#half hardy

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Sunday 5 July 2026

A half-hardy perennial shrub Solanum muricatum (melon pear, melon shrub, pepino dulce, pepino) requires a long growing season to ripen the fruit properly. In the U.K. a warm glasshouse or polytunnel is ideal where the egg-shaped fruits can be protected from frost.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Monday 19 February 2024

The dramatic half hardy shrub Melianthus major (honey bush) needs protection from frost damage with a dry winter mulch. This architectural plant is ideal for a sunny, perennial border or dry garden. To stop it getting leggy, it is best cut back in early spring with the plant making up to 1.5m growth in one season.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Thursday 14 July 2016

Isoplexis canariensis (Canary Island foxglove) is ideally grown in a container so that it can have winter protection in most areas of Britain. This evergreen perennial foxglove has tawny apricot flowers with pointed petals and glossy dark green leaves with dark stems. It is borderline hardy, and prefers good light but with some dappled shade.

Jill Raggett

[randak-blog]

A Beginner's Guide to Annuals and Biennials - Essential guide for A Beautiful Garden (Gardening Series Book 16)

A Beginner’s Guide to Annuals and Biennials – Essential guide for A Beautiful Garden (Gardening Series Book 16)

Brand: Price:

Table of Contents

A Beginner’s Guide to Annuals and Biennials Introduction Choosing the Right Soil Soil Color and Fertility Humus Preparation of the Soil Best Time for Seed Sowing The Thinning Process Staking Your Annuals Why Mulch? Cultivation and Maintenance Watering your Plants List of (more…)

View On WordPress

[keenogrows-blog]

Time to start sowing?

Ok, so now I’ve got a list of my half hardy annuals, the ones which I’ll start sowing first, as the actual flower bed isn’t in any state to receive any seeds yet. There’s a bit more digging required :D

BUT, I have only one small windowsill suitable to grow seedlings on, so I ask you dear reader this question...

Could a plastic mini greenhouse in a sheltered spot next to a wall in a south facing spot in Bristol City, UK effectively germinate the following seeds, or should I wait another 2 weeks or month for it to warm up some more? 

Would I just have to ensure the greenhouse was covered in a fleece if there were to be a frost one evening?  Should I leave out a couple of these flowers until it’s warmer later? I’m thinking the Petunias, maybe Zinnia, Cosmos? Could I fashion some sort of a heater for the greenhouse on a frosty night, say a warm brick or something that would release heat slowly over a night?  I’m not sure and any input would be gratefully received :D Cheers!

And in way of thanks, here’s a picture of my cat who got some dirt on her nose, looking pretty peeved about being photographed. and being asked if she had a mouse tache?

**EDIT UPDATE**

so the General consensus was that it’s too early still to be growing Half Hardy Annuals in minigreenhouses (too cold) so I just upped my windowsill space :D 

I just have to hope that Chops doesn’t think it’s some sort of Multi-Storey bed for her :D