Plan ahead for winter and spring flowers … prepare also to sow sweet peas this autumn for flowers next summer

Are you seeking ways to make your garden more attractive? Successful gardens require forward planning. Read on for ideas of what you could be doing this summer to get ready for future seasons…

Shrubs are one answer to the question. But take care with the selection of species and varieties - a mixture of types with flowers, ornamental berries, bright autumn leaf colours and evergreen foliage will look pleasing in all seasons. The key factor for success is to find shrubs that either contrast or blend harmoniously with each other and the background, and of course they must all grow well together.

Bulbs can be planted under shrubs and trees or in grass. Many people also like to grow some flowering plants for pots and beds near the house. Good gardeners are already thinking ahead to next winter and spring. And they are preparing to order seeds, bulbs and bedding plants. More on autumn planting coming soon…

Winter flowers from seed sown now

Pansies sown in summer should flower all through the winter. Why not get ahead by sowing a packet of pansy seed now (July to September)? The cheerful variety ‘Universal Mixed F1 Hybrid’ would give you a range of flower colours – red, deep purple, white and yellow-flowering varieties. They can be grown separately or in mixed displays.

I enjoy the fragrance of the common wallflower Cheiranthus, which evokes sunny walls and happy memories. A packet of seed sown now should produce strong plants to over-winter, for flowers next spring. Plants should be ready for bedding out in October, or for transplanting into outdoor containers..

Perennial wallflower Erysimum ‘Bowles’ Mauve’ has grown well this year – flowering continuously. This variety is best propagated from cuttings taken in summer. However E. ‘Bedding Mixed’, which also remains in flower for months, can be raised quite easily from seed.

Seeds to sow in summer

Here’s a tip I learnt many years ago. Before disposing of old forget-me-nots, shake the seed-heads over the ground in the area where you want the flowers to appear the following year. Forget-me-nots grow as easily as weeds. Try Myosotis ‘Blue Ball’ or ‘Spring Symphony Blue’.

Cornflowers are also worth considering for cottage gardens or borders. Mauves, pinks and blues blend in with the currently fashionable wilder garden, or go for the more unusual double chocolate flowers of Centaurea cyanus ‘Black Ball’. Annual cornflowers usually self-sow and flowers reappear in future years.

Seeds to sow in autumn

Many gardeners forget that sweet peas can be sown in September or October in a cold frame. Autumn sown plants turn into sturdier plants next spring. Varieties with the strongest scent appeal to me, whereas some people go for the boldest or the palest colours; the frilliest or the plainest petals; the specially selected strains for showing or flower arranging.

New for 2002

Unwins has a long association with sweet peas - every year the nursery introduces new varieties to tempt enthusiasts.

Sweet peas that caught my attention during a trial ground visit were carmine pink and cream ‘Aunty Molly’, and deeper pink ‘Dusty Springfield’. And I enjoyed the extra fragrant cream flowers of ‘Juliet’ later, as a delightful cut flower.

Flower arrangers specials

The super fragrant, blue frilly blooms of ‘Arthur Hellyer’ won a Certificate of Merit in Scottish Sweet Pea trials - partly due to their strong stems. ‘Cambridge Blue’ - once grown, never forgotten - is deliciously fragrant and good for cutting, as is ‘Champagne Bubbles’ – suitably named due to the unusual colour.

Unwins Book of Sweet Peas

Colin Hambidge’s Book of Sweet Peas contains helpful growing advice for beginner and expert alike, and an interesting account of the sweet pea’s early history. All the above sweet pea seeds can be purchased directly from the Gonegardening shop. And the book is currently on offer with three packets of best-selling sweet pea varieties, including powder blue ‘Lovely Lady’.

Hardy Cyclamen are a great standby for the autumn, winter and spring garden. Sow now if you are prepared to wait for the plants to mature. But if hardy species are required for flowers outdoors during the coming months, buy growing plants.

(Tender miniature houseplant cyclamen for sheltered window boxes can be brought into flower six months from sowing).