It’s not too late to start planting summer bedding plants

In the UK, it is a general misconception that the beginning of spring is the best time to plant summer bedding plants. It is, in fact, very much the case that in milder areas tender bedding plants should be planted out in late May or even early June. This is to ensure that they are not destroyed by harsh weather conditions. With this in mind you can still take the opportunity to plant for this summer now and this is perhaps the best possible time to plant tender bedding plants such as begonias and salvias.

Some of the most popular summer bedding plants include petunias and marigolds, and whilst these are stunning flowers there is a whole host of other gorgeous summer bedding plants that are ideal to plant at this time of year.
One such tender bedding plant is the sweet pea which grows in a wide range of colours and gives off a delightful summer fragrance. These make fantastic bedding plants for idyllic cottages and countryside retreats and can grow as high as 6ft tall.

The key to success with growing great Sweet Peas is to invest in quality topsoil. Start with a good depth of fertile topsoil and make sure that your pH level is never below 6.5. Sweet peas are also great to plant in September time and although it is widely believed that March and April is the best time to plant Sweet Peas, the seeds actually blossom better in the autumn months.

If you are looking to attract bees, Cosmos is another great option for a summer bedding plant. Cosmos can tolerate warm, dry conditions so they are perfect to plant in June or July. The cosmos is a large and colourful flower that sits on a long and slender stem. They are a prominent source of nectar in the later summer months for pollinating insects and so will attract a good range of butterflies, beetles, bees and ants.

Don’t think that you’ve missed the boat for growing wonderful summer bedding plants. All you need is some seeds, a good topsoil to efficiently regulate the pH of your soil and some free time over summer and you could be well on your way to a lush summer garden before you know it.