After planting far too many Tulips, if there is such a thing! I realised I had a lot of plastic plant pots that I needed a home for. I don’t like planting many Bulbs in the borders because I’m afraid I like to move plants rather a lot So…… I came up with an interchangeable trough so that I could change the plants seasonally without having to dig anything up. I am putting mine along the patio so it’s quite big, but you could adapt it to any size.
To make my trough I ordered:
4 x 4.8m decking boards and 1 x 1.8
2 x 4.8 1 by 8’s
3 x 4.8 roofing battens and
32 x 5 litre plant pots
The Trough is 2 decking boards high along the bottom of the upper decking box you screw on the roofing battens all the way around so that the 2 x 1 by 8’s have something stable to sit on, I also put in 6 braces across. I made the wood that the circles will be cut into in two halves it makes is so much easier, I measured out the same distance between the pots then with a pen drew around all the pots then used a jigsaw to cut them.
Once that’s done you can place the 2 x 1 by 8’s in the trough, put in your plant pots, you should leave a space from the top so you can then cover it with a layer of bark to make it look like a trough.
For Spring it has Tulips, Christmas Marvel, Gorilla and Purple Prince.
It’s worked out so well and had a profusion of gorgeous Tulips all Spring. I have another 16 empty pots for the next flowers. In the greenhouse I have Lobelia Crystal Palace, Dwarf pink Gypsophila and Fairy Lupins which are annuals and seemingly sell just like Sweet Peas so I’m really looking forward to seeing and smelling them this year. I will let you know.
Guess what?………. Your spring bulb flowers need to be fed! This year especially we were all desperately waiting for some much needed Spring colour in the garden, so We need to make sure they will be there for us next year too. I have Spring bulbs in the ground which I add Growmore to in late February to encourage the bulbs to flower the following year, as they are in the ground they require no storage, just leave them to do their own thing.
Although……..in my main border the soil is quite heavy clay which is not the best conditions especially for Tulips so I plant my Tulips in plastic pots then plant the pots in the ground and it’s worked really well, you just need to make sure you feed and water them.
The Spring bulbs I have in many pots dotted around the garden need a lot more care throughout the flowering season and some work to store them efficiently for next year.
I used to water them and that was it, then I read an article about feeding your spring bulbs to make sure you have healthy bulbs for the following year and it made total sense that lots of bulbs in a pot would be getting no nutrition! So this year I am feeding them with Tomorite every week and I will continue to feed the bulbs for six weeks after flowering. I must say the Tulips especially are looking so healthy and vibrant and are so much stronger than usual. Just look at this Tulip Gorilla, it could definitely win a wet Tulip competition 😉
Make sure you are deadheading too. I wait until they have flowered and the foliage has gone from green to yellow, I then carefully lift them and cut off the foliage. I shake off the excess dirt and put them in a warm dry area, I use the greenhouse, for a week like the photo below. Make sure you label everything for next year. After they are dry I store them in the garage or somewhere dry and dark and leave them there until they are ready to plant.
This year I had The Chelsea Flower Show booked and was counting the days………sadly and quite rightly so, due to Covid it was postponed until September. As I was contemplating a Spring without a flower show I had a thought, I’m sure there are a lot of people as sad as me, what if we had a virtual flower show on Twitter? I knew exactly the team that could help…………
A Flower Show from the comfort of your own home that can be enjoyed by anyone, anytime, anywhere
The Tweeters Flower Show emerged from a seed in the minds of a group of gardeners then it grew and blossomed for you all to enjoy.
To inspire people to step into the wonderful world of gardening and experience the joy and beauty of getting your hands dirty whilst creating something rather wonderful throughout the seasons.
Our aim is to show you that “Every Flower Delights” and to help you achieve a garden full of delightful flowers and make some new gardening friends.
Our Virtual Spring #TweetersFlowerShow will be from Monday 3rd May – Sunday 9th May
We would love you to share your tips, advice, blogs and photos and enter our competitions throughout the week, all using the #TweetersFlowerShow hashtag.
Competitions entries will close at 8pm every night with winners being announced between 8-9pm. There will be a Gold, Silver and Bronze winner each night with everyone receiving certificates, the prizes will be for UK based participants only but there will be a best international winner who will receive a certificate wherever you are in the World, if you are outside the Uk could you add your emoji flag to your post as it will help with judging, it will be lovely to see where you all are in the world.
Our calendar of events
Monday – Flowers from Seeds / cuttings
The competition is….Best advice / tips judged by @Hugh_Cassidy
Tuesday – Flowers from Bulbs / Tubers
The competition is….Best Tulip Photo judged by @KeithB2711
Wednesday – Flowers from bare root / Rose Day joining #RoseWednesday
The competition is…Best Rose Photo judged by @JrRushden
Thursday – Fruit / Vegetables / Pottindsheds and Greenhouses
The competition is Best PottingShed or Greenhouse interior judged by @lovely_plot
Friday – Flower Displays in the garden, the border, troughs, baskets etc. and in vases indoors
and My Mum and Dad, they love hearing about my gardening family so much they gave me money to buy a prize So I bought a heated propagator
I would like to thank, Alison, Beck, Jason and Jonathan for all their creativity, hard work, time and support for making #TweetersFlowerShow a reality, it couldn’t have happened without you all. I would also like to thank @KeithB2711 for supporting us. Thank you it’s been a pleasure working with you all.
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