Project Spring 2014

[Mustansir Billah]

Not much affected from rain. Your garden still looks Stunning!

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

Farhan, If you were confined to plant only six annuals which one you will go for? put them according to priority.
SIX ONLY.
Arif

[Farhan Ahmed]

That is one complex question. It’s like asking a father which is your favorite child . I understand that you have limitation of space which makes you select only few. I am of feeling that you have tried only those available locally which might have bored you. There is so much to explore as we plunge into newer cultivars available internationally.

I will try to answer your question as far as possible keeping in view various factors such as limitation of space and factors on which a plant should be judged.
However being more interested in overall landscape effect my main recommendation will be based on plants which have the potential to create a mass effect.

People have different taste as well as each plant has a different nature which warrants its use at a different location. My recommendation will be based on various places where certain plant is most suited.

Some Important factors

Getting the Maximum.
In case of annuals, it’s not only important to make them flower but somehow getting the maximum from them by means of dead heading and shearing. Some annuals respond some don’t. Some are difficult to dead head as it involves plucking every single flower which can be tedious, whereas some other can handle shearing.

Bloom period
Some annuals are extremely showy yet have a smaller bloom period such as Mesembryenthemum. It’s extremely laborious to deadhead and will not respond after certain time no matter how much you deadhead. The point is duration of bloom is an important consideration especially if one aims on mass effect/landscaping. On the other hand, Osteospermum and Dimorpotheca will virtually keep on going, lest you get tired of deadheading.

Showy Vs Numbers
Some annuals definitely lack the showiest of flowers in comparison to some other more exotic plants such as bulbs. But they make it by their flower power/number of bulbs. For instance, if I want a floral flush in a border of about 2 x 2 feet. I might require 20 hyacinths, which might cost me around Rs.2000. On the other hand any annual worth Rs.100 can do the job. Does one have enough resources or gardening age to overcome that?

Exposure vis a vis Location in a border
An ideal border has to have layers and levels, therefore for each layer the selection of annuals will be different. Infact mostly the annuals are used as fillers, so I would recommend annuals depending on their location in a border.

Weather damage
Rains are a frequent phenomenon up north even as down below as Lahore. Therefore it does warrant to be included as a factor. Which plants suffer from rains, winds and frost, which can withstand high winds and maybe more heat later in a cool season garden.

Tolerance of closer planting
Annuals are generally planted closer for a fuller/over lapping effect, some will do well in such a scheme some don’t. hence an important consideration.

Easiness of growing
An annual could be top of the class but if it’s difficult to germinate and grow will lower its rating.

Top Cool Season Annuals

Sun/ Middle of border(medium Size)
Roheas Poppies (Easy, bloom power, availability of numerous cultivars, trouble free) I will drop Iceland due to lesser height and bloom power, whereas more showy peonies due to lesser disease resistance and lesser bloom count)
Linum charmer/Scarlet. (Easy, mass effect, weather hardy, multiple flushes)
Nemesia (Multiple flushes/extremely easy, creates a floral wreath, early flowering, drawbacks erratic germination sometimes and flowers suffers from rains
Osteospermum F-1 Asti (Easy, Showy and long lasting)
Calendula ( Easy, pest free, trouble free whatsoever. Strongest contender, not the local variety but dozens of F-1 Showy cultivars)

Sun/Front of Border(Small size)
Brachycome (Flower Power, easiness and absolutely trouble free)
Linaria dwarf (floral wreath, multiple flushes, easiness, early flowering)

Shade
Cineraria

Vines/Back of Border/Tall
Sweetpeas (fragrance, vastness of colors available, easiness, vigor and height)
Hollyhocks

Trailing
Nasturtiums (Not the colors available locally, for its tolerance for neglect, easiness, bloom power and long blooming period)

Pots
Trailing Petunia F-1

Strong future contenders that i am trying
Bunny Tail
Arctotis
Lavatera
Gypsophalia
Salvia Horminum

Selection does not account for warm season annuals, cool season bulbs and perennials such as Geranium/Gaillardia/Gazania which can be used in Spring Garden

[UMARKHANMARDAN]

Farhan brother I have enjoyed lot of annuals in the start but now i am limited only to the long bloomers.Annuals like Mesembry, Nemesia, Alsi are no more in my list specially bulbs are no more there.I love mass plantings.

[Asim_Nawaz]

Dear Farhan Ahmad
I have no words to praise your gardening pictures, one thing I said your pictures attract new viewers to join Gardening Pakistan. That's a great gardener job.
Asim

[Farhan Ahmed]

Thankyou Asim, I am obliged.

[Farhan Ahmed]

[farah fayyaz]

MashaAllah. Splendid blooms and excellent photography.

[Farhan Ahmed]

Rain today, Rain Sunday, Monday, Rain next week.. Thats not fair

[rafique]

wonderful garden.