CHRYSANTHEMUM

[Compo]

I am getting success with a few cut flowers on the plot, have been picking sweet williams this year and want to have some chrysanthemums, can anyone recommend a variety for cutting, should I get seed or look for plants and is it too late for this year?

Compo

[Geoff]

I used to regularly grow spray chrysants for cutting but gave up as I didn't have the time to make much of a job of it. This year I decided to start again and went round a few garden centres looking for rooted cuttings but couldn't find any. In the end I bought on line from http://woolmans.com/shop/2008-chrysanthemums.aspx
It looks in the catalogue as though they will have stopped sending them out but it might be worth a call to the order line 08709505918. I bought a couple of collections of sprays that should flower at slightly different times - Harmony and Wellington. The Harmony collection includes Enbee and Wessex varieties which are the ones I used to grow so I know they will give lots of cut flowers and are easy to grow. They weren't cheap but arrived in good condition and now I've got them I should be able to keep them year on year. While my wife has been ill she has been given lots of flowers and has been liking the Spider Chrysants so I have also bought a late flowering collection of those to move into the greenhouse in the Autumn, new territory for me.
You could also try Dahlias for cutting.

[Monika]

I grow about a dozen spray chrysanthemum plants every year because they have such gorgeously rich colours and last for ages, both on the plant and in the vase. I used to get my from Woolmans (see Geoff's reply above) but used Elm House Nurseries this year (www.elm-house.co.uk, tel 01480 443395) and found their plants to be excellent, though it may be a little too late in the year.

[Lurganspade]

Hi
I planted my chryths into the plot last week, and they have perked up after the rain.

"The chryth man" beside my plot planted his only 2 weeks ago, these are the residue of his "show plants".
He plants his "show plants" in his rear garden where he can take proper care of them!

So if you were to get some quickly, you would not be too late for a show this year!

Cheers

[Geoff]

So did you buy any?

[Compo]

Hi Geoff

The problem was that I really did not want 12 plants, so I might scout around the garden centre for a few, I would be heart broke if I Brought twelve and could not use them all.

Compo

[Sarah]

Compo, I've had an e-mail from Sarah Raven. She's offering 5 rooted cuttings of a limited selection of Chrysanths, for £7.50. I think postage is free.

[Compo]

Thanks Sarah, wish I knew that earlier, just got five off e-bay, they might be ok

Compo