Price reductions at Crocus
by Sarah - October 4th, 2009.Filed under: Crocus, Price Reductions.
Crocus reduced the price on these products today
beard tongue was £5.99 now £4.99
Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: fertile, well-drained soilRate of growth: average Flowering period: July to September Flower colour: pale lilac-blueHardiness: borderline hardyA large leaved penstemon that bears big, bell-shaped flowers from midsummer to autumn. It is one of the oldest hybrids in cultivation today and has been on the scene since 1931. It was first discovered by the nursery John Forbes of Hawick, who from 1870 until 1968 was the biggest Penstemon growers in the world. The fact that it has stood the test of time will give an indication of its many good qualities, and this has been backed up by being awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. The soft lilac-blue shades are tinged mauve-pink outside and have a white throat, and they look great in a cool themed border.Garden care: Remove the faded blooms regularly to prolong flowering. Apply a dry mulch around the base of the plant to protect the roots from frost damage in autumn. Leave the old foliage to protect the new shoots from frost and then cut it back by a third in spring.
strawberry – mid season fruiting was £8.99 now £7.99
Position: full sunSoil: any soilRate of growth: fast-growingOther features: tasty, orange-red fruit (mid-June to mid-July) Cropping times may be brought forward or extended if you are growing them in a greenhouse or cloche tunnel.Hardiness: fully hardyThis is one of the most well-known and loved strawberry varieties available. It is a reliable cropper, has good all-round disease resistance and performs well on a wide range of soils and growing conditions. It produces medium-sized, orange-red fruit from mid-June, which hold their shape and flavour very well.Garden care: Prepare the ground well before planting. Clear all the weeds and apply a generous amount of well-rotted manure. When the strawberries are starting to form, put a thick layer of straw or use strawberry mats under the plants to stop the fruit touching the soil. Sheets of black plastic mulch can also be used, and it will also help retain soil moisture, reduce weeds and encourage early cropping. Strawberries can also be planted in tubs, containers and hanging baskets.These runners are sent out bare root (ie not potted up) and should be planted on arrival. They will look dry on delivery, but should put on new growth within a few weeks after planting.