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Sow Now for the Late Summer Gap

© Jane Hollis

Within a few weeks most gardens will be at their peak. Roses, clematis, delphiniums, foxgloves, lupins, irises, lavender and other stalwarts of the English country garden will be blooming profusely. But then, a few weeks later, they will start to fade and in many gardens the summer's glory is over. There is a saying that if a garden doesn't look good in June, then it never will, based on the premise that the majority of plants flower at this time.

There are ways, however, to keep the garden blooming after the June crescendo. One is to incorporate later flowering shrubs and perennials. The other, cheaper, option is to grow hardy and half hardy annuals from seed to fill the gaps. Many people sow these seeds earlier in the year, resulting in them flowering in June, when many of the other plants are at their peak. If, however, you sow them now, in May, they will start flowering later in the summer, when other flowering interest has decreased, and will probably carry on until the autumn frosts. Sowing in May also results in faster germination, due to warmer weather, and less likelihood of young seedlings being hit by frost.

There are many different annuals to choose from, in a wide range of colours, but for gap filling I choose those with a slightly taller habit than the normal squat bedding plants, as these blend in with the herbaceous plants better. Some of my favourite gap fillers include:

Cosmos bipinnatus: A lovely tall flower to about 3'-4' (although shorter versions at 2' are now available) with attractive ferny foliage. Colours are usually pinks, bicolours and white. Very long flowering period. Requires plenty of sun and tolerates dry soil. (Cosmos sulphureus is similar, but slightly shorter and in shades of red, orange and yellow.)

Nicotiana hybrids: Original strains are tall (to 3'), but dwarf versions (down to 10') have been introduced, and new versions open their flowers better in daylight. Wonderful scent and another prolific flowerer. Will take quite a bit of shade and prefers a moist soil. Crimson, pink, white and lime green available.

Salvia farinacea : This half-hardy annual is similar in appearance to the blue perennial Salvias, as opposed to the red bedding types. Height is to about 18" and colours are various shades of blue and silver-white. Likes full sun and takes dry soil.

Godetia grandiflora : Very pretty flowers in pinks, white and bicolours. Usually about 1' in height. Best in full sun.