Proteas
Not just any old blossom, protea flowers are blooms with attitude. If you can give them full sun and reasonable drainage, proteas will love you.
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Primulas (Primula malacoides) are favourite winter flowering annuals. They have delicate candelabra-like pink, white or mauve flowers that sit above the lovely green ruffled foliage of the plant below. Great for adding a soft touch to the winter garden.
How to grow primulas in your garden
From Seed:
- As seeds are very fine, carefully and thinly spread the seeds into trays of Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Gently press down and lightly water with a fine mist spray.
- Keep trays in a warm place and retain moisture by covering with glass or plastic cling wrap.
- While the seeds are germinating, choose a spot in the garden that receives full sun to part-shade with well-drained soil and dig in some Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food before planting.
- Transplant seedlings when they are large enough to handle into your prepared garden bed, ensure the seedlings are well spaced – at least 15cm apart. Water in well.
- Mulch with an organic mulch, such as bark chips, woodchip or pea straw.
- Feed during the growing and flowering season with Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Granular Plant Food. TIP: For an added boost apply Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food.
Established plants:
- Choose a spot in the garden that receives full sun to part-shade with well-drained soil. Enrich the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food.
- Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the shrub from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.
- Position in hole and backfill, gently firming down. Form a raised ring around the plant, creating a well so that water will go where it’s needed most. Water in well.
- Mulch around the base with organic mulch like bark chips, woodchip or pea straw, keeping it away from the trunk.
- Feed during the growing and flowering season with Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Granular Plant Food. TIP: For an added boost apply Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food.
How to grow primulas in a pot
From seed:
- Choose a pot at least 200 mm wide and deep. Position in full sun to part shade.
- Fill the chosen pots with quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix.
- Sow the seeds directly into the pot by pressing them lightly into the mix and water well. Keep pot in a warm place and retain moisture by covering with glass or plastic cling wrap.
- Water gently and keep moist through germination period.
- Feed during the growing and flowering season with Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food. TIP: For an added boost apply Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.
Established plants:
- Choose a pot at least 200 mm wide and deep. Position in full sun to part shade.
- Fill the chosen pots with quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix.
- Remove the shrub from the container, gently tease the roots.
- Position in hole and backfill, gently firming down. Water in well.
- Feed during the growing and flowering season with Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food. TIP: For an added boost apply Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.
Growing tips
- Remove spent blooms to promote flowering.
- Plants will grow in full sun, however, you will get a more intense flower colour when grown in part shade.
Azalea
Azaleas vary from small, delicate shrubs that are happy in pots, up to hardy 1.5m shrubs ideal for border planting. Here's how to grow azaleas in your garden.
Lavender
Lavender are hardy perennial plants with silvery-grey, aromatic foliage & dense spike of flowers in shades of purple, blue, pink and white.
Echinacea
Echinacea is a hardy herbaceous perennial with large fragrant pink daisy-like flowers. Used for therapeutic purposes and as a delicious tea.
Recommended products
Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food
Releases nutrients slowly, improves the structure and moisture retention of the soil and encourages earthworms and beneficial soil micro-organisms.
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 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.
Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food
Provides your flowers & roses with the balanced nutrients they require for healthy growth and flower production.
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