Gardening expert Monty Don’s vital advice for one specific flower this July will result in continuous colourful blooms all summer and other experts are backing up the claims too.
Monty Don has shared a vital gardening tip for one particular plant in July(Image: BBC/Richard Hanmer)
All over the UK, avid gardening enthusiasts are turning to the internet for key advice for the summer so they can achieve a vibrant garden in the warmer months.
Those searching for essential gardening tips for July needn’t look any further, as Britain’s most beloved gardening authority Monty Don has shared some crucial advice for dedicated green-fingered enthusiasts. The vital tip will produce colourful displays throughout summer for one specific plant.
Monty Don is the lead presenter of BBC Gardeners’ World and is an internationally acclaimed horticulturist. His private garden, Longmeadow in Ivington, Herefordshire, is commonly considered to be the UK’s most stunning.
Monty has established himself as one of the most trusted figures in horticulture following his television introduction on This Morning in 1989 as a regular contributor with his gardening slot. Subsequently, he has progressed to present numerous gardening programmes for the BBC and Channel 4, and even replaced Alan Titchmarsh as Gardeners’ World’s lead host in 2003.
The German-born, England-raised horticultural authority frequently shares specialist gardening techniques and advice on his personal blog – and there’s one vital job he’s encouraging gardeners to complete during summer which will ensure a cherished popular plant continues blooming throughout the warmer period, reports the Express.
The expert horticulturist shares crucial gardening advice on his blog(Image: Getty)
Regularly pick sweet pea flowers
The gardening authority revealed the critical guidance on his gardening blog, noting there are remarkably few gardening tasks which prove as enjoyable and straightforward as this particular one.
Monty advises: “Be sure to regularly pick all the flowers from your sweet pea plants as this is the best way to extend their flowering season.”
The renowned horticulturist has revealed that sweet pea flowers have a tendency to rapidly produce seed pods during warm weather, and these seed pods sap the plant’s energy and stimulate further seed production, diverting the plant’s attention away from developing and sustaining its blooms.
Monty says: “I have found that the optimum picking period for sweet peas is about 10 days. It is important to remove every single flower – and to enjoy the resulting fragrant bunches of blooms for the house.”
One key task should be carried out in July for sweet pea plants(Image: Getty)
The Gardeners’ World presenter recommends utilising scissors and trimming the stems “as long as possible” and encourages gardeners to act promptly – ideally the moment they notice any signs of seed heads forming.
Monty’s guidance is to eliminate seed heads “immediately”, as in this way, during a cooler summer, sweet pea plants can continue flowering and blooming vibrantly well into September.
Noah Mabey, Senior Gardener at Thornbridge Hall and Horticultural Advisor to Platinum Spas, supports Monty’s sweet pea recommendations: “Keep harvesting the flowers for your indoor vases and snip off any spent heads before they go to seed to keep the blooms coming.”
According to the RHS: “Sweet peas are easy to grow in any fertile soil that drains easily, in full sun. Feed weekly or fortnightly with a liquid fertiliser and ensure a regular supply of flowers by picking or deadheading.”
However, sweet pea plants do have specific conditions they struggle with, as RHS guidance states: “[Sweet pea] Plants can rot in very wet, heavy soil and will not thrive on excessively dry, poor soil, being prone to powdery mildew. They also won’t flower well in shade.”
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