Three Garden Thugs that keep on Giving
Whilst I have spent many happy hours this year in the greenhouse meticulously sowing seeds, thinning seedlings, transplanting seedlings…there is no denying that sometimes the success ratio with some plants can be a bit disheartening at times. It is for this reason that one of the biggest joys of gardening for me is seeing how nature finds a way in even the toughest of circumstances to keep going and keep advancing. That some plants, even when faced with poor (or no!) soil, the heaviest of rain or the toughest of dry spells will just find a way to burst out with abundance with no effort at all from you. My wife affectionately calls these plants ‘garden thugs’ as given the chance they will just rampage around your borders or any cracks or crevices.
If you are happy to embrace nature and have a bit of randomness in your planting why not give these three a try…they will more than deliver against your initial investment!
Nasturtium - these plants don’t just provide the most beautiful flowers that will keep going right through into Autumn, they also provide fantastic ground cover almost acting as a living mulch, improving soil health. As many foodies will know, the flowers, leaves and seeds are all edible and make a wonderful addition to salads or as a floral garnish on cakes and desserts. Finally, they can also be used for companion planting, deterring pests from other crops - we have seen our cabbage crop get attacked far less now we have nasturtiums nearby as they attract the pests instead. All in all these tough little plants are hardy heroes for any garden and can be introduced as easily as throwing a handful of seed into a border.
Cosmos - whilst this wouldn’t come top of many gardeners list of prolific self-seeders, we have seen an abundance of cosmos springing up right though our borders over the last couple of years, despite us having not actively sown any for a few years now. Cosmos are brilliant because they are highly productive but very low maintenance. They produce an abundance of beautiful flowers which are great for cutting and also attract various pollinators. The lack of rain we have seen this Spring hasn’t impacted them as they are able to withstand very dry conditions making them a great plant for the changing climate and as an added plus, they are generally not liked by deer…so if you suffer from deer coming into your garden and gorging on your plants you will at least have the cosmos left to fill the gaps!
Fennel - this wonderfully versatile plant might be one of my favourites in the whole of our garden and it’s something I try to introduce into as many of my clients planting plans as possible. This stunning architectural plant is not only a graceful and stylish addition that adds height in borders, it is also a hugely popular herb and vegetable, with the leaves, flowers and bulb all edible. The plant has a distinct aniseed flavour and is a wonderful source of vitamin C, potassium and selenium as well as being a digestive aid. We will often use it to make a simple herbal tea by adding the leaves to freshly boiled water. Fennel attracts pollinators and as such can help to control pests. Do be cautious growing it near tomatoes and peppers as it is believed to inhibit their growth - but that aside, fennel to me is an absolute wonder plant and we are happy to let it be as thuggish as it likes in our garden.
