Newmarket and Ely Living Apr - May 2024

DAHLIA
Lots of people get put off planting dahlias, but
they are easier to grow than you might think.
Dahlias love rich, well-drained soil in full sun.
They’ll still give you lovely blooms without a
lot of soil preparation, but enriching the soil by
digging in a mulch when planting will give you
even better results. Like most bulbs and tubers,
they don’t like poorly drained soil, so dig in
plenty of compost or topsoil to raise the level of
your garden beds slightly if you have heavy soil.
Dahlia ‘Totally Tangerine’
Dahlia ‘Café au Lait’
For best results, start your dahlia tubers in
temporary pots in a greenhouse in March or
April to grow on to transplant outside later in
the season – this will give them a head start.
Alternatively, you can plant the tubers directly
outside in May. Dahlias are half hardy, which
means that should be kept frost free over winter
and during spring.
Dahlia ‘Daisy Duke’
C U T T I N G
Seek true enjoyment from your
garden by planting flowers perfect for
cutting - we went to the experts at
Farmer Gracy for advice!
Garden
Ranunculus ‘White’
PEONY
You can plant peonies in autumn
or spring, but always in the same
season that they are sent to you so
that they are fresh when planted.
In the first year they remain fairly
compact but over time these plants
can fill a space up to 1.2m. Peonies
are happiest in a border in sun or
partial shade, choose a suitable
spot and dig over the soil before
planting to ensure it is loose and
soft for planting. You can also grow
peonies in large patio containers in
a soil-based compost.
Ranunculus ‘Elegance® Malva’
RANUNCULUS
Ranunculus are grown from corms which look like claws. Thriving
in a sunny spot, the lovely big blooms these plants produce will
appreciate a warm, sheltered spot away from strong winds to keep
them in top condition. Ranunuculus are half hardy, for best results
it’s a good idea to start them off in pots and then transplant out into
their final positions from mid spring. They’re particularly well suited
to growing in patio containers, but also do very well at the front of a
mixed flower border with rich, free-draining soil. Plant them directly
into a sunny, sheltered border or patio container between April-June.
If planting earlier, start them off in pots or cell trays in an unheated
greenhouse to transplant out later in spring.
Paeonia ‘Sarah Bernhardt’
See more varieties, care advice and get inspiration at farmergracy.co.uk
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 41