Hellebores
Hellebores are the moody, gothic jewels of the winter garden. Learn how you can grow them in garden or in pots.
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Sweet Violets (Viola odorata) are an old perennial favourite. Tolerant of cold winters and warm summers, their colourful and highly scented blooms are a great addition to cottage style gardens. They form a green carpet and push up lovely purple flowers over early spring.
How to grow sweet violet in a garden
- Choose a well-drained spot in the garden that has full to partial sun.
- Enrich the soil with some compost and Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed before planting.
- Plant directly where the violets are to grow. They will spread over time, forming a lovely dense green carpet.
- Water gently and keep only slightly moist and mulch to keep damp.
- Feed regularly during the growing and flowering season with Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Granular Plant Food. TIP: For an added boost, apply Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.
- Pinch out spent flowers to encourage more blooms.
How to grow sweet violet in a pot
- Choose a pot that has adequate drainage holes and place it in a position that gets part sun and is sheltered from strong winds. A shallow bowl is ideal.
- Fill the pot with Yates Premium Potting Mix.
- Sow the seeds directly in the potting mix and lightly cover with 25 mm of potting mix.
- Water gently and keep only slightly moist through the germination period.
- Once the seedlings are established, feed regularly during the growing and flowering season with Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food.
- Remove any spent flowers to prolong the display.
Growing tips
- Apply some mulch around the base of the plants to help retain soil moisture.
- Pick blooms regularly to promote further flowering.
- Generally pest and disease free!
Gardenia
Gardenias have soft scented blooms in white or yellow. Depending on the variety, can be grown as a shrub, standard, hedge or ground cover.
Freesia
Freesias are a spring flowering bulb that produce scented blooms in a range of vibrant colours including pinks, white, yellow, mauve and red.
Flax
Flax (Phormium spp.) are highly versatile plants which can grow well in swampy or dry conditions. Great for large pots or en-masse in garden beds.
Recommended products
Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed
A certified organic garden input boosted with NZ Seaweed to gently nourish plants, enrich the soil and encourage a strong healthy root system.
Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Granular Plant Food
Specially formulated to grow all types of flowers. With high potassium for large & abundant flowers, added calcium & iron for stronger flowers.
Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate
A complete plant food enriched with natural fish, seaweed, humates, molasses and more - boosted with NPK to improve plant and soil vitality.
Yates Premium Potting Mix
A premium potting mix, ideal for all potted plants and shrubs, including ornamentals, fruit trees, vegies and herbs.
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