Horticultural Round-Up

Welcome to another edition of Horticultural Round Up! As we settle into the crisp days of autumn, there’s no shortage of news, tips, and updates to keep your green spaces thriving. This month, we’re covering everything from the best-growing mediums for fall planting to the upcoming South West Growers Show, plus some critical insights on fertilising and how recent floods are impacting nurseries across the UK. Let’s dive in!

What to expect?

1. Floods Hit UK Nurseries: More Rain to Come
2. Upcoming Industry Event: South West Growers Show
3. Knowing What to Feed Your Plants – And When!
4. Choosing the Right Growing Medium for Fall Plants

1. Floods Hit UK Nurseries: More Rain to Come

Recent floods have severely impacted nurseries and horticultural businesses, particularly in areas hit hardest by the amber weather warning, including Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, and the West Midlands.

With more rain expected in the coming weeks, horticultural businesses are bracing for continued challenges. Here are a few tips to minimise flood impact:

• Improve Drainage Systems: Invest in high-quality drainage systems to ensure that water can quickly move away from vulnerable areas. This could include enhancing slope gradients around greenhouses and growing fields.
• Use Raised Beds or Pallets: Keeping plants off the ground by using raised beds, pallets, or benches can protect them from waterlogging and help mitigate damage from floods.
• Choose Flood-Resistant Growing Mediums: Consider using fast-draining growing mediums that can quickly shed excess water, reducing the risk of root rot and fungal infections in potted plants and containers.
• Emergency Pump Systems: Installing water pumps or using portable pumps can help rapidly remove standing water from fields or greenhouse areas to prevent long-term damage to crops.
• Monitor Weather Alerts: Regularly track weather forecasts and amber warnings. This will allow you to take preemptive measures, such as temporarily moving vulnerable stock or covering plants that are sensitive to excess moisture.

As we brace for further unpredictable weather, these steps can help reduce damage and ensure nurseries are better equipped to handle future rainfall.

2. Upcoming Industry Event: South West Growers Show

Mark your calendars for 2nd October 2024 because the South West Growers Show is back! As the South West’s only trade event aimed at growers, plant buyers, garden centres, and landscape professionals, it’s a must-attend for anyone in the horticultural world.

This year, the show is set to impress with exhibitors ranging from wholesale plant and horticultural suppliers to equipment and growing media specialists. If you’re looking for the latest plant introductions and innovative horticultural products, this is the event for you.

We’ll be at Stand 24 – stop by for a chat, grab our latest brochure, and check out our showcase of hanging baskets, pots, and horticultural supplies for the upcoming season. Don’t miss this opportunity to network with top industry experts and suppliers.

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday 2nd October 2024
• Location: The Matford Centre, Exeter

For more information, visit https://www.swgs.co.uk/

3. Knowing What to Feed Your Plants – And When!

Fertilisation is a key part of plant care, but choosing the right fertiliser can be a daunting task, especially when each plant and growth stage requires specific nutrients. Applying the wrong fertiliser at the wrong time can stunt growth, prevent fruiting, or even harm your plants. To ensure your garden flourishes from seedling to harvest, it’s essential to tailor your fertiliser choices to the growth stage of each plant.

The Basics of Plant Nutrition

Plants primarily need three macronutrients for healthy growth:

1. Nitrogen (N): Essential for leaf and stem growth.
2. Phosphorus (P): Supports root development and flowering.
3. Potassium (K): Helps with overall plant health, disease resistance, and fruit quality.

Plants also benefit from micronutrients like calcium, magnesium, and sulfur, but these are usually present in smaller amounts. The N-P-K ratio on fertiliser packages indicates the percentage of these three primary nutrients and helps you select the right product for each stage of your plant’s development.

Fertiliser Needs by Growth Stage

• Seedling Stage: At the start of a plant’s life, the focus is on root establishment. Seedlings benefit from fertilisers rich in phosphorus, which promotes healthy root growth and increases a plant’s ability to absorb nutrients from the soil. However, too much nitrogen at this stage can cause rapid foliage growth, weakening the young roots and making the seedlings leggy and unstable. Some organic options include bone meal or rock phosphate and a starter fertiliser with a high phosphorus concentration (e.g., 5-10-5) would be r a synthetic option.

