Garden Notes - Salvia to Sweet Pea

Salvia    
Variety: Blaze of Fire

Best grown as half-hardy annual. Height: 15 inches. Commences to bloom in July if raised under glass. The flowers are vivid scarlet, produced in masses that literally hide the foliage. It is the finest bedding plant raised in recent years. Seed is a much easier way of propagation than the old method of cuttings. Sow in boxes in February under glass and pot up singly. Transplant to the open in early June. A light dusting of superphospate of lime and sulphate of potash mixed, improves the quality of the flowers. Coming from warm Brazil, it should not be planted out until all fear of frost is past. Useful as a pot plant for the cool greenhouse.
 

Scabious
Variety: Annual Mixed

Hardy annual. Height: 3 feet. Blooms from July to September. Colors range from white through pinks, mauves and reds. Popularity known as Pin-cushion flower from the protruding stamens. Prefers a limy soil. Sow the seeds where they are to bloom in April, thin out one foot apart, or they can be sown under glass in March to planted out in May. A few twigs pushed in between the plants will support the blooms. Excellent cut flowers and are one of the "cut and come again" varieties. Useful either for grouping in the mixed flower border, or can be grown in pots in the cool greenhouse.
 

Stock
Variety: East Lothian

Half-hardy annuals or biennials. Height: 1 foot. Blooms July and August after the Ten-Weeks varieties have lost their freshness. Colors: white, pink, mauve, purple, scarlet; blooms very fragrant and double. Sow under glass in February or March, and transplant when large enough to handle. This type of Stock is very robust and covers plenty of space. Set the plants out one foot apart. They prefer a limy soil well enriched with rotted manure. Make and excellent display in formal flower beds. Can be used as groups in the mixed flower border. They are also useful as pot plants, being easily forced into bloom in the warm greenhouse. Good cut flowers.
 

Sweet Alyssum
Variety: Snow Carpet

Hardy annual. Height: 3 inches. Color: snow white. Native of Europe. Makes a compact solid mass of white flowers radiating in a circle from the centre of the plant. Fragrant. An effective edging plant or carpet beneath beds of roses or begonias. Sow the seeds in boxes and transplant the seedlings one inch apart in fresh boxes. Set out where they are to bloom in May six inches apart. Planted out in crazy paving, it makes dainty white cushions, a pleasing contrast to colored violas and sedums. Seeds freely and once planted will come up of its own accord between the cracks of paving.
 

Sweet Pea
Variety: Gem

Hardy climbing annual. Height: 6 feet. Blooms June to October. Used for cutting, garden decoration, or for hiding ugly buildings or fences. For ordinary garden cultivation sow the seeds singly in small pots in rich soil in October; winter in the cold frame, then transplant six inches apart where they are to bloom. The trenches should be opened in winter. Dig rotted manure into the subsoil and enrich the soil with fertilizer before planting. Bone meal, bonfire ash and lime are beneficial for Sweet Peas. To obtain larger blooms grow the plants as single stems: cut away the side shoots and tendrils. For garden decoration, pinch out the top of the young plants to encourage side growths. Remove faded flowers.