Nasturtiums - when nothing else will grow!

Easy to grow from seed, Nasturtiums will grow in poor, dry soil. I really liked these seeds; they grow quickly and aren't fussy. Variety: Nasturium Dayglow Mixed, Carters Tested Seeds, 35 seeds, 79 pence.

Calendula and Rowan Trees

I planted Wild Cherry trees along the driveway about 10 years ago, however, they were growing too big so I took them out one Autumn, gave them away, and replaced them with Rowan trees. Rowan, also known as Mountain Ash, get loads of beautiful berries in late summer which attract birds. Bare root Cherry or Rowan bought as 1.5-2 feet whips from Conservation Volunteers for 50p each. They establish quickly.

What a bargain - 50 pence per tree!

Accent planting: Calendula Orange King (hardy annual), Carters Seeds, 79p.

Flowers - Calendula and Everlasting Sweetpea

Grown from seed, Hardy Annual Calendula Orange King are edible (add some flower petals to salad), easy to grow and make a great show. They are bright orange (the picture makes them look yellowish?). I have them mixed with white Everlasting Sweetpea which is a perennial type of sweetpea and has no smell (bummer). Variety: Calendula, Carters Tested Seeds, 150 seeds, 79 pence per pack.

Spring Onion (Chives)

These Spring Onions are perrenial as they come up evey year. Not sure if they can be eaten (I imagine) however I generally use them for colour and to deter pests from other plants.... love the flower heads (which can also be eaten). This year I grew Spring Onion White Lisbon for eating (they are delicious) which I've planted in the ground and in containers. They grow better and faster in containers (probably as my ground isn't the most fertile).

This picture was taken in June; pictured left of the spring onion are sunflowers and left again, potatoes - all grown a bit too close together but I still got results. (see 11 August blog for how much the sunflowers grew in 2 months).