Tweed and District Horticultural members welcomed Victoria Whitney from Griffin’s Greenhouses located in Peterborough. After a cold rainy spring, members are looking forward to a summer filled with warmth, sunshine and gardens filled with colourful annuals. Victoria’s presentation highlighted just that…. sun and heat tolerant annuals that will provide colour throughout the summer months in gardens and containers.
Climate change is creating hotter and drier summers. As Victoria explained, this extreme heat is hard on plants, particularly annuals. Growers are continually developing heat tolerant plants that will survive in gardens.
Victoria had a display of heat and sun tolerant annuals that would be suitable for containers and gardens. She divided the plants into three categories…thriller, body and trailing plants.
“Thriller” plants add the “WOW” factor to the container or garden. Examples of thrillers suggested by Victoria are Kim Queen, Bird of Paradise, Mandevilla and grasses such as King Tut. Thrillers can be brought indoors over winter but Victoria admitted that few survive due to the limited number of hours of sunlight during the winter months.
“Body” plants are added to the container or gardens to fill in the space around the thriller. Dipladenia is a good example of a body plant and in comes in a range of gorgeous colours. This plant is interesting in that its roots store water and release the water as needed by the plant. Some body plants shown by Victoria included Dahlia (not tubers), heliotrope, tall verbena, summer snapdragon, nemesia, sun patience, solenia begonia (replaces the shade begonia), canary wing (can handle sun but notheat), angel wings (can handle heat and about ½ day of sunlight).
“Trailing” plants cascade over the container to add extra foliage and colour. They can also be used along the border of a garden. Super petunias are a favourite trailer. According to Victoria, these petunias “eat like a teenager” so they need to be fertilized on a weekly basis for continuous blooms. And the good news is that they do not need to be deadheaded…. simply trim back about 1/3 of the plant when it grows too long. Trailers such as lotus vine, mezoo, lemon coral sedum, cupcake portulaca are suitable for sunny locations. Coleus can handle heat but not sun.
Victoria planted a container to show the members how to incorporate the three types of plants-thriller, body and trailing. BIG pots work the best as they hold lots of soil and lots of soil holds lots of water. Drainage holes are essential as most plants do not like wet feet! When planting, gently pull the roots apart as you remove it from its container. It is important to fertilize annuals at least once a week for continuous summer blooms. Never fertilize when the soil is dry as the fertilizer can burn the roots.
And a lucky member won the beautiful container!!! Members were able to purchase a variety of plants that were discussed throughout Victoria’s presentation.
In conclusion, Victoria urged the members to try new annuals in their gardens and containers…. you might be pleasantly surprised with your choice!
Griffin’s Greenhouses is located at 3026 Lakefield Drive, Peterborough.
There is a beautiful display garden on site with a pond surrounded by perennial gardens and pots bursting with colourful blooms …well worth the drive to visit this place!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
July 4-6…Tweed Fair.
August 5…Pot Luck dinner. More details to follow.
September 2…7 pm at Tweed Library… Collin Campbell, owner and chief arborist at Campbell’s Orchard will provide details about pruning fruit trees and monitoring for disease and pests.