Search - Articles

as cut flowers). I saw them at the base of street trees, gleefully mixed in with bright chrysanthemums and lipstick-pink cyclamen. Not  a very conventional mixture but certainly striking.There are variations: this one has a good solid evergreen box edge

gone! All I know is that the plant is a Seeds of Italy variety.The other, ‘Midnight’, is a more of a ‘classic’ courgette shape; far more compact and healthy looking, but it does have slivery grey straight-edged markings on the leaves. At this time

The autumnal colours of ornamental cabbages work well with the pink flowers of sedums in this striking pot display. They are softened by the wispy grass and frothy white blooms of the aster. August - SeptemberSeptember - October20 minutes

.SeptemberNovember - March20 minutesCineraria plants x2Cyclamen plants (miniature, a mix of red and white) x6Ivy plants x4Square containerMulti-purpose compostCrocksPosition the container in a sheltered spot and where you want some winter interest, and place a layer

with a striking monotone contrast.SeptemberNovember - February20 minutesDogwood, Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea'Snowdrop bulbs, Galanthus nivalis x12Lilyturf, Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'Very large, tall potJohn Innes No. 3 compost

will look good into the spring. SeptemberNovember - March30 minutesPansy x4PhormiumSkimmiaHeucheraIvy x2Large potMulti-purpose compostCrocksPosition the container where you need winter interest, and place a layer of crocks at the bottom, then three

with compost.Plant the skimmia in the centre of the container, to the same depth in the new compost as it was in its previous pot. Position the heuchera in front of it with the euonymus to one side and the ivy to the other, close to the edge so it can tumble

June - August20 minutesRue, Ruta graveolens 'Jackman's Blue'Miniature patio roses x2Pale green thyme, Thymus pulegioides 'Foxley'Garlic chives x3Small lavender, such as 'Munstead' x3Window boxCrocksPeat-free multi-purpose compostPlace the crocks

. Now fill the basket two-thirds with compost.Mix the fertiliser and water-retaining gel into the compost. Then plant the begonias just off-centre, with the marguerite behind.Alternate the verbena and plectranthus around the edge - the plectranthus

using multi-purpose with a bit of loam-based compost added.Space the strawberry plants evenly around the edge of the basket. As a guide, a 35cm basket will hold four plants.Hang the basket in a sheltered, sunny spot to help the fruit ripen and encourage