• Vegetative Growth: Once your plant has developed a strong root system, it enters the vegetative phase, focusing on producing stems, leaves, and branches. At this stage, nitrogen is crucial, as it fuels the production of chlorophyll, which in turn powers photosynthesis and leads to rapid, healthy leaf growth. Organic options include fish emulsion or compost tea whereas a synthetic option would be a nitrogen-rich fertiliser like 10-5-5 or 20-10-10.

• Flowering & Fruiting: Use a high-phosphorus, high-potassium fertilizer (like 5-10-10) to boost flower production and fruit set.

• Pre-Harvest or Dormancy: Strengthen your plants for overwintering with a potassium-rich formula (e.g. 2-4-8 or 0-0-60).

Pro Tip: Always water your plants before fertilizing and avoid over-fertilizing, which can damage roots or lead to overly lush, non-productive growth.

4. Choosing the Right Growing Medium for Fall Plants

As autumn sets in, gardeners must pay special attention to the growing medium used for their plants. The fall season, while less intense than summer, presents unique challenges, especially with fluctuating temperatures and unpredictable rainfall. The growing medium you choose can make a significant difference in how well your plants thrive during this season.

Understanding Growing Mediums

A growing medium is essentially the material in which your plants grow. It can be soil-based or soilless, and each type has distinct properties that impact plant growth. For fall gardening, it’s essential to consider factors like moisture retention, drainage, insulation, and nutrient availability.

Key Components of Growing Mediums:

• Peat Moss or Coir: Both peat moss and coir (coconut fibre) are popular for their excellent water retention and aeration properties. Peat moss is slightly acidic, making it ideal for plants like blueberries and azaleas, while coir is more neutral and eco-friendly.
• Perlite or Vermiculite: These materials help improve drainage and prevent compaction in the soil. Perlite, a volcanic glass, is great for increasing air pockets in the soil, making it ideal for root health. Vermiculite, on the other hand, absorbs water and nutrients, slowly releasing them to the plants.
• Compost: Adding compost to your growing medium boosts organic matter, providing essential nutrients for plants. In the fall, compost also helps regulate soil temperature, keeping roots warm during cool nights and enhancing microbial activity for nutrient breakdown.
• Pine Bark or Other Mulches: Mixing fine pine bark with your growing medium improves drainage and airflow while also helping to maintain a consistent temperature in the soil. This can be particularly important for fall plants, which benefit from stable growing conditions.

Tailoring the Medium for Specific Plants

Autumn is a prime time for cool-season crops and hardy ornamentals, but each has its own preferences when it comes to the growing environment.

• Cool-Weather Vegetables (e.g., Kale, Spinach, Broccoli): These crops prefer a growing medium that drains well but retains enough moisture to support steady growth. A mix of compost, perlite, and peat moss is ideal. Organic compost ensures a slow release of nutrients, while perlite prevents water from accumulating and causing rot.
• Flowering Ornamentals (e.g., Chrysanthemums, Pansies): Fall-blooming flowers typically thrive in well-draining, nutrient-rich soil. Adding a slow-release fertiliser to the medium will help ensure they have enough energy for continuous blooming. Use coir or peat moss to keep the soil from drying out too quickly, especially if temperatures fluctuate.
• Herbs (e.g., Thyme, Sage, Parsley): Herbs need good drainage to avoid waterlogging and root rot, so it’s crucial to add plenty of perlite or sand to the mix. A loamy, well-aerated medium is best for keeping herbs healthy and fragrant through the autumn.

Top Tips for Choosing Your Medium:

• Go Organic: Fall plants thrive when they are supported by nutrient-dense, organic material like compost.
• Check pH Levels: Different plants prefer different pH levels. Test your growing medium regularly to ensure it meets your plants' needs.
• Consider Drainage and Airflow: Overly compacted or poorly draining mediums can suffocate plant roots and lead to disease. Incorporate materials like perlite or bark to promote healthy airflow.

In sum, the right growing medium is the foundation for successful fall gardening. By understanding your plants’ needs and selecting a medium that balances water retention, drainage, and nutrient availability, you’ll set your garden up for a bountiful harvest well into the cooler months.

That's it for this edition of Horticultural Round Up! Stay tuned for more insights and updates in the world of horticulture. Until next time, happy growing!

Kind regards,

Sena