger pots and then into a sunny spot in the garden.
Zinnias are bright, cheery summer flowers that have made a comeback in recent years. Zinnia 'Gold Medal' is a tall grower, that can reach up to 1.2m. Pinch out the first buds to encourage sideways branching. The long stems make 'Gold Medal' perfect for cutting for a vase, or bouquet.
Keep your flowering plants looking good by removing dead blooms, cutting back leggy plants and continually feeding with Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Granular Plant Food. If you prefer mixing a liquid feed in your watering can, Yates Thrive Fish Blood & Bone Plant Food is a great choice. Use a Yates Rose Gun to control the common pests and diseases.
Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix
Specially formulated for trouble-free seed raising in trays (or outdoor seed sowing direclty into the ground) and propagation of cuttings.
Yates Rose Gun Spray - Ready to Use
A combination of systemic fungicide and contact insecticide. Kills pests and mites on contact and works from within the plant to control black spot, powdery mildew and rust on roses and ornamentals in the home garden.
Yates Thrive Fish Blood & Bone Plant Food Concentrate
A balanced fish-based plant food, boosted with additional NPK to ensure strong, lush plant growth and healthy soil.
